New U-46 elementary ed director named

A Hanover Park principal with a background in bilingual education has been named to a top administrative position in the state's second-largest school district.

Carmen Rodriguez, principal of Ontarioville Elementary since 2005, was announced Wednesday as Elgin Area School District U-46's Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education.

In a news release, Superintendent Jose Torres remarked that Rodriguez has "a laserlike focus on data, accountability and results."

Ontarioville, an 85 percent low-income and 91 percent Hispanic school, scored well above No Child Left Behind federal benchmarks in reading and math in 2006 and 2007. It did not make Adequate Yearly Progress in 2008.

Rodriguez has also served as the English as a Second Language assistant director for the district and as the bilingual chair at Bartlett High.

Her appointment comes shortly after the announcement of a new district assistant superintendent for secondary education a new chief of staff and several new administrators at Larkin High School in Elgin. Individuals currently in those posts were informed by Torres in January that they would not be returning next fall in their current roles.