I am pleased to announce that Lisa Szydlowski will be joining our D39 family as the next assistant principal at Romona. Ms. Szydlowski emerged as a top choice from an outstanding pool of candidates and we are excited to have her be a part of Romona’s leadership team. She will be formally introduced at Monday evening’s Board of Education meeting.
Ms. Szydlowski brings a wide range of experience to this role, having worked as a teacher for early childhood, 2nd grade, and special education students during her 15 years as an educator. She joins our Mustang Family after a five-year stint at Arlington Heights School District 25, where she served four years as the district’s Math, Fine Arts, and Physical Education coordinator before assuming the role of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Coordinator for the 2024-25 academic year.
This past year as MTSS Coordinator, Ms. Szydlowski led the development of a continuum of services in alignment with the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan, collaborated with social workers and Student Services to define Tier 2 and Tier 3 social-emotional supports, and launched a new program for advanced learners within a MTSS framework by establishing entry criteria, selecting curriculum, and aligning services.
During her four-year tenure as Math, Fine Arts, and PE Coordinator, Ms. Szydlowski developed and led professional learning for staff, led District art, music, and physical education teams in enhancing standards-based curriculum, and facilitated D25’s district-wide full-day kindergarten, master schedule, and math committees.
Prior to moving into administration, Ms. Szydlowski spent nine years as a classroom teacher, predominantly at the preschool and elementary school levels. She began her teaching career in New Jersey, spending three years in the Garden State before moving to Chicago in 2013. Ms. Szydlowski spent four years as a special education teacher and math interventionist at Olive-Mary Stitt Elementary School in Arlington Heights prior to moving to the District 25 office.
Ms. Szydlowski has asked to share the following message with Romona families:
“I am excited to be joining the Mustang community and can’t wait to meet you all! I am really looking forward to getting to know your children, your families, and the wonderful Romona community as we learn, grow, and thrive together!
Please join me in welcoming Ms. Szydlowski to Romona! I know that her wide-ranging experience, leadership and commitment to student growth and development will make her a wonderful addition to our learning community. She will begin her work at Romona on July 1.