Lisa Polomsky

Michell Gallo

The School Board this month appointed three new principals.

Hall Elementary School Principal Lisa Polomsky

Lisa Polomsky has been assistant principal at Hall since February 2006 and, prior to that, a special education teacher. She obtained her administrator certification in 2005 along with a masters degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Illinois University. She also has a bachelors degree in Education from Eastern Illinois University.

Nicholson Elementary School Principal Brett Burton

Brett Burton has served as an assistant principal at Jefferson Middle School this past year. Previously, he served as athletic director at Oswego East High School and as an assistant principal at Thompson Junior High School in Oswego. Burton has a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and a masters in Teaching with Certification from Aurora University and a masters in Education from Northern Illinois University. He is a West Aurora High School graduate.

Lincoln Elementary School Principal Michelle Gallo

Michell Gallo was an assistant principal at Jane Addams Junior High School in Schaumburg this past year. Prior to that, she was an assistant principal at Prairie Oak Elementary School in Berwyn. Gallo was a special education teacher before becoming an administrator. She has a bachelors degree in Education from Illinois State University and a masters in Educational Leadership from Aurora University.

Partnership Graduation

Partnership School fifth-graders at Aurora University enjoyed graduation ceremonies in the new Crimi Auditorium in the Institute for Collaboration.

West High fills 2 coaching positions

Head Girls Swimming and Diving Coach Joe Neukirch

Joe Neukirch has been named the new head coach of the West High girls swimming and diving team. Neukirch has been the boys head coach at West since 2005. His credentials include head coaching experience with the Geneva Swim Club and nine years assistant coaching experience with the Aurora Family YMCA Sharks.

 Coach Neukirch is an experienced, successful head coach at the high school and club level, according to Athletic Director Dan Bridges. Joe has great enthusiasm and passion for the sport.

In addition to his coaching experience, Joe was a three time IHSA state qualifier in high school for West Aurora and a four year varsity letter winner in swimming at Southern Illinois University. Joe is a Social Studies teacher at West Aurora High School. He replaces Hannah Schecher, who stepped down from coaching following the 2006 season.

Head Baseball Coach John Reeves

John Reeves has been appointed the new West High varsity head baseball. Reeves, a former Blackhawk baseball player, will replace long-time coach Dave Rowell, who retired at the end of this year.

 John Reeves brings a great deal of passion for baseball, enthusiasm, and the desire to compete at the highest level, said Bridges.

 Reeves has been a West High social studies teacher since 2001 and, most recently, was the varsity assistant coach and head junior varsity coach. While a player at West, Reeves earned three varsity letters and earned all-conference honors each of those years.

 Reeves has bachelors degree in History/Secondary Education and a masters in Teaching from Aurora University. While an undergraduate at AU, Reeves was a four-time letterman and two-time captain of the Aurora baseball team. In 2000, Reeves was named an Academic All-American.

Learning Ladybugs

School Board members Al Rhea and Sonni Herget join students at the first-grade Ladybug party in the Lincoln LMC. Students researched ladybugs and made a class  presentation on the computer. At the party, everyone made ladybugs they could eat!