Elk Grove schools name three to administrative position

Thomas Seaton, the principal of Robert Frost School in Mount Prospect since 2002, will become principal of John Jay School in Mount Prospect, Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 has announced.

As well, Kelley Zerfahs will become principal at Robert Frost, and Valerie Gudgeon has been named executive director of educational services. All three positions start July 1.

Before joining District 59, Seaton was principal at St. Hilary Elementary School in Chicago, was a teacher and administrator at Queen of Peace High School in Burbank and taught at Notre Dame High School for Girls in Chicago. He has a doctorate in education, a masters in educational administration and a bachelor's in human services and Spanish.

Zerfahs joined District 59 in 1983, teaching at Brentwood, Clearmont and Rupley schools until she moved to the Instruction Department in 2001 to be a resource teacher and then the district's continuous improvement coordinator. In 2009 she became building assistant at Forest View Elementary School. She has a masters in school leadership and a masters in education, and a bachelor's in elementary education.

Gudgeon is currently director of special education and student services at Aurora East Unit District 131. Earlier she was assistant director of special education in Niles High School District 219 and as director of special education in Evanston/Skokie District 65 and Westmont District 181. She has a masters and bachelor's in communication disorders and an administrative certificate.

Superintendent Daniel Schweers congratulated the three.

"The members of the Superintendency Team and I look forward to the contributions they will make as we all continue on our journey to improving kids life chances through academia success," he said.