Dist. 161 Hires Six Administrators

FLOSSMOOR/CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — Six staff members, including three principals and two assistant principals are heading to District 161 this fall.

Principal Gina Isabelli will lead Western Avenue School. Isabelli joins District 161 after serving as principal of Circle Center Grade School in Yorkville, Ill., for the past four years. Isabelli also served as assistant principal in schools within the Yorkville school district. She holds a master's degree in education and school improvement leadership from Olivet Nazarene University, and a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of St. Francis.

Elizabeth Reich will take the reins at Serena Hills School. Reich comes from Oak Ridge School in North Palos District 117, where she has been principal since 2011. She also has served as a curriculum team leader and reading intervention teacher. Reich earned her teaching degree from Olivet Nazarene University, and her master's degree in educational administration from Governors State University.

Amabel Crawford, the district's director of learning and instruction, will lead Parker Junior High as principal this fall. Before she joined the district in 2016, Crawford worked for the American Institute for Research-Illinois Center for School Improvement as a district liaison for data and curriculum. She also has served as an instructional support leader, principal and assistant principal at the elementary level while working for the Chicago Public School System. Crawford received her bachelor's degree in elementary education from DePaul University and her master’s in school administration from Loyola University.

Tara Peacock has been promoted to Parker Junior High School's assistant principal after teaching eighth-grade social sciences there since 2003. Peacock also has worked as a fifth-grade teacher at Flossmoor Hills Elementary, and at Winston Churchill Elementary in Homewood School District 153. Peacock holds a master’s degree in educational administration from Governors State University, a master’s degree of teaching from National Louis University, and a bachelor of arts degree from Bradley University.

Michelle Wisniewski also has been hired as an assistant principal at Parker Junior High School. She has worked as a case manager in District 161 since 2014, a position she has held in the past at the Speed Cooperative. She also has served as a guidance counselor in Bloom District 206. Wisniewski holds a master’s degree in educational administration, a master’s degree in school counseling and guidance from Lewis University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of St. Francis.

Eric Melnyczenko joins the district in July as the director of administrative services. He has served as assistant principal of Mokena Junior High School, principal of Mokena Intermediate School, and assistant principal of Oak Glen Elementary School. Melnyczenko earned his doctorate degree in educational leadership from Purdue University and holds a certification in educational administration, with endorsements as a professional human capital leader in education and a professional in human resources.