Lombard District 44 names new principals

Students returning to classes this fall will be greeted by new principals at three schools in Lombard Elementary District 44, officials said Thursday.

A veteran of District 44, Dave Danielski, has been named principal at Madison Elementary where he started his career as a fourth-grade teacher before being named principal of Hammerschmidt School in 2007.

He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s from St. Xavier University.

Eric Haren, who has worked in District 44 since 2003, is the new principal at Manor Hill School. He started his educational career in 1997 in Oswego and came to Lombard six years later as a sixth-grade teacher before becoming assistant principal at Glenn Westlake Middle School.

He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from North Central College in Naperville.

Melissa Payne, the new principal at William Hammerschmidt School, has served District 44 in several capacities over the past 12 years. She was a sixth-grade teacher at Westlake from 2001 through 2010 and then provided support and professional development as a coordinator in math and science.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University and a master’s from North Central College

The school board also has hired Brett Sharkey as assistant principal at Glenn Westlake Middle School. He comes to the district with 16 years experience from Maine Township District 207. He has his undergraduate degree in special education from Illinois State University and a master’s from Aurora University.