Michelle Rzepka Named New Hillcrest Principal

Michelle Rzepka has been approved as the new principal of Hillcrest Elementary School, and she will begin after Principal Paula Thomas retires in June.

The Downers Grove Grade School District 58 Board of Education approved Rzepka’s appointment March 9, according to a news release.

“I am honored to accept this appointment. From day one it has been evident that Downers Grove has the collaborative team environment that I was looking for and I am eager to work with the students, staff and families of Hillcrest,” Rzepka said in a statement.

Rzepka has served as an assistant principal at Independence School in Bolingbrook since 2008. She has worked as an elementary school teacher and an intervention specialist for literacy, according to the release. Rzepka graduated from from St. Xavier University, where she earned a Master of Arts in Education in educational administration and supervision. She earned her undergraduate degree in child development with teacher certification from Michigan State University.

Thomas has served as principal of Hillcrest School for nine years. During retirement, Thomas plans to rekindle her passion for art and piano, spend more time with family and take up welding, according the release. She would also like to continue working in an educational environment.

“I’d like to think of retirement as just moving along from one position in a really fun environment with kids and good people, to the same school-type environment, but in a different capacity - that is to perhaps work with student teachers and beginning teachers,” Thomas said in a statement.

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