The Northbrook/Glenview District 30 Board of Education has chosen, Katie Compagno, as the new principal of Willowbrook School in Glenview starting on July 1.
Compagno, who is the assistant principal of District 30’s Wescott School in Northbrook, was approved by the Board at its Thursday, March 14 meeting, according to a news release.
“Mrs. Compagno is a respected and trusted leader at Wescott School, where staff, parents, and students sing her praises,” Emily Tammaru, District 30 Superintendent of Schools, said in a statement. “She is a visible leader who collaborates to ensure students and staff have the resources they need to be successful. I am confident her responsive, supportive leadership will build upon the strong foundation at Willowbrook and lead students, staff, and community to new achievements in the classroom and beyond.”
Compagno will replace Willowbrook Principal Scott Carlson, who will become District 30’s new Director of Human Resources also on July 1.
Since July 2022, Compagno has been Wescott Assistant Principal, with primary responsibilities focused on student success, well-being, and safety, staff evaluations and development, and administrative initiatives, the release said.
Before Wescott, she was Director of Student Activities in Niles Township High School District 219 from 2014-22, according to the release. Her 14 years in education also include service as a math teacher at both Moun Carmel High School in Mount Carmel, Ill., and Wheaton North High School.
“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to lead Willowbrook, just as serving the wonderful community of Wescott has been a true privilege, and I am excited to grow within our outstanding school district,” Compagno said. “Together with Willowbrook’s outstanding staff, I will ensure that Willowbrook continues its history of student and staff success and rich traditions, while maintaining a focus on building an environment where all stakeholders are supported and valued.”
According to the release, Compagno earned a master’s degree in educational leadership with dual principal and teacher leader endorsement from Aurora University and is currently earning a chief school business official endorsement from Concordia University in River Forest. She also earned a response to intervention certificate from the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind., and completed her bachelor’s degree in secondary education mathematics from Millikin University in Decatur.
District 30 will post the vacancy and explore highly qualified candidates to fill the Wescott Assistant Principal role, the release said. As part of this work, parents and staff will be surveyed on key qualities and characteristics they feel should be embodied by the assistant principal.
“We are now focused on identifying a highly qualified candidate for the Wescott Assistant Principal and ensuring a seamless transition for the school into the 2024-25 academic year,” Tammaru said in the release. “Stakeholder feedback is essential in order to ensure Wescott’s next assistant principal will best serve our students, staff, and community.”
