Lisa Niforatos appointed to Fairmount; Bridget Moore to Highland
The Downers Grove Grade School District 58 Board of Education approved on Feb. 13 the appointments of Lisa Niforatos as the principal of Fairmount School and Bridget Moore as the principal of Highland School. Both candidates will begin their new roles in District 58 on July 1, 2017.
“A team of District 58 administrators and teachers led a very thorough interview process to identify the best candidates for these important principal positions,” said Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli. “I am very pleased to recommend both Lisa Niforatos as principal of Fairmount and Bridget Moore as the principal of Highland. We are confident that Bridget and Lisa will bring a wealth of knowledge and leadership experience to their new positions, and that each will prove to make significant contributions within our schools and the district as well.”
Niforatos currently serves as an assistant principal and Title I director for Brookfield-LaGrange Park District 95. In this role, she led efforts to redesign the district’s Reading Improvement/Title 1 Program, which strengthened intervention programs and increased program rigor and integrity.
She previously worked 11 years for Medinah School District 11 as an assistant principal, literacy team leader, reading specialist, reading interventionist and middle school teacher. She earned a Type 75 degree in educational leadership from Concordia University, a master’s degree with a reading specialist endorsement from National-Louis University, and her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Illinois State University.
“I am truly honored to join the Fairmount and District 58 team,” Niforatos said. “Throughout this process, I have observed the strong commitment District 58 has to the community as well as to the development and success of the whole child. I look forward to joining this positive and supportive team and am excited to meet and work with the students, staff and families of Fairmount.”
Niforatos will replace current Fairmount Principal Tony Coglianese, who will retire June 30, 2017. Coglianese has served as Fairmount’s principal for 15 years.
Moore has worked for Community Unit School District 200 in Wheaton, Illinois, for her entire career. She currently serves as the district’s director of elementary instruction, a role in which she oversees the curriculum implementation and professional development at 13 elementary schools, including the pilot implementation of the new Next Generation Science Standards.
Prior to this position, Moore has served as District 200’s K-12 curriculum coordinator and as an elementary school teacher. During her tenure, she has taught every grade level between kindergarten and fourth grade. Moore earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Benedictine University, a reading endorsement from Lewis University and an undergraduate degree in elementary education and English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
"I am so excited to join the Highland family and the District 58 community,” Moore said. “It will be a privilege and honor to serve as Highland's next principal."
Moore will replace Highland’s current Principal Dr. Judy Kmak, who will retire on June 30, 2017. Dr. Kmak has been Highland’s principal for 12 years. She has served District 58 as a principal, assistant principal and teacher for a total of 23.5 years.
Media inquiries or requests for more information may be directed to Megan Hewitt, community relations coordinator, at 630-719-5805 or mhewitt@dg58.org.