2 New Principals Appointed At Plainfield Elementary Schools

PLAINFIELD, IL — Crystal Lawns and Wallin Oaks elementary schools in Plainfield will be led by new principals starting in the fall.

During its May 29 regular meeting, the Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 Board of Education approved Marie Zlotnikov and Amy Bauer as the next principals of Wallin Oaks Elementary School and Crystal Lawns Elementary School, respectively.

Both administrators will begin their new roles on July 1.

Zlotnikov will join District 202 from Deerfield, where she works as an associate principal at Alan B. Shepard Middle School. She previously taught high school history and social studies from 2013 to 2019, and in the summer of 2019, she worked as a world history summer school instructional coach at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire.

"I am excited to collaborate with teachers to create engaging learning experiences, to support students in their academic and personal growth, and to work closely with parents to ensure a strong home-school connection," the new principal said in a statement.

Director of Administration and Personnel for Elementary Schools Scott Fink said Zlotnikov’s knowledge, skills and experience made her the ideal candidate.

"Ms. Zlotnikov is an energetic leader, dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment at Wallin Oaks," he said in a statement.

Bauer is also new to District 202. She has served as the assistant principal at Schneider Elementary School in Aurora since 2020.

Before that, she worked as an elementary school assistant principal for eight years and taught music at Eastview Kindergarten Center in Oswego from 2011 to 2016.

"I was drawn to the Crystal Lawns team because of its dedication to making a real difference in students’ lives," she said in a statement. "I look forward to creating authentic relationships that serve our diverse community of students, educators, parents and administrators who share a common goal of providing the best possible education for every student."

Of Bauer, Fink said her experience at the elementary level and communication skills make her a "natural fit" for Crystal Lawns.

"Crystal Lawns Elementary, with its rich history in the district, welcomes a new principal committed to honoring its legacy while striving for [the] success of every student," he said.