New Assistant Principal Named at Woodland Elementary East

Gages Lake - Katie Culver, a McHenry native with teaching and administrative experience, has been named the new assistant principal at Woodland Elementary East School.

She will be filling the vacancy of Nicole Bellini, who is leaving after five years to become the principal at Sherwood Elementary School in Highland Park.

A fourth grade teacher for two years at Lincolnshire Elementary School District 103, Mrs. Culver has also taught fifth grade and seventh grade social studies. Her administrative experience includes being assistant principal at elementary school districts in Illinois (McHenry, K-3 School), and due to her husband's job, she also worked as an assistant principal in Texas and Washington. However, wanted to return to Illinois where their children (ages 13, 11 months and one due June 5) could be close to their families.

"I love teaching, and I love being an assistant principal even more because I get to help all of the staff and students in the school in this role. I always want students to feel the classroom is a home away from home, and a safe and fun place to learn and explore new things," she said.

As an assistant principal, she helped implement a Positive Behavior Interventions and Support program, she created a book study group for a variety of veteran and new teachers seeking new ideas for their classrooms, and in Texas she was the administrator who oversaw the New Arrival Center for non-English speaking families.

She and her husband, John, were married in 2014 during a blizzard. In addition to their children, they have a dog, Murphy, who started out as a foster rescue, but stayed.