New principals, administrators in West Chicago Dist. 33

Teachers, parents and students will greet some new leaders when school resumes this month in West Chicago Elementary District 33.

"District 33 conducted a very thorough search process, which allowed for input from different stakeholders and helped determine the best candidate for each position," Angelica Romano, director of human resources, said in a statement. "Our administrators come with years of experience in the educational field and, most importantly, come with the motivation and enthusiasm to help us in our path for excellence in education."

The district saw the retirement, promotion and resignation of principals and assistant principals at four of its eight schools last school year. Five new administrators have been hired to fill the roles:

• Mark Truckenbrod - interim principal, Currier Elementary

Truckenbrod comes to Currier from East Aurora District 131, where he most recently worked as director of leadership development. He also has served as a middle school principal, a music teacher and chairman of Waubonsie Valley High School's fine arts department. The search for a permanent principal at Currier will begin in the winter. Truckenbrod replaces Josh Dakins, who resigned at the end of the school year.

• Jennifer Tapia - principal, Indian Knoll Elementary

Tapia has worked for 13 years in East Aurora District 131, most recently as an assistant principal. She has master's degrees in educational leadership and literacy from Northern Illinois University and experience working as a bilingual facilitator and literacy coach. She is a Golden Apple nominee and taught fourth grade for seven years. Tapia replaces Matt Bohrer, who was only with the district for two years.

• Karen Apostoli - principal, Wegner Elementary

Apostoli is a longtime member of the District 33 community. Growing up, she attended Gary School, the junior high and West Chicago Community High School. She still lives within Wegner's boundaries and one of her three children will be attending the school this year. She has taught at Gary and Wegner schools and was a gifted specialist at Indian Knoll, Turner and Wegner. Apostoli replaces Terri Roman, who retired after working in the district for more than 20 years.

• Amie Correa - assistant principal, Leman Middle School

Correa is one of two new assistant principals at the middle school, which has a total of three assistant principals and one principal. She has held several teaching positions in District 33, including bilingual classrooms at Pioneer and Gary elementary schools and the middle school. She has received extensive training in teaching dual language and holds a master's degree in educational leadership.

• Emily Hanlon - assistant principal, Leman Middle School

Hanlon is pursuing her doctoral degree in education at Aurora University and has two years of experience in both collegiate teaching and education support administration. She has spent five years teaching and enjoys working with adolescents. Hanlon and Correa replace Lea Deluca, who took on a new role in the district as coordinator for teaching and learning, and Joe Lindsey, who moved out of district.

There will be other new faces in the district's administration office as well. They include Paul Bleuher, director of assessment and accountability; WeGoTogether community school coordinators Alex Cowal and Ciara Burns; and Josephina Frankovich, coordinator of partnerships.