District 88 appoints new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

Pictured is Yvonne Tsagalis, who has been named as District 88's new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, effective July 1.

A new member will join the District 88 administrative team starting on July 1, but it will be a familiar face to the district and community.

During its March 9 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education approved the administration’s recommendation to name Yvonne Tsagalis as the district’s new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. Tsagalis will succeed Dr. Jamie Gourley in that position, and District 88 thanks Dr. Gourley for her dedication and service as she transitions to a new position in the district.

"I'm looking forward to continuing to work toward the District Mission and Vision, which center on raising student achievement while also preparing students to be active contributors in a global, 21st-century society," Tsagalis said of her new role. "Ongoing professional development opportunities for staff members that focus on learning standards, diverse learners, assessment and data practices, instructional strategies and social-emotional learning will help to provide a comprehensive learning experience for all students. I will strive to continue building strong relationships between students, staff and the entire District 88 community, and I'm excited to start this new journey in my career."

Tsagalis joined District 88 in 2007 and has served at Willowbrook as Assistant Principal (overseeing the academic programs in the building), Science Department Head and chemistry teacher, as well as Science Olympiad coach, Human Relations Award coordinator, Senior Honors Awards Assembly volunteer and Summer School coordinator. In 2012, she was named as the recipient of Willowbrook’s Outstanding Achievement Award.

Tsagalis also has served on the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Curriculum Writing Team and the District 88 Equity Task Force, Joint Committee and Teachers Council Executive Board. She is a certified ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate)/school safety protocol trainer, as well as a certified trainer for Illinois on the PERA Student Growth and Teacher Evaluation model.

Before coming to District 88, Tsagalis was a chemistry teacher and lead teacher for science at Warren Township High School and a chemistry teacher at Elmwood Park High School. Tsagalis earned her bachelor’s degree in the Teaching of Physical Sciences with an Emphasis in Chemistry from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She received a master’s degree in Teacher Leadership and Curriculum from Roosevelt University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership Type 75 from Northeastern University.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the Board’s decision to approve our recommendation to appoint Yvonne Tsagalis in this position,” said Dr. Scott Helton, District 88 Superintendent. “Her experience, work ethic and commitment to the students of District 88 will help ensure we accomplish our mission of working for the continuous improvement of student achievement.”