District 54 board names two new assistant principals
• The District 54 school board appointed two new assistant principals at its meeting on Jan. 17 for the 2019-2020 school year.
William Musselman will become the new assistant principal at Addams Junior High School in Schaumburg, replacing Kim Phelan, who is moving out of state this summer. While Lisa Grant will become the new assistant principal at Eisenhower Junior High School in Hoffman Estates, replacing Amy Houlihan, who is also moving out of state this summer.
Musselman began his career in District 54 in 2013 as a math teacher at Mead Junior High School. He served as interim assistant principal at Keller Junior High School from March through May 2018, and is currently the dean of students at Addams.
He has been a member of the District 54 Strategic Planning Committee and Social-Emotional Learning Task Force, as well as a member of his School Leadership Teams.
Grant has been a language arts teacher at Keller Junior High School since 2015. She began her career in education in 1997 as a fifth-grade teacher in Indiana. In District 54, she has served on the Literacy Task Force, Digital Learning Task Force, School Leadership Team and Leadership Academy.
The appointments of Musselman and Grant take effect July 1.
• Tom Eifert, band director at District 102's Aptakisic Junior High School, was recognized for his dedication to excellence in music education in the December 2018 issue of School Band and Orchestra magazine.
School Band and Orchestra named Eifert one of 50 Directors Who Make a Difference. The distinction shines a light on outstanding music educators. Only one band or orchestra director from each state earns this recognition.
• Dr. Gary Chmielewski, a thoracic surgeon with a practice emphasis on minimally invasive thoracic surgery based on the robotic platform, is now on staff at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. He joined Advocate Medical Group - Thoracic Surgery in Park Ridge.
Dr. Chmielewski applies minimally invasive resection techniques for lung cancer with an emphasis on robotic approaches to promote quicker patient recovery. In addition, he uses the robotic surgery platform to treat patients with esophageal cancer, gastro esophageal reflux disease, Para esophageal hernia and achalasia.
Dr. Chmielewski was awarded a medical degree from Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood. He completed an internship, a general surgery residency and a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Wayne State University Detroit Medical Center. He is board certified in both general surgery and thoracic surgery.
Prior to joining Advocate, Dr. Chmielewski was an associate professor of surgery at Rush University Medical Center.
• Ronald Raglin, District U-46 assistant superintendent of Educational Support Programs and Alignment, was awarded the 2019 Dr. King Humanitarian Award Saturday, Jan. 19, during the city of Elgin's 34th annual Dr. King Prayer Breakfast held at the Elgin Community College University and Business Center.
Raglin, whose career in public education spans 35 years, is known within the district and the area as a fervent champion on issues surrounding equity, and he has strengthened the district's ties with many community partners to support student success.
• Submit your 'Neighbors in the News' items to Norrine Twohey at ntwohey@dailyherald.com.