District 202 Board Hires New Middle School Curriculum Director

A veteran teacher and administrator will fill a newly-restructured administrative post for the Plainfield School District, the district announced Monday night.

The District 202 Board of Education approved appointing Paula Sereleas as the district’s new director of middle school curriculum and instruction. Her salary is $119,714.40, Director of Community Relations Tom Hernandez said.

The position was eliminated in 2011 to help save money during the recession. However, it is being restored as part of a departmental restructuring, and in light of increasing demands related to the new Common Core State Learning Standards, said Glenn Wood, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

District administrative costs are expected to drop by at least $20,000 because of the restructuring, Wood said.

Along with her middle school curriculum duties, Sereleas will also absorb some media instruction and English Language Learner responsibilities, Wood said. Both of the staff members who held those positions are retiring this year. Their work will be split among several positions.

Sereleas started her education career 18 years ago as a social studies teacher at Lincoln Way East High School. She grew up in England and came to the United States at age 17 on an athletic scholarship, running Division I Track and Cross Country for DePaul University.

At Lincoln Way, Sereleas also coached boys cross country before becoming Assistant Principal at Summit Hill Junior High School. She is currently principal at Laraway School in Joliet. 

“Mrs. Sereleas has experience and success as a leader at all levels of public education while working with a broad range of staff and students,” Wood said.

“She is a strong educator and we are excited to have her join District 202 at this important time as Illinois moves toward more rigorous academic expectations for all students,” he said.