Michelle Hebenstreit will lead Patterson Elementary in School District 204 as its new principal starting on July 1.
The Indian Prairie School District’s Board of Education unanimously approved Hebenstreit’s appointment at its meeting on Monday. Patterson Elementary’s current principal, Michele Frost, is set to retire at the end of the current school year.
“I’m fortunate to have been in the district for 17 years and have a variety of experiences,” Hebenstreit told board members. “I’m so excited to come back to my Patterson family.”
Since joining the district in 2006, Hebenstreit has held teaching and interventionist positions at Cowlishaw and Graham elementary schools and was the student services coordinator at Patterson Elementary for four years.
She is currently the student services coordinator at Owen Elementary.
Hebenstreit has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in educational administration and leadership from Benedictine University.
Patterson Elementary School’s mascot, the prairie dog, attended the meeting in support of Hebenstreit. Indian Prairie School District Superintendent Adrian Talley said it was likely the first time a school mascot came to a board meeting to support the appointment of a new principal.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com