The District 30 Board of Education named Erik Brekke as the new District-wide assistant director of student services and Willowbrook School assistant principal for the 2023-24 school year during the April 27 regular meeting.
The district serves more than 1,200 students with nearly 230 staff members; Willowbrook School in Glenview school serves 324 of those students in preschool through fifth grade, with a staff of 74.
Brekke’s dual-role position was created in District 30 to support the Student Services Department, including next year’s integration of the supportive learning environment services for students, and to increase administrative capacity at Willowbrook School.
District 30 received 48 qualified applicants for the role. As a final candidate, Brekke interviewed with several members of the District 30 administrative team, the principal team and Student Services team, as well as members from the TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 (formerly Northern Suburban Special Education District).
Brekke will begin his service on August 1 and is already familiar with District 30. From 2014-18, he was the first Maple School teacher from TrueNorth, serving students needing specialized support.
Currently, Brekke serves as the Principal of Miner School in Arlington Heights. The school is supported by the local special education cooperative, Northern Suburban Special Education Organization (NSSEO). The school provides a comprehensive program for students with complex needs in preschool through eighth grade.
“I am thrilled to be coming back home to District 30 and am excited to help lead the integration of specialized learning environments into the fabric of our schools,” Brekke said.
Brekke earned his undergraduate degree from Indiana University in secondary education and social studies. He then obtained an endorsement as a learning specialist from National-Louis University and holds an M.Ed in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in applied behavioral analysis from Arizona State University, Polytechnic Campus. He completed his principal preparation program with a second M.Ed. from Concordia University.
“Erik is a child-centered educator passionate about providing students with experiences that will bring out their best performance,” Lauren Schulman, District 30 Director of Student Services said. “He regularly goes above and beyond for students and families, with efforts like personally supervising trips to Springfield, Washington, and local events to ensure all students can participate in all school functions. He is also respected by students, colleagues, families, and the community.”
