New staff members join District 58

District 58 welcomed nearly 30 new staff for the 2011-12 school year during a week-long orientation the week of August 15. New to their positions in District 58 are:

• Brad Linko, fourth grade, Belle Aire
• Amber Brockway, first grade, El Sierra
• Amy Barratt, first grade, El Sierra
• Brittany Sanfillippo, kindergarten, Highland
• Jennifer Dunlap, sixth grade, Highland
• Melissa Eckdahl, first grade, Kingsley
• Julie Batkiewicz, sixth grade, Henry Puffer
• Tim Frederickson, sixth grade, Henry Puffer
• Addie Nussbaum, eighth grade Language Arts, O’Neill Middle School
• Danielle Saenz, eighth grade Language Arts, O’Neill
• Kathleen Hamilton, science, O’Neill
• Kristen Klecka, seventh grade math, O’Neill
• Jennifer Kotor, reading specialist, Belle Aire
• Genevieve Chelmecki, reading specialist, Herrick
• Irene Jackson, LRC, Lester
• Deidre Winterhalter, LRC, Hillcrest
• Jamie McPherrin, LRC, Kingsley
• Jessica Greene, social worker, Highland/Hillcrest
• Mallory Wielgolewski, social worker, Indian Trail/Pierce Downer
• Maggie Sanders, social worker, Belle Aire/Henry Puffer
• Jennifer Robertson, speech, Hillcrest
• Lesley Sharkey, music, Lester/Pierce Downer
• Laura Gilmartin, gifted education
• Carrie Daca, gifted education
• Katelyn Conrad, Alternative Education Program, O’Neill
• Sandra Dudic, English Language Learners, Kingsley/Pierce Downer
• Corinne Smith, psychology/facilitator
• Patricia Linden-Lewis, nurse, Kingsley

District 58 also welcomed several new administrators this year.

Scott Meech, formerly the technology coordinator/facilitator for Kenilworth District 38, was hired as District 58's new Director of Technology. He replaced Dr. Connie Hodson, who retired after 20 years of service.

Michael Krugman, formerly the principal at Mokena Intermediate School, took the helm as principal at Whittier School to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Linda Welch.

Former Herrick Middle School assistant principal Brent Borchelt assumed the role of assistant principal at Hillcrest and Pierce Downer schools, and O'Neill eighth grade math teacher Matt Neustadt will now serve as assistant principal at Herrick Middle School.