Amy Foszpanczyk hired
as new principal
By Patricia Bogumil
Editor
With words of praise, best wishes and definite reluctance, the East Troy School Board approved the resignation of Amy Foszpanczyk March 9 – an action eagerly anticipated by the Yorkville School Board of Education.
At its March 12 meeting, the Yorkville board unanimously approved hiring Foszpanczyk as the new principal of Yorkville Elementary School, effective July 1. Foszpanczyk will replace the retiring principal, Eileen Graf.
Board members noted the importance of the hiring action they made March 12. “This was a big decision, one we took very seriously,” said Board President Dave Moyer in a media release.
“We had a plan, a process to get the best possible candidate available, and we are most pleased with the result.”
The East Troy Board took turns March 9 praising Foszpanczyk and expressing their regret at losing such an asset to the schools. “We’re going to miss you,” said East Troy Board President Ted Zess, who expressed his appreciation for all her hard work.
Another board member, Brian Wexler, said he has always been impressed with where Foszpanczyk places her priorities. “Always with the kids,” Wexler said. “It was always Kids First with Amy.”
The new hire
“I am so excited to join the staff at Yorkville Elementary,” Foszpancyk said via email Tuesday night. She said she looks forward to serving as principal and working with the school’s staff, students and families to continue creating a learning environment that is committed to excellence.
Foszpancyk comes to Yorkville School with experience as a Junior High English teacher, a first grade teacher and, most recently, Director of Curriculum and Instruction at East Troy.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from UW-Whitewater, Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Carroll University and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University.
Foszpanczyk has been with the East Troy district for six years, and said she tendered her resignation with “bittersweet” feelings. “It was not an easy decision,” Foszpanczyk told the East Troy board March 9.
She started out as a teacher, Foszpanczyk told the board, “but through the years I’ve missed the connection with the kids. I see the things our principals do and how they get to be involved, and I want that!”
“We are excited and look forward to welcoming Mrs. Foszpanczyk to Yorkville School, and the Yorkville community,” said Dave Alexander, the Yorkville administrator.
He said Yorkville school leaders are confident Foszpanczyk will be a great asset and a great fit to the school. Foszpanczyk will begin her principal duties at Yorkville School in July.
Eileen Graf to retire
Yorkville district leaders expressed their appreciation to Graf for her many years of dedicated service to the district and its students.
Graf announced to the Yorkville board last June that she planned to retire in June 2015.
She has been with Yorkville in various capacities for 39 years. Graf began her teaching career in the Salem Graded School District in 1968, according to a media release from the Yorkville district.
From there, she taught at the Union Grove Jt. 1 School district for two years. Graf was then hired to serve as a Title I teacher at Yorkville School in 1976. Her role eventually evolved into a Junior High science teacher, part-time assistant principal and bus coordinator, and then full-time principal in 2007.
Moyer said Graf’s early notice of her retirement intentions helped the Board and administration develop a thoughtful plan to search for a replacement.
“We are grateful for all the years Eileen has given us, and she did us a huge favor by letting us know about her plans last year,” said Moyer.
The search process for Yorkville’s new principal began in earnest in November, said Alexander. The vacancy was posted for more than two months, and ahead of the timeline when most other districts would be posting to fill positions, he said.
“We felt we would get all of the best possible candidates that way,” he said.
Staff writer Tracy Ouellette contributed to this story.
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