Elmhurst School Losing Principal To Another District

ELMHURST, IL – Joshua Louis, principal of Sandburg Middle School, is leaving for the same job at a larger school in another district.

Louis' last official day is next Tuesday. His resignation appeared in the personnel report for Tuesday's Elmhurst School District 205 board meeting.

A month ago, the board for Batavia School District 101 hired Louis to become the principal of Rotolo Middle School. He is succeeding Tara Piatek, who is becoming the director of high school curriculum and instruction in Plainfield School District 202.

Louis, a former Naperville principal, started three years ago in Elmhurst. Sandburg's enrollment is about 630, compared with Rotolo's nearly 1,100.

As of 2025, Louis' Elmhurst salary was $144,200. Patch has emailed an inquiry about his pay in Batavia. Piatek made $142,500 as of last year.

It is unclear whether District 205 will have a new Sandburg principal in place for the new school year. Patch left a message for comment Monday morning with the district's spokesperson.

It may be difficult to find a new principal in time for the August opening, given that the hiring season for administrators is over.

In early April, York High School's principal, Jessica Hurt, was hired away as a central office administrator in Aurora-based Indian Prairie School District 204. Her term as York's principal ends next Tuesday.

As a stopgap measure, the Elmhurst school district hired two interim co-principals. They are expected to serve a year while the school board searches for a new principal.