Kristin Williams, the assistant principal at Franklin Elementary School, will be promoted to principal starting on July 1. The Park Ridge-Niles School District 64 School Board approved the move Thursday night during its regular monthly meeting.
She will replace outgoing Principal Marybeth Whitney De-LaMar, who is stepping down at the end of the current school year. Williams, who started with District 64 last August, began her career as a fourth-grade teacher at Ivy Hill Elementary School in Arlington Heights. Before coming to District 64, she served as the District Mathematics Coordinator and then as the District Assessment Coordinator in Arlington Heights School District 25 for many years.
“We’re very pleased with how Kristin has fit in so well with the Franklin staff, students, and community,” said Superintendent Eric Olson. “She handled herself very well as acting principal on several occasions this past year and we’re excited to allow her to build on that success.”
Williams earned a Master of Arts in School Leadership from Concordia University, Chicago, in 2013, a Master of Education in Instructional Design and Technology from Post University in Waterbury, CT in 2012 and her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Loyola University in Chicago in 2009.
The selection process was thorough. Williams was chosen from a pool of 57 applicants. Two final candidates met with a committee consisting of central office administrators, Franklin staff and Franklin parents.