Former La Grange resident named Seventh Avenue principal

Updated: May 13, 2013 2:12AM

LA GRANGE — Seventh Avenue School’s newly named principal said her upcoming job feels like a chance to come home.

Erin Hall, an assistant principal in Schaumburg Elementary District 54 for three years, was selected Feb. 25 to succeed Sherry Krzyzanski, who retires June 30 after 10 years leading the school.

“I went to Lyons Township High School and St. Francis, and when I saw the position open, I just had to apply,” Hall said. “It does feel like a homecoming.”

Hall, 38, helps oversee 550 students at Collins Elementary School and 460 students at Dirksen Elementary School, both in Schaumburg. She and her husband, Chris, live in Brookfield with their three children.

“My first goal is I want to get to know every student’s name and face at Seventh Avenue,” she said.

Hall counts as her strengths a student-centered focus, helping teachers provide data-driven instruction and the opportunity to share her experience working with two educators who wrote the Common Core standards.

Superintendent Glenn Schlichting said Hall was selected over 109 other applicants through a series of interviews and a visit to one of her schools.

“What stood out was her absolute joy of being around students,” Schlichting said. “She knew all the kids’ names, she sat with them and they all came up and talked with her.”

The superintendent also said Hall is well versed in curriculum and as a lead teacher has helped boost learning and student achievement at the two Schaumburg schools.

Hall said she decided to change her focus to pursue administrative opportunities after working 13 years as a special education teacher in Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41.

“I had opportunities to work on district improvement committees, and I really started to enjoy making an impact on my peers and other adults as well,” she said. “I felt I could impact more students by my work with peers and adults.”

Hall majored in elementary education at Ball State University and earned master’s degrees in educational administration and curriculum instruction from Northern Illinois University.

The new principal will earn $95,000 in a one-year contract, effective July 1.

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