D47 Picks New Assistant Principal for Hannah Beardsley

Andres Orbe has been picked as the new assistant principal at Hannah Beardsley Middle School. Effective immediately. Orbe will replace former Hannah Beardsley assistant principal Glen Gabel, who has been appointed as dean of the school, according to a news release. The District 47 school board approved the appointment at a Monday hearing.

Orbe has been principal at Evelyn Alexander School in North Chicago since 2015.

Prior to that, he spent one year as an assistant principal at Neal Math and Science Academy, also in North Chicago.

He began his career in 2008 in District 116 in Round Lake, where he was a sixth-grade teacher at John T. Magee Middle School and social studies teacher at Round Lake High School. Orbe holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Trinity International University and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from St. Xavier University.

“It's truly an honor to work in District 47,” said Orbe. “This district is known for its drive for academic excellence and commitment to empowering all students. I look forward to living that out at Hannah Beardsley Middle School and being an asset to the school district and community.”

In January, Gabel was appointed as dean of Hannah Beardsley, which is the largest of District 47’s three middle schools.

The dean position was created to provide additional supervision and support to the school’s nearly 1,000 students. Gabel has been in District 47 since 1987 and has served as assistant principal at Hannah Beardsley Middle School, Lundahl Middle School, North Elementary, South Elementary, West Elementary, and Coventry Elementary.

“We are committed to building strong relationships with our students who are navigating their middle school years,” said Cathy Alberth, principal of Hannah Beardsley. “By strengthening our administrative team, we look forward to providing more opportunities for students to learn and practice strategies to resolve conflicts, develop empathy for others, and demonstrate leadership while growing academically. We welcome Mr. Orbe as he joins Mr. Knoth, Mr. Gabel, and me in our mission to empower our students and support our families.”