Article Summary: Summit Hill School District 161 approved the hiring of several new staff members, including a District Wide Gifted and Talented Coordinator and multiple paraprofessionals and custodians. The approvals were part of the consent agenda at the district’s July board meeting.

Summit Hill District 161 Key Points:

• The Board of Education approved new hires at its meeting on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

• Pamela Wandersen was hired as the District Wide Gifted and Talented Coordinator.

• Multiple paraprofessionals, night custodians, and a clerk were hired for Hilda Walker School, Dr. Julian Rogus School, and Summit Hill Jr. High.

The Summit Hill District 161 Board of Education on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, approved the employment of new staff for the upcoming school year. The hires were passed as part of a larger consent agenda.

Pamela Wandersen was appointed as the District Wide Gifted and Talented Coordinator. Her compensation is set at BA Lane Step 31, supplemented by a stipend of $5,543.59.

The board also approved several new support staff members. For Hilda Walker School, the district hired Nora Qasem, Kelly Greinke, and Amanda Dixon as paraprofessionals at an hourly rate of $19.81, and Janet Carcelli as a clerk at a rate of $16.00 per hour. New night custodians were also hired for multiple schools at a rate of $17.00 per hour, including Conchita Hernandez Ortega and Esther Ortega Murillo at Hilda Walker School, Diana Ruvalcaba at Dr. Julian Rogus School, and Elizabeth Hernandez at Summit Hill Jr. High School.

The board also accepted the resignation of Kathleen Pirkle, effective June 9, 2025, and approved the non-renewal of probationary staff member Beata Czahor.