Sandy Cristobal appointed Highland assistant principal and District curriculum coordinator

Highland AP and District curriculum coordinator appointment

The Downers Grove Grade School District 58 Board of Education last night appointed Sandy Cristobal to serve as the assistant principal of Highland School and as a District 58 curriculum coordinator, effective July 1, 2022. 

“We are thrilled to announce the recommendation of Sandy Cristobal as the new Highland School assistant principal and District curriculum coordinator!” said Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Justin Sisul. “Sandy is a native Spanish speaker and has previously taught bilingual students. Through three rounds of interviews, she impressed our team with her student-centered approach, her broad experiences (which align extremely well with the role she will hold in District 58), her positivity, enthusiasm and warm, caring demeanor.”

Cristobal’s curriculum coordinator responsibilities will include overseeing the Dual Language Program, as well as other parts of District 58’s curriculum. She will evenly share time between her assistant principal and curriculum coordinator roles.

Cristobal comes to District 58 from Westmont Community Unit District 201, where she has served as the assistant principal of Manning and Miller elementary schools and as the grade K-12 bilingual director since 2019. Previously, she served several years as an elementary ESL and bilingual teacher in Morton Grove School District 70 and South Berwyn School District 100. 

Cristobal earned her master of arts degree in Educational Leadership from North Park University, her ESL/bilingual endorsement from Aurora University and her bachelor of arts in Secondary Education from North Central College.

“I am very excited to join the Highland and District 58 community and to serve our students, staff and families!” Cristobal said. “I am very grateful for this opportunity and I look forward to seeing how together we will equip our students for success.” 

Cristobal will replace Highland Assistant Principal/Curriculum Coordinator Christine Priester, who has transitioned into a full-time District 58 curriculum coordinator role.