Veteran administrator named D. 202 assistant director of ELL
A 30-year veteran administrator who led the fourth largest bilingual program in the state will now help guide the English Language Learner programs in District 202.
The Board of Education on July 20, 2009, approved hiring Wanda Carrasquillo as the district's new assistant director of ELL.
Carrasquillo, a 30-year professional educator and administrator, has been principal of Melrose Park School, a kindergarten through eighth grade school in District 89, since 2003.
She started her educational career in 1980 as a bilingual special education teacher for Chicago Public Schools.
From 1989-1994 Carrasquillo served as a bilingual teacher at Rollins Elementary School in Aurora Unit School District 131, and then was named Bilingual Assessment Specialist for the district. In 1996, she was named Bilingual Resource Teacher for District 131 before becoming assistant principal at Simmons Middle School, also a District 131 school.
Carrasquillo worked for two years as the assistant principal before becoming principal of the school in 2000. She replaces Kristina Davis who is the new Director of ELL for West Chicago.
Carrasquillo has certifications in early childhood, special education and bilingual/Spanish.
"It is very rare to have a background like Wanda's," District 202 Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Carmen Acevedo said. "With the early childhood, middle school, elementary and special education background, it's a unique find."
"I'm excited about this new opportunity because I have a lot to offer and I feel my background can truly benefit the students, staff and parents of District 202," Carrasquillo said.