SD161 Hires Former Park Board Member as New Assistant Principal

Jeff Libowitz is following in his children's footsteps and finally heading to Summit Hill.

During Wednesday's Summit Hill 161 School Board meeting, Libowitz, 55, of Frankfort Square, was named assistant principal of Hilda Walker Intermediate School, which takes students from Frankfort, Frankfort Square, Tinley Park and Mokena.

Although Libowitz, a former Frankfort Square Park Board member, lives within District 161, none of his 31 years in education were spent there.

"I've always felt it's a great district," he said. "I have three kids and they've gone through it."

Libowitz was most recently the manager of student activities for Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C, a position he has held for the last year. He spent the prior 10 years as assistant principal of Troy Middle School and the 12 years before that as an assistant principal in Lemont School District 113A.

"He is a very experienced assistant principal and that's really what we need right now," school board President Mary Kenny said.

Hilda Walker is Summit Hill's sole intermediate school, handling all the fifth and sixth graders in the district. From there, students go to Summit Hill Junior High School and then to the Lincoln-Way high school district.

Libowitz said the hiring process was quick, but thorough. He was brought in for four interviews in the past week.

The pace was spurred by the July 19 resignation of a Summit Hill Junior High assistant principal, Kenny said. Hilda Walker Assistant Principal Christine Hudziak took that role, leaving the vacancy at the Tinley Park intermediate school.

"We needed to get this done because school starts in two weeks," Kenny said.

But Libowitz's new boss said that process still found the best candidate.

"He's very enthusiastic and has a lot of experience I plan to draw on," Hilda Walker Principal Jan Zevkovich said. "As we go along, we'll see if we can come up with new ways of doing things and new procedures."