Having recently moved from Chicago to Lake Villa with her family, Mrs. Anita Hernandez couldn’t be more pleased to be joining Antioch CCSD 34 as the next principal of Oakland Elementary School. “As I settle into Lake Villa as a new resident, I am extremely excited about being the next principal of Oakland Elementary School. One of my strong beliefs is to contribute to the community where you live. And as a resident and Principal, I want to see Oakland be the best it can be!“
Approved as the new principal of Oakland Elementary School at the April 18, 2023 Antioch CCSD 34 Board of Education meeting, Mrs. Hernandez was warmly welcomed to D34 by Oakland staff members and building and district administrators. Of his newest team member, D34 Superintendent Aron Borowiak shared, “Mrs. Hernandez stood out as the most outstanding candidate selected by our stakeholders, including teachers, support staff, administrators, parents and students. Mrs. Hernandez reiterated that she does not go to work everyday but that she goes to school, and that she has always loved going to school. She was chosen for her leadership experience, ability to raise student achievement scores, and capacity for increasing community involvement and support. We are confident that she will bring that same success to Oakland Elementary School.”
Mrs. Hernandez is currently finishing out the school year as principal of Franz Peter Schubert Elementary School within Chicago Public Schools (CPS), where she has served her students and families for the last five years. Throughout her tenure at the school, Mrs. Hernandez worked to maximize student and teacher performance, increase family engagement, and formed community partnerships with the Jonathan Towes Foundation, Wells Fargo, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, amongst others. She is a strong advocate for the use of data to inform instructional decision-making and has experience providing quality professional development and support to staff. Prior to this, Mrs. Hernandez served as an Assistant Principal and taught both middle school Science and English Language Learners.
As she looks forward to the upcoming school year, Mrs. Hernandez is energized and focused on building relationships with Oakland families and staff members. “I am looking forward to working with all of the teachers and parents and getting to know all of the wonderful students and seeing our school flourish as a true community hub where everyone thrives and feels welcome.” Mrs. Hernandez will begin her principalship on July 1, 2023.
