Willard Elementary School’s new interim Principal Christine Gerges is preparing for the start of the year with one goal in mind: to continue to carry on a tradition of excellence she has witnessed over her many years with River Forest School District 90.
Gerges began serving as interim principal in July, following the retirement of Diane Wood, who had served as principal since 2014.
No stranger to the district, which she calls her “home,” Gerges began her education career in the very same hallways she will now walk as a principal.
“It feels so nostalgic and a sense of pride and joy that I have been fortunate enough to dedicate my career to the students and the community in River Forest,” she said. “Not many people get to find a place that’s home from the beginning.”
Gerges became a second-grade teacher at Willard in 2006.
Those years at D90 showed her what strong leadership looked like, Gerges said, crediting Supt. Ed Condon, Wood, Martha Ryan-Toye, former director of curriculum and instruction and Merryl Brownlow, former Willard principal, as some of the “powerhouse” people who saw leadership potential in her and exposed her to a different aspect of education that she hadn’t considered before.
Gerges said she spent 13 “incredible” years as a second- and third-grade classroom teacher.
“I loved creating an environment where everybody felt welcomed, loved and respected,” Gerges said.
Gerges added that the thing she is the proudest of is helping students reach their goals.
But those years did have their challenges: learning to navigate new initiatives, working as a team to figure out the year’s priorities and making the most of each other’s strengths.
Gerges also served on the Superintendent Leadership Council to help incorporate student growth components into the teacher appraisal system.
“It is really helping a group of people move together,” Gerges said. “That can feel like a daunting task when you feel like your work is measured upon the growth of others. How do you translate that to your colleagues and staff to help it feel like it is a thing that is attainable and tangible?”
Growing those practices, looking at data and growth are all things Gerges said she is proud to look back on.
Gerges said she decided to pursue an administrative role at a time when others might have passed on the opportunity. Having just found out she was expecting her first child, Gerges said she questioned the timing of the opportunity to move into the shared assistant principal role for both Willard Elementary and Lincoln Elementary School.
But the “stars were aligned,” she said, adding she saw it as the perfect opportunity to see whether this was something she could be successful in and a way to continue to help others.
She began her new role in the 2019-20 school year.
Under the guidance of Wood and Lincoln Principal Casey Godfrey, Gerges said she once again witnessed true leadership, experienced how each school had their own culture and how the principals worked to develop a deep sense of community.
The past five school years as assistant principal have brought new learning experiences, including navigating a global pandemic, but for Gerges everything worked together to bring her to this new opportunity.
“I have said this before but I really believe Willard is my home,” Gerges said. “I feel like I was raised here.”
As the 2024-25 school year approaches, Gerges said she will be focused on the piloting of two potential reading curricula, which is set to take place this fall.
Gerges said the pilot of each program will be “rigorous and intense” with a one to be brought to the board for consideration in the fall. Gerges was on the literacy committee last year.
“I look forward to seeing that through and supporting the work of the team,” she said.
She also wants to ensure she leaves room for the inevitable “growing pains” that come from a change in leadership.
“There are areas where you anticipate growth and a healthy struggle and there are areas where you don’t,” she said. “We are all in for this awesome ride and journey together knowing we are going to do everything we can to make it a smooth and happy, wonderful year. The things that we need to work out and figure out we will do together as a team.”