New Administrators Start The Year At Troy 30-C Schools

Photo: Troy 30-C has some new administrators, managers and specialists this school year.

Here, top from left: Troy School Board President Mark Griglione, Michelle Laird, Benjamin Hettel, Jennifer Tekiela and Troy School Board Member Jerry Bene.

Front from left: Troy School Board Member Sabrina Price, Danielle Wegner, Sherri Blanchette, Superintendent Dr. Todd Koehl, Amanda Sitar and Kristine Hutten.

Sherri Blanchette is Troy Shorewood Elementary School’s new Principal. Blanchette previously served four years as Troy Hofer Elementary School Assistant Principal. In addition to her other responsibilities, Blanchette has worked collaboratively with the district’s English Language Learners program in writing instruction, as well as with implementation of after-school ELL programs.

She has a Master of Education degree in School Improvement Leadership, an English as a Second Language endorsement and a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, all from Olivet Nazarene University. Blanchette replaces former Shorewood Principal Colleen Connolly.

Danielle Wegner is Troy Shorewood Elementary School’s new Assistant Principal. Wegner previously served as a 5th grade teacher for Ottawa Elementary School District #141, where she was an active member on several committees and of several clubs. She co-led Team L.E.A.D., a student service group that worked to give back to others on a local, national and global level.

Wegner has a Master of Educational Leadership degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with middle school endorsements in social sciences and English language arts. Both degrees are from Aurora University.

Wegner replaces former Shorewood Assistant Principal Carol Zurales.

Jennifer Tekiela is Troy Hofer Elementary School’s new Assistant Principal. Tekiela served most recently as a Reading Specialist at New Lenox School District 122. She was previously Reading Specialist and taught 4th and 5th grades at Dolton School District 148.

Tekiela has a Master of Arts degree in Reading, a Master of Arts degree in Principal Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education, all from Governors State University. She is also dyslexia-certified. She replaces former Hofer Assistant Principal Sherri Blanchette.

Michelle Laird is Troy School District 30-C Director of Special Education. Laird most previously served as Assistant Director of Student Services at Valley View School District 365U in Romeoville. Prior to that, she was a special education administrator with Grundy County Special Education Cooperative. She began her career as a special education teacher.

Laird has a Master of Arts degree in Administration and Leadership, specializing in special education, from the University of St. Francis; a Master of Science degree in Special Education from Illinois State University; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Northern Illinois University. Laird replaces former Director of Special Education Deb Marco.

Benjamin Hettel is Troy School District 30-C Director of Facilities and Operations. Hettel most recently served as Construction Manager/Assistant Director of Buildings and Grounds for East Aurora School District 131, where he oversaw 100 custodians and maintenance personnel and multi-million dollar construction projects.

In the position, he also worked with architects, engineers, contractors and the Kane County Regional Office of Education.

Hettel has a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology with a concentration in construction management. He says he’s excited to be working with a hard-working Troy team dedicated to keeping the facilities maintained to high standards with optimum efficiency. He replaces former Troy Director of Building and Grounds Tim Wojnarowski.

Amanda Sitar is Troy School District 30-C Business Manager. Sitar previously served as bookkeeper for Troy.

She has a Master of Business Administration from Concordia University with a pending endorsement of Chief School Business Official and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Sciences with a minor in Psychology from Governors State University.

Kristine Hutten is Troy School District 30-C Payroll and Grant Specialist. Hutten previously worked at Naperville CUSD 203 as Accounting and Investment Coordinator.

She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration, both from Lewis University, and is currently studying for certification as a Chief School Business Official. Hutten replaces former Payroll and Grant Specialist Kathi Norman.