Joliet Public Schools District 86 Welcome New Principals for a Day

Joliet Public Schools District 86 welcomed community and business members into its elementary and junior high schools for the District’s annual Principal for a Day Celebration, held in conjunction with Principal Appreciation Day on October 23, 2026. These “honorary” principals spent the day shadowing District 86’s 20 school principals, assisting with student arrival, delivering morning announcements, joining physical education and music classes, visiting classrooms, reading books to students, helping with lunchroom supervision, monitoring outdoor recess, and even at one school, participating in a lockdown drill.

“This is one of my favorite days of the year! It was great to have these dedicated community members see firsthand the amazing work our students do and experience the passion and commitment our principals and staff bring to our schools each and every day.” said Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse.

Honorary Principals of the Day included: T.E. Culbertson Elementary: Ruben Warren, Hollywood Casino Joliet; M.J. Cunningham Elementary: Illinois State Representative Natalie Manley; Dirksen Junior High: Caprisha Neal, Joliet Junior College/District 86 Alum; Eisenhower Academy: Kelly Rohder Tonelli, KRT Consulting; Farragut Elementary: Ulises Huitron, Herencia Residential & Commercial/District 86 Alum; Forest Park Individual Education: Brenda Noriega, Noriega Risk Partners; Gompers Junior High: Rosie Cardenas, Social Butterfly Coffee/District 86 Alum; Hufford Junior High: Jaron Nabors, 2morrowstartz2day/District 86 Alum; Thomas Jefferson Elementary: Sergeant Dirk Obermayer, Will County Sheriff’s Office; Edna Keith Elementary: John Lukancic, Will County Emergency Management Agency; Marycrest Early Childhood Center: Gwendolyn Ulmer, Former District 86 School Board Member/District 86 Alum; Pershing Elementary: Jeremy Fears Sr., Joliet Public Schools District 86 Alum; Sator Sanchez Elementary: Amy Sanchez, Community Activist/ District 86 Alum; Carl Sandburg Elementary: Jeremiah Anderson, Will County Center for Economic Development; Isaac Singleton Elementary: Edna Brass, Retired Joliet Township High School District 204 Administrator; Taft Elementary: Pastor Nate Smith, The Table Church; Lynne Thigpen Elementary: Deputy Chief Burke Schuster, Joliet Fire Department; Thompson Instructional Center: Uxmar Torres, Poet Laureate of Joliet; Washington Junior High: Char Boyd, BP Events/District 86 Alum; and Woodland Elementary: Tyrell Hundley, Rage Cage Joliet/District 86 Alum.