Stevenson Elementary principal shifting to Mark Twain

Howard Sussman, principal of Stevenson Elementary School in Des Plaines, is moving to the same post at Mark Twain Elementary School in Niles, East Maine School District 63 officials announced Monday.

The move comes as District 63 redraws its elementary school boundary lines and closes Stevenson, which will be transformed into a districtwide Resource Center.

Mark Twain currently educates more than 290 first through sixth grade students living in Niles and unincorporated neighborhoods near Des Plaines. Sussman began his career as a social studies teacher at Harrison School in Wonder Lake. He moved on to serve as assistant principal for three schools - Round Lake's Village and W.J. Murphy elementary schools; and Lake Zurich's Middle School North - then was principal at Beach Park's Oak Crest Elementary before joining District 63.

The student population at Mark Twain will shift next year as the district transitions to providing full-day kindergarten and moves all sixth grade students to Gemini Middle School. Twain will welcome more than 180 students who currently attend Stevenson, and approximately 25 who currently attend Apollo School.