The District 300 Board of Education approved tonight (May 14, 2012) two administrators to fill positions recently vacated in the Central Office and at Gilberts Elementary School.

Craig Zieleniewski, currently the principal of D300's Perry Elementary School in Carpentersville, has been chosen as the new principal of Gilberts Elementary School, effective July 1, 2012.  Zieleniewski replaces Jeff King, who has led Gilberts Elementary since it opened in 2007.  King decided this spring to take a principal position in Burlington School District 301 closer to his home.

Zieleniewski brings to Gilberts valuable administrative experience and expertise, having served as the Perry principal for the past six years.  He earned his bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and his master's degree from Aurora University.  In 1997, Zieleniewski began his educational career as a 6th grade teacher at Westfield Community School in D300, eventually moving to Perry in 2004 to become the assistant principal.  He is an active member of the Dundee Township Rotary Club and a member of the D300 Staffing Committee. 

"His strong instructional leadership and knowledge made him an excellent choice to become the next Gilberts principal," said Assistant Superintendent for Elementary School Teaching & Learning Kristin Corriveau. 

D300 used a rigorous process for selecting the new Gilberts principal.  Corriveau initially joined Superintendent Michael Bregy for a full day at the school in meetings with parents and staff members to discuss the school's needs and the qualities that would be most important to the Gilberts community in their next principal.  A multi-step interview process was then implemented, as follows: