New administrators, principals take helm at U-46

Elgin Area School District U-46 has hired several new administrators and promoted employees from within to leadership roles for this school year.

Those appointed are filling vacancies due to retirements, resignations or other opportunities within the district.

Among them is Josh Carpenter, who joined the district as assistant superintendent for teaching and learning in February. Carpenter was executive director of student growth and accountability for Elk Grove Township District 59 where he served as director of the math and talent development program. He previously was principal and assistant principal in Palatine Township District 15 and Lincolnshire-Prairie View School District 103, respectively. He began his career as a junior high language arts and history teacher in District 15.

Lela Majstorovic is U-46's new assistant superintendent for secondary schools instruction and equity. She previously served as a network chief of schools for Chicago Public Schools overseeing 44 schools and principals, more than 2,600 teachers and more than 34,000 students. She also worked as a CPS instructional leader, assistant deputy chief of schools, and assistant principal at William Rainey Harper High School in Chicago. She began her career as an English teacher at Englewood Technical Preparatory Academy.

Kinasha Brown is U-46's new director of educational pathways after serving since 2014 as the district's coordinator of career and technical education.

Elena Hildreth is the new director of food and nutrition services. She has led and managed the federal school breakfast and lunch programs through contractors working with K-12 school districts for more than 25 years. She previously served as a district manager for Lombard-based Quest Food Management Services where she oversaw more than 20 school district contracts.

U-46 also welcomes three new principals - Krystal Bush at the Dream Academy alternative school, Dustin Covarrubias at Willard Elementary School in South Elgin, and John Signatur at Bartlett Elementary School.

Bush previously worked as associate principal of South Elgin High School, assistant principal at Liberty Elementary School in Bartlett, and dean of students at Streamwood High School. Covarrubias served as assistant principal of Huff Elementary School in Elgin, and was an instructor for 10 years at Tefft Middle School in Streamwood, where he taught social studies, Project Lead the Way, health and physical education. Signatur was principal of Hodgkins Elementary School in District 105 in Hodgkins, where he previously was an elementary teacher.