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Two area school districts recently made some changes to their administrative teams.
Terry Sofianos, former director of pupil services at Avoca School District 37 in Wilmette, has joined La Grange School District 102’s administrative team as the new assistant superintendent for special education, according to a district news release. Sofianos’ appointment was approved at the June 18 Special Board of Education meeting, and she began her new role July 1.
She is taking the reins following the retirement of Joyce Powell, who served as the assistant superintendent for the past four years, the release stated.
Sofianos' salary is $138,000, officials said.
“Her ability to connect with parents and teachers as she considers ways to best meet the needs of our students receiving special services made her the top choice,” Superintendent Kyle Schumacher said in the release.
The board also approved another appointment June 18.
Sunny Sue Chang Jonas, assistant principal and response to intervention/multi-tiered system of support coordinator in Chicago Public Schools, will join the district as the new assistant principal of Congress Park School in Brookfield and Ogden Avenue School in La Grange, according to another news release from the district. She will start in this newly created position Aug. 1.
Jonas' salary is $78,000, officials said.
“District 102 has strong vision and leadership at the district and school levels,” Jonas said in the release. “Committed to student and teacher excellence with a diverse staff and student body, resources are leveraged to strengthen already strong programming, academic and social-emotional learning.”
In Pleasantdale School District 107, the Board of Education approved Frank Adams as the next business manager/chief school business official at its June 20 meeting, according to a district news release. He began his new role July 1.
Adams comes to Pleasantdale from Beach Park School District #3, where he worked since 2017 as the director of business/chief school business official, the release stated.
“I am excited about working with the administration and the board to do wonderful things for the students," Adams said at the meeting, according to the release. "I vow to be ethical, responsible and transparent and do everything I can to manage the district’s finances appropriately so that we have the resources to provide the best education possible for our students."
Catherine Chang, who served as business manager for 13 years, retired at the end of June, the release stated.
The board also approved another hire June 20.
Brianne Malatt, former dean of students at Jefferson Junior High School in Woodridge School District 68, is the new assistant principal of Pleasantdale Middle School in Burr Ridge, according to another news release from the district.
Malatt was selected from more than 50 candidates who applied for the position, and she began her new role July 1, following Meg Knapik’s resignation June 30, the release stated.
“We are excited to welcome Mrs. Malatt to our Pleasantdale family and look forward to the continuation of the success we have experienced in our district,” Principal Griffin Sonntag said in the release. “Brianne has a proven track record of effective school leadership and we are confident that she will support the great work that is taking place in our school.”