Minooka High alters structure of leadership
Williams will lead both campuses with trio of assistants
MINOOKA – There will be no new principal at Minooka Community High School South Campus this year.
Current Central Campus Principal Bob Williams will step in as principal of both campuses in an effort to focus on continuity and consistency.
The board, at a special meeting Wednesday night, hired two new assistant principals as part of the reorganizational plans for the coming school year
Current Assistant Principal Dr. Dan McDonnell will continue in his role as assistant principal for learning. He will be joined by the two new assistants, Carol Whiteaker, assistant principal for student services, and Matthew Wikoff, who was hired as assistant principal of operations and safe schools.
Plans were already in place to hire one assistant principal for the 2009-2010 school year when the district faced an unanticipated challenge of replacing South Campus Principal Dean Auriemma.
Dave DiLorenzo, director of community relations, said after exploring their options and working with staff and the community, school officials concluded having Williams oversee both school campuses with the assistance of a team of assistant principals would allow the district to continue moving forward.
“We determined and recommended to the board of education an alternative administrative staffing plan that includes not filling the principal position and, instead, implementing strategies to have one principal, Bob Williams, oversee and lead both campuses,” Superintendent Dr. David Middleton said.
Whiteaker’s duties will include developing and implementing the district’s “Response to Intervention” plan, overseeing the district’s at-risk programs, overseeing the student services program and staff, and serving as the administrative liaison between the district and the Grundy County Special Education Cooperative for instructional-level services and programs.
Whiteaker will work out of South Campus in Channahon, although she will be spending time at both campuses.
“I am looking forward to working with the families and staff of Minooka Community High School,” Whiteaker said. “I have the utmost respect for the MCHS staff and I am excited to be part of a team with its priorities rooted in student learning.”
Whiteaker began her career as a special education teacher with the Southern Will County Special Education Cooperative.
She also served six years as a teacher, seven years as a coordinator, and most recently as the assistant director of special education with Grundy County Special Education Cooperative.
Wikoff’s duties will include overseeing the deans’ offices, reviewing and implementing the school safety plan, addressing facility needs for special events, coordinating the disciplinary hearing process, facilitating outside alternative placements for students, managing the district’s program for internal and external substitutes, and administering the various aspects of the schools support staff team.
Wikoff will work out of Central Campus in Minooka, although his job will have him at both schools.
Wikoff has 10 years of experience teaching physical education, one year at Lincoln Middle School in Schiller Park and nine years at Heritage Grove Middle School in Plainfield.
“I am excited to take on a new role in working with the current administration and staff to provide the best possible education in the safest environment for our students,” Wikoff said. “I am also looking forward to working with the community to continue to build on the strong, tradition-based partnerships in place between the school district and its stakeholders.”
Williams said it will allow the administrative team to work vertically instead of horizontally as they take it to the next level.
“We are still one school although the two campuses are separated by a few miles,” Williams said. “This team will really complement one another and give each area consistency.”