Jewel Middle School Dean Promoted To Assistant Principal Role

AURORA, IL — Jewel Middle School's dean of students was promoted to assistant principal of operations, officials said.

The West Aurora School District 129 Board of Education met Monday night and appointed Lauren Mackey Rymarz to the new role, effective for the 2024-25 school year.

"I am so excited to be continuing my career in School District 129 as the assistant principal of operations at Jewel Middle School," Rymarz said in a statement. "I look forward to continuing to work with our amazing staff to make Jewel an inclusive and welcoming environment for all our learners."

As dean of students, Rymarz "played a pivotal role in fostering a positive school environment," district officials said in a news release Tuesday. In the role she began in 2022, she integrated a restorative practices coach into the student services team, facilitated partnerships with local agencies to provide students with outside services, and led the building's student services team in developing plans to meet individual student needs.

Rymarz previously worked as a social studies teacher at West Aurora High School for eight years. She also served as the head badminton coach and the assistant coach for the girls' tennis team.

The administrator obtained her bachelor's degree in secondary education history from Illinois State University and a master's degree in educational leadership from Aurora University.