Leadership Shuffled At Dist. 124 Central Middle School

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — For the third time since 2018, there is another leadership change in Dist. 124’s Central Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8.

The Evergreen Park Elementary Dist. 124 Board of Education approved the appointments of Dr. Jenna Moller to principal of the middle school, and Christina Lavin to the newly created role of associate principal during Monday’s board meeting.

Moller, who currently serves as assistant principal of CMS, will facilitate all academic and instructional goals of the building while also managing systems change. The building's instructional coaching staff will continue to directly support Moller in achieving these goals.

In the newly created role of associate principal, Lavin will oversee all aspects of student disciplinary and behavior situations and social and emotional learning and support in the school.

~ New framework at Central Middle School

The appointments follow the unexpected resignation of current principal, Joe Zampillo, who is leaving CMS to become principal of Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights. Zampillo has helmed CMS since the 2022-2023 school year,

“We recognize that this change may feel unexpected and that CMS has seen multiple changes in leadership over the years, but there is a plan to bring stability, structure, and support for continuous improvement as we move forward,” D124 Supt. Jenna Woodland said in an email to parents.

CMS has had four principals since 2018, each who stayed only a few years. Since beginning her tenure as district superintendent in 2021, Woodland explained that she and her staff have been reviewing, researching and establishing the needs and priorities of the school.

“What I have learned the most is that there was a need for a change not only in leadership, but in the organizational structure of the leadership at CMS that can better suit the needs of our students and teachers,” Woodland told parents.

The new leadership framework also calls for expanding extracurricular activities and mental health resources for students, along with ongoing professional development to build staff consistency by promoting internal candidates whenever possible.

Developing coherent and consistent systems to address student discipline issues, including addressing disciplinary disparities of students within a protected class, Woodland said.

The district also proposed adding two dean positions, increasing administrative staffing to support daily student discipline, restorative practices and coaching teachers on implementing best practices on managing behaviors in the classroom setting.

D124 board members unanimously approved the recommendations at their March 18 board meeting.

“I am beyond confident that this plan is the best laid plan that we have had during my tenure at EPSD 124. This is in direct alignment and response to the needs of our students, staff and community and I am certain that we are on the right path for success,” Woodland said in her letter to families. “This is more than a change in building principal, this is a new structure and system that is directly tied to the needs of our students and the goals outlined by our community in the D124 Strategic Plan.”