NSSD112 Names New Principal At Sherwood Elementary School

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — From North Shore School District 112: Tonight, the North Shore School District 112 (NSSD112) Board of Education approved the hiring of Rachel Filippi as Sherwood Elementary School Principal effective July 1, 2019. Mrs. Filippi currently serves as Principal of McKenzie Elementary School in Wilmette Public Schools District 39.

The appointment of Mrs. Filippi comes after an extensive search process that consisted of a series of interviews with a stakeholder selection committee. The committee included parents, students, staff, and administrators including Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Lubelfeld and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Monica Schroeder.

“We are delighted to welcome Mrs. Filippi and we feel she will bring a tremendous amount of experience and enthusiasm to Sherwood Elementary School and the entire District 112 team,” said Dr. Michael Lubelfeld NSSD112 Superintendent of Schools. “Her dedication to student success, understanding of how to support the work of teachers, and the willingness and know how to build a collaborative and accountable school environment were all illustrated throughout the selection process.”

Throughout her career, Mrs. Filippi has supported student growth in a variety of leadership capacities including principal, assistant principal, special education coordinator, teacher, coach, and mentor. She began her educational career as a Special Education Teacher at MacArthur Middle School in Prospect Heights School District 23 in 2008. She then had her first building leadership role as Assistant Principal for Student Services (APSS) at Alan B. Shepard Middle School in Deerfield Public Schools District 109. As an APSS she coordinated special education services for students and managed, created, and revised student 504 Plans, among other responsibilities. She then took on the role of Assistant Principal at District 109's Walden Elementary School. At Walden she presented the district-wide implementation process of Full Day Kindergarten, led multiple professional development sessions, and helped facilitate a new Teacher Mentor Program, among many other accomplishments.

Most recently she served as Principal at McKenzie Elementary, a K-4 school in District 39. As Principal she has provided supervision and evaluation of teachers, facilitated high quality professional development, and analyzed student achievement and social emotional data to support student growth. Some of her many accomplishments as principal include introducing a school wide positive behavior system; working with the PTA, staff, and students to design and implement modern flexible seating in all classrooms; and partnered with the Director of Technology to research and deploy 1:1 devices for 4th grade students across the district.

"I am thrilled to join the District 112 team and honored to have the opportunity to be principal of Sherwood Elementary School next year,” said Mrs. Filippi. “I am looking forward to serving and supporting all who call Sherwood their home. It's important to me to foster a culture of success academically, socially and emotionally. I can't wait to experience ‘Panda Pride’ and to get to know the students, staff, parents, and the community.”

Mrs. Filippi earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Management from the University of Iowa in 2004, a Master of Arts in Teaching in Special Education from National Louis University in 2008, as well as a Master of Educational Administration degree in School Leadership from Concordia University in 2013.