New Principals Chosen For Oakwood, Central Schools

LEMONT, IL — The District 113A Board of Education has approved the hiring of two new principals, one at Central School and one at Oakwood School, according to a release from the district. Dimitra Georganas will be the new principal at Oakwood School, and Shirley Kleehammer will be principal at Central School when it opens this August.

Throughout the process, both candidates demonstrated excellence and earned high praise from our parent and teacher input committees, the district said.

Georganas comes to the district from Chicago Ridge School District 127.5 where she has served as the Assistant Principal of Ridge Central Elementary School for the past three years, the district said. Georganas has been recognized as a Golden Apple Award finalist for demonstrated excellence in teaching. She also has served as an adjunct professor at Concordia University where she has taught courses to K-8 in-service and pre-service teachers.

As the leader of the District Math Textbook Committee, she also successfully led the pilot and adoption of the K-8 math curriculum in Chicago Ridge, the district said.

“I am truly honored, humbled, and excited to be given the opportunity to serve in such a wonderful and high achieving district like District 113A,” Georganas said in a release. “I look forward to working at Oakwood School with the dedicated staff, parents, administrators, Board of Education, and community members to build on the strong traditions of the district, continue to foster a positive, welcoming and nurturing learning environment, and help all students reach their full potential.”

Georganas earned her bachelor’s degree with a Mathematics major and Education minor from St. Xavier University. She also earned her master's degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from St. Xavier University. Georganas lives in Willowbrook with her husband, Andrew, and their five children.

For the past 11 years, Kleehammer has served as the assistant principal at Old Quarry Middle School. Prior to joining District 113A, she served as an assistant principal at Lincoln School in Joliet and as a Dean of Students at Crete-Monee Middle School, the district said. Prior to becoming an administrator, Kleehammer taught at both the elementary and middle school level.

Kleehammer has led numerous efforts at Old Quarry from athletics to curriculum, the district said. Most recently, she oversaw the administration of the PSAT assessment for the district’s eighth graders.

“I am incredibly excited about becoming the principal at Central. With Central housing our fourth and fifth grade students, and my years of experience at Old Quarry, I believe I can help create the learning and experiences for our students and families that will provide a strong foundation for middle school," Kleehammer said in a release.

Kleehammer resides in Naperville with her husband Andy; and has three grown children and five grandchildren, with two more on the way.