Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 announced on Wednesday that Emerson Middle School Principal Dr. Samantha Alaimo has been selected as the new D64 Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning. Dr. Alaimo will continue to serve as the Emerson Principal until July 1st and then, pending Board approval, will move over to her new role serving families District-wide. Dr. Alaimo replaces Dr. Lori Lopez, who is leaving the District this summer after dedicating 11 years to the community.
“It is with many emotions that I share with you that I have accepted the position of District 64’s Assistant Superintendent of Student Learning,” said Dr. Alaimo in a letter to Emerson families. “Serving Emerson for the past seven years as your principal, assistant principal, and teacher has been my honor. I consider working with our middle school students to be some of my proudest moments, and they hold a special place in my heart.”
As the Assistant Superintendent for Student Learning, Dr. Alaimo will provide leadership of the District’s curriculum and instructional programs, including assessment of student achievement, implementation of intervention programs to support student learning, and professional development activities for teachers.
“While I am saddened to leave Emerson, I am excited to serve the entire District 64 community in this new role for me. I have many fond memories with my Emerson family, and I am eager to make new ones with all of our families and students,” said Dr. Alaimo.
Dr. Alaimo has been the Emerson Principal since 2019, leading the District’s largest school. Before that, she served as the Associate Principal at Emerson for a year.
Before joining District 64, Dr. Alaimo served five years as a grades 6-8 mathematics and language arts teacher at Laura Ward STEM Elementary School in Chicago. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Alaimo has a master’s degree and doctorate from Concordia University.
District 64 will begin the search for a new Emerson principal as soon as possible.