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Silva returns to SD 103

New Robinson principal expected tonight

By Steve Metsch

A familiar face is being brought back to be the principal of one school and a new principal is expected to be hired today for another by the Lyons School District 103 board.

The board is holding a special meeting at 6 p.m. today (Aug. 1) at Washington Middle School with the purpose of hiring a principal for Robinson School.

The person that will be hired was out of town on vacation and unable to attend the July 23 meeting where Theresa Silva was hired as the principal of Lincoln School, Supt. Kristopher Rivera said.

“There’s a little different dynamic. There’s an assistant principal there now who wasn’t there before. That should be a definite bonus … it’s our biggest elementary school, more than 500-some kids,” Rivera said.

Theresa Silva is all smiles after she was re-hired, after a year away, to be principal of Lincoln School in Brookfield. A Robinson principal is expected to be hired this evening. (Photo by Steve Metsch)

This is Silva’s second tour of duty at Lincoln. She was principal for the 2017-18 school year. She resigned last year, was principal at another Lincoln School – that one in Oak Park—and is excited to return.

Silva receivedcongratulationsfrom about 10 Lincoln teachers who attended the meeting but declined to comment.

“It’s amazing. Staff are so powerful, they’re dedicated, they love kids and they have a positive working environment. Who doesn’t want to come back to a space where people love what they do every day?” Silva said.

Silva will be paid $90,000 a year. She was asked about the board’s long debate over the hiring process.

“I can’t comment on their feelings. All I know is the staff is happy to have me back. I’m happy to be back. I love the community. I love the kids. I love the parents,” Silva added as well-wishers approached in the Washington cafeteria after the meeting.

This being a District 103 meeting, it wasn’t held without a bit of controversy, and an argument or two.

There was a long debate about the topic of trust – brought up by Rivera.

“Trust doesn’t come in one month, two months. It comes over time. So, do I think that you mistrust me? Do I think you think I’m a bad person? No, I don’t. But I think that your level of trust is 100 percent? Not yet, and that’s understandable,” Rivera said.

Board member Marge Hubacek said, “It’s hard to build a basis of trust when the whole board’s not included, when directions are coming from the president … there are seven people here, a lot of responsibilities, but one of them is not telling you how to do your job.”

She was visibly upset Torres asked Rivera for more time for the selection process. Torres said he wanted to make sure there were no issues with backgrounds of potential candidates.

“When you become board president, nobody dies and makes you the dictator,” Hubacek said.

Torres bristled at that remark and made it clear he did not appreciate “personal attacks” from other board members during the meeting.

During public comments, Brookfield resident Krystal Steiner, who has a son at Washington Middle School, said, “Trust can be built by hiring qualified people right away. We need to hire people and move on. We need to educate kids who come to this district.”

— Desplaines Valley News

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Steve Metsch

Steve Metsch is an award winning veteran reporter who previously worked for the Daily Southtown Newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Metsch is a writer and editor at the Southwest News Newspaper group based in suburban Chicago, and a freelance writer a health magazine, the Suburban Life, the Naperville Sun, and other organizations.
Email Steve Metsch at [email protected]

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