New Principal Picked For Glacier Ridge Elementary

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — Anastasia Gruper has been picked as the new principal of Glacier Ridge Elementary School.

Gruper joined District 47 in the 2001-2002 school year as a middle school teacher at Bernotas and then served as an assistant principal at Glacier Ridge Elementary School for five years, according to a news release from District 47.

Gruper joined the district leadership team as director of professional development in 2018 and currently serves as the district’s director of literacy and social studies. Gruper holds a master’s degree in teaching from Dominican University and educational leadership from St. Francis University, according to a news release from District 47.

In 2020, she earned her doctoral degree in literacy from Judson University.

John Jacobsen has been the principal of Glacier Ridge for the past 15 years and will be retiring at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Gruper said continuing her D47 journey at Glacier Ridge is a dream come true.

“Taking the lead after Mr. Jacobsen’s retirement will be tough shoes to fill, but I will give it my all,” Gruper said. “I’m excited to return to the incredible staff and families I had the pleasure of serving in my previous position and look forward to meeting the new families who have since joined the Glacier Ridge community.”

Gruper will begin her new position on July 1, 2022.

“Dr. Gruper has been a valuable member of our administrative team in every position she’s held,” Superintendent Dr. Kathy Hinz said. “She has been instrumental in supporting and moving district initiatives and goals forward and has earned deep respect and trust among the Glacier Ridge community. We look forward to her continued leadership.”