Hough Elementary principal moving to Barrington Middle School-Station Campus
Jim Aalfs will shift from his position as principal at Hough Street Elementary School in Barrington to take same post at another school building a mile away.
District 220 board members this week approved Aalfs' transfer from Hough to Barrington Middle School-Station Campus, along with two other administrative appointments for the 2020-21 academic year.
Aalfs has been Hough Street Elementary's principal since 2013. Hough, which serves children from kindergarten through fifth grade, was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education in 2015.
For Aalfs, his move to Station on July 1 will be a homecoming of sorts. From 2004 to 2007, he was an assistant principal at the middle school on Eastern Avenue just south of Main Street.
"I'm leaving a wonderful school at Hough Street," Aalfs told the District 220 board, "but I couldn't be happier. So, thank you for the offer. I really look forward to getting back together with people, to be perfectly honest with you."
Aalfs' resume includes time as a principal and teacher at Algonquin-based Community Unit District 300. He also had a stint as head coach for Hampshire High School's varsity boys basketball team while at District 300.
Kristen Paul, who became the Station Campus principal in 2017, is departing to pursue other opportunities, according to the district.
Board members also approved Sarah Lager as director of fiscal services and asset management beginning on July 1. She's been director of fiscal services and chief school business official for the Glen Ellyn-based Cooperative Association of Special Education, which serves 28,000 students in 44 schools in DuPage County.
District 220 Assistant Superintendent of Business Services David Bein spoke highly of Lager.
"If you ask around to other business officials in the area, 'Who is the best person to try and hire as director of fiscal services?' every person said, 'Oh, you should talk with Sarah Lager.' And I did and I'm very excited that she's here," Bein said.
Another newcomer on July 1 will be Jennifer Ellett. She's leaving her job as District 300's education services specialist for early childhood to become assistant principal at Barrington Middle School-Prairie Campus.