U-46 fills two administrator vacancies

Elgin Area School District U-46 has hired two new administrators for fine arts and special education.

Jaimie Abney-Giraldo is the new fine arts coordinator. She replaces Alicia Kopec, who resigned shortly after the start of the school year for a job with another school district, officials said.

Alicia Fabianczyk-Liakopoulos will be the new assistant director of specialized student services curriculum and instruction. She replaces Val Brosius, who recently was named the Multi-Tiered System of Supports assistant director.

Abney-Giraldo previously was the divisional chair for fine arts and career and technical education, the AVID and Advanced Placement coordinator and activities director at Bartlett High School. She rebuilt Bartlett High's AVID program and increased enrollment during her tenure. She also increased membership and collaboration of students and parent groups within booster and student organizations, such as band, choir, orchestra and student council.

For the Career and Technical Education Department, Abney-Giraldo helped the automotive program earn national accreditation through the National Automotive Technician Education Foundation. For 10 years, she was the band director at Elgin and Streamwood high schools, teaching fifth- and sixth-grade students at various elementary feeder schools, and marching band, pep and jazz bands for high school students.

Fabianczyk-Liakopoulos has served as an administrator for specialized student services since January 2015, where she coordinated and supervised special education services and referral process for students in four elementary schools, one middle school, and an early childhood site. She also has been responsible for staff training, program implementation for special education students, and compliance with federal special education laws.

Between 2010 and 2014, she worked as the student services coordinator for Des Plaines Elementary District 62, and before that was a special education supervisor in U-46.