The Downers Grove Grade School District 58 Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of Britta Waszak to the Henry Puffer School principal position during a Board meeting on Monday, Feb. 25. Waszak will begin work in July 2019 and will replace current Henry Puffer Principal Todd McDaniel, who retires in June.
“Following a very thorough interview process, we are happy to recommend Mrs. Britta Waszak to be principal at Henry Puffer School,” said Superintendent Dr. Kari Cremascoli. “The interview teams were impressed by Mrs. Waszak’s collaborative approach to leadership and her vision for building a culture and climate that supports students’ success within school. They also appreciated her depth of knowledge and experience in teaching and learning, as well as her instructional leadership.”
Waszak presently serves as the assistant principal of C.E. Miller and J.T. Manning elementary schools in Community Unit School District 201 in Westmont. She also has several years of experience as a fourth and fifth grade teacher in Lombard Elementary District 44 and Community Unit School District 308 in Oswego, and she completed her administrative internship with Indian Prairie School District 204 in Aurora.
“I am proud to join the Henry Puffer and District 58 community,” Waszak said. “As Henry Puffer’s new principal, I will keep students at the center of all decision making. I look forward to building positive and trusting relationships with students, families, staff and the community. I can’t wait to get started!”
Waszak earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from North Central College and her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from DePaul University.
“Mrs. Waszak’s references said that she has all the intangibles to be highly successful as the next principal at Henry Puffer School, and commended her for her dedication, her student-centered focus and her commitment to supporting teachers’ success,” added Dr. Cremascoli. “The candidate pool for this position was very strong and we feel very confident that Mrs. Waszak will be an asset to Henry Puffer School and the community.”
Waszak and her family reside in Downers Grove, and her oldest child attends school in District 58.