Principal vacancies filled at Serena Hills and Western Avenue Elementary Schools:
Flossmoor School District 161 introduced two new school Principals, Gina Isabelli and Elizabeth Reich, at the Board meeting on Monday, May 13. Isabelli will lead Western Avenue School, while Reich will take the reigns at Serena Hills School.
“Filling the principal vacancies at Western Avenue and Serena Hills with high caliber administrators was the highest priority for the District 161 school board coming to the end of the school year,” said Dr. Dana Smith, Superintendent. “After several rounds of interviews with a number of highly qualified candidates, Gina Isabelli and Beth Reich clearly rose to the top of the group.”
Isabelli joins District 161 after serving as principal of Circle Center Grade School in Yorkville, Illinois for the last four years. Prior to being named principal, Isabelli served as assistant principal in various schools in the Yorkville School District 115 from 2009 to 2015. Isabelli holds a Master’s in Education and School Improvement Leadership from Olivet Nazarene University and a BA in Elementary Education from the University of St. Francis.
Reich is principal of Oak Ridge School in North Palos District 117, a position she has held since 2011. Her career accomplishments in North Palos District 117 also include serving as principal of Quin School, curriculum team leader and reading intervention teacher. Reich earned her BA in Education and BA in Business administration from Olivet Nazarene University, and her Master’s in Educational Administration from Governors State University.
The decision to hire Isabelli and Reich came unanimously from the District 161 School Board. Michelle Hoereth, Board President, said both principals fit the values and expectations District 161 has set for its schools, while also introducing new energy, leadership techniques and 21st-century learning standards to the administrative teams at each school.
“Gina Isabelli and Elizabeth Reich are perfect additions to the District 161 administrative family,” said Hoereth. “Both exemplify what we look for in our leaders, and both will be incredibly valuable to shaping the young students in District 161.”