Board Names Principals for Two Plainfield Elementary Schools

Article submitted by Plainfield School District 202:

New principals will take the helm at Grand Prairie and Freedom elementary schools next school year.

The District 202 Board of Education approved appointing Sandra Garner as the new principal at Grand Prairie Elementary, and Dr. Tammy Sroczynski will take over as principal at Freedom Elementary.

“We are confident that Sandra and Tammy will do an excellent job continuing the fine work that has been done at these schools by their predecessors,” said Mark Heiss, director for elementary administration and personnel. 

Garner, currently an assistant principal at Timber Ridge Middle School will replace Janan Szurek, who is taking a principal position in Indian Prairie School District 204 in Naperville.

Garner started her education career 21 years ago as a special education teacher in the Midlothian School District. She also worked for three years with the Lockport Area Special Education Cooperative before serving for 14 years as a special education teacher in the Naperville School District 203. Garner came to District 202 in 2011 in her current position. 

“I couldn't be more excited to join the Grand Prairie staff,” Garner said. “I have heard wonderful things about the students, staff and families there. It's going to be a wonderful place to start my work as a principal,” she said.

Sroczynski has worked her entire 10-year education career in District 202. She started as an information literacy teacher splitting time between Lincoln and Eagle Pointe elementary schools, and then continued at Lincoln as a third grade teacher and later as a fourth grade teacher. 

From 2006-10 she worked as a differentiation specialist at Lincoln, while also serving as interim assistant principal at Eagle Pointe in 2009. In 2010-11 Sroczynski served one year as assistant principal and special education administrator at Lincoln, and was named to her current position this school year.

“I am very excited to become the new principal of Freedom Elementary School,” Sroczynski said. “My goal is to ensure that we continue to work together to meet the needs of all students and ensure they reach their full potential.”