On May 6, 2013, the Community Consolidated School District 181 Board of Education approved the hiring of Dawn Benaitis as the Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction, effective July 1, 2013. She will fill the vacancy created by Kevin Russell, who will become the District’s Assistant Superintendent for Learning (Curriculum).
Benaitis joined District 181 in the 2011-12 school year as the Principal of Monroe School. She is a member of the District Literacy Committee and the Teacher Evaluation Committee. She assisted in the planning for pilot use of both reading and writing materials and served on the Advanced Learning Task Force. Some of the most significant accomplishments achieved during her time as Principal of Monroe include the implementation of the Response to Intervention model at all grade levels and the redesign of the school’s master schedule to create common plan time for teachers.
Her education includes a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction/Reading from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Benedictine University. She also has a certificate in educational leadership and is working to complete her doctorate in educational leadership from Aurora University, where she has also taught curriculum classes.
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Benaitis previously served as Principal of Hillcrest School in Antioch, Principal of Goodrich School in Woodridge, and Special Education Coordinator for Schiller Park School District 81.
“I am honored to be selected for the position of Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction,” said Benaitis. “I look forward to working with the Department of Learning and all of my fellow District 181 colleagues to further our efforts to ensure that every day, every student is learning and growing. Collaboratively, we will work to continuously improve the educational experience that makes District 181 such a strong school system.”
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Superintendent Dr. Renée Schuster commented, “With over 20 years of experience in education, Dawn Benaitis has demonstrated a true commitment to her profession. We were very fortunate to welcome her into District 181 when she started two years ago and have seen her abilities in action time and again. Her many strengths, particularly in curriculum, assessment and instruction, make Dawn an exceptional asset to the Department of Learning.”
A posting for the Monroe School Principal position will be made immediately, Dr. Schuster said.
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Caption: Current Monroe School principal Dawn Benaitis was named the District’s Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction, effective July 1, 2013.
