CCSD21 names four to administrative roles

Community Consolidated School District 21's board of education on June 22 voted in favor of four administrative appointments, including a new director of business services and three new assistant principals.

Michael Zagar will join the district in the director role, effective July 17, after successfully serving as an assistant business manager in Matteson District 162 for more than 10 years. He also worked as a school district auditor for 12 years.

In recommending his approval, district administrators said Zagar "operates from a place of fiscal responsibility and communicates positively in all settings."

Zagar's initial annual salary will be $135,000 per year for a 12-month administrative contract plus the standard administrator benefit package. His salary for the 2023-2024 school year will be prorated to $129,807 due to the July 17 start.

Anne Cordina will take on the role of assistant principal at Cooper Middle School, filling the vacancy left after Jenny Lagunas shifted over to lead Holmes Middle School. Cordina joins the district from Elgin School District U-46, where she most recently served as an interim assistant principal at Spring Trail Elementary School. Prior to that, Cordina served as an English teacher at Hampshire High School and a language arts teacher at Carpentersville Middle School in Algonquin School District 300.

Cordina distinguished herself as "someone who is relationship-focused with students, staff and parents,"according to district administrators. "She has the ability to organize systems and processes to communicate a high level of detail to support her students and staff."

Cordina's initial annual salary will be $90,000 per year for a 210-day administrative contract plus the standard administrator benefit package.

Stephen Mogni will take on the role of assistant principal of climate and culture at Holmes as of July 1. He also joins the district from Elgin U-46, where he most recently served as a dean of students. Prior to that, Mogni served as a high school English teacher in St. Charles School District 303.

In recommending his approval, district administrators called Mogni a "hard-working, collaborative and solutions-driven educator," noting that his experience and expertise on restorative practices and social-emotional learning made him an outstanding candidate.

"I look forward to a great year and inspiring our students, getting to know them better, getting to help them grow and develop," Mogni said. "Especially when things go wrong and they need a little more support, a little more positivity, a little more of the restorative practices that we have grown and developed at the school; working with them one on one, I look forward to it."

Mogni's initial annual salary will be $90,000 per year for a 210-day administrative contract plus the standard administrator benefit package.

Alexandra Alvarez will shift over to the assistant principal role at Kilmer Elementary School from Holmes, where she had been serving as the interim assistant principal since April. Alvarez, whose appointment is also effective July 1, previously served as a bilingual instructional specialist in the district, as well as a dual language teacher.

In recommending her approval, district administrators noted Alvarez is a "positive, responsive, student-centered and thoughtful educator," and her leadership experience will prepare her for the new role, where she will continue to mentor teachers and advocate for students.

Alvarez's initial salary will be $83,000 per year for a 205-day administrative contract, plus the standard administrator benefit package.