District 204 selects familiar face for Fischer Middle School

Indian Prairie Unit District 204 officials Wednesday selected Still Middle School Principal Jennifer Nonnemacher to open the district's seventh middle school.

The new Fischer Middle School, named after former principal Greg Fischer, is scheduled to open in August 2009 in what is currently Waubonsie Valley High School's freshman center, 1305 Long Grove Drive in Aurora.

Nonnemacher, a five-year veteran in the district, said she's excited to open a new school and help form its identity.

"When a new school opens, students, parents, staff and community members all come together with ideas and beliefs about what the school should be," she said. "As the new principal, I feel both honored and excited to have the opportunity to guide the formation of these ideas and beliefs into a school culture that lends itself to the very best educational opportunities for our students."

Nonnemacher began her career in 1991 as a teacher in Rockford's District 205. In 1999 she was named interdisciplinary curriculum developer for the district. She was named assistant principal of the Rockford Environmental Science Academy the following year, a position she held for three years before joining Indian Prairie in 2003 as assistant principal at Crone Middle School. Nonnemacher was then named principal of Still Middle School in 2006.

Deputy Superintendent Kathy Birkett, in a written statement, called Nonnemacher an excellent choice.

"Jennifer has led many strong academic initiatives at both Crone and Still," Birkett wrote. "I'm confident she will build many more successes at Fischer."