District 204 Board Approves Appointments

The Board of Education meeting started off with a round of applause and a standing ovation.

The board honored the Special Olympics team for its win at state. Each of the team members were given a certificate, recognizing the achievement.

Once the district honors were over it was back to business, which included filling three positions within the district, which the board approved.

Indian Prairie School District 204 Superintendent Kathy Birkett said that the district was creating a new position, director of integrated services.

The principal at Scullen Elementary School, Kathy Kostec will take on the role as the director of integrated services.

Kostec is filling the position of a retiring staff member, but the new position will have her oversee special and regular education areas, which is an expansion of the duties, one reason for the new title, Birket explained. The integrated role is in line with the district’s desire to build on integration, Birkett said.

Kostek has worked at a number of schools, including Bloom, Lincoln Way High School, Dirksen, and .

Along with Kostec, Birkett also introduced two current staff members who will move from assistant principal to principals.

Elizabeth Pohlmann will be the new principal at Steck Elementary School. She has a master’s in administration from NIU and a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Francis. She has experience working at Lincoln-Way and is currently an assistant principal at .

Birkett said that Pohlmann made it clear that she wanted to be working in an elementary school environment.

Sarah Nowak will fill the position as principal of . Nowak is replacing Barb Kaufman who will be returning to the classroom, Birkett said.

Nowak also was an assistant principal with Pohlmann at Crone Middle School. She has a bachelor of science from ISU and a master’s from Aurora University.

Nowak worked at and then left to work as dean of students at Heritage Grove Middle School in Plainfield, later returning to work at Crone.

“I have no doubt she will do an exceptional job at Clow,” Birkett said. “I think parents will welcome her with open arms.”