New principal hired at Central Middle School

Dr. Matthew Eriksen has been approved by the Evergreen Park Elementary School District 124 Board of Education as the next principal of Central Middle School, effective July 1, 2018.

Eriksen has served as an administrator in North Shore School District 112 in Highland Park for the past 11 years, serving as the principal of Edgewood Middle School for the past seven. He has also served as an elementary school principal and middle school assistant principal. Dr. Eriksen began his career as a middle school English Language Arts teacher with Libertyville School District 70.

"In looking for a new principal for Central, our priorities were to find someone with a passion for middle-level education, someone with middle school teaching experience who understands the importance of teaming and integration, someone who has demonstrated an ability to support the academic success of a diverse student population, and someone with a strong curriculum background who could support our teachers in the incredibly important work we are asking them to do each day," said D124 Superintendent Dr. Robert Machak. "I think we have found that person in Dr. Eriksen. Along with his experiences as a very successful middle school principal, he brings an energy and enthusiasm to Central with him that I know our students, staff, and parents are really going to like."

Eriksen was selected from an impressive candidate pool with dozens of qualified candidates. He was chosen following a thorough interview process that included Dr. Machak, CMS staff members, parents, District principals and directors, and members of the D124 Board of Education.

Dr. Eriksen earned his bachelor's degree in Middle School Education from Illinois State University in 2001. He later graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a master's in School Leadership in 2006 and earned his doctorate of Educational Leadership from National Louis University in April of 2017.