Congratulations to these alumni of the NIU College of Education!
Kendra Asbury, Ed.S. Educational Administration, ’24, and M.S.Ed. Educational Administration, ’11, is the new assistant superintendent of human resources for Freeport School District 145. Asbury most recently served as director of human resources at Hononegah Community High School. She previously taught English language arts at the middle school level and was an instructional coach overseeing sixth- through 12th-grade English language arts. Asbury also chairs the Illinois Association of School Personnel Administrators Annual Conference.
Karen Beverlin, M.S.Ed. School Business Management, ’14, was named superintendent of her alma mater Washington Community High School District #308. When she beings July 1, 2027, she will become the first female and first alum in the top role. Beverlin, who is currently the district’s assistant superintendent, previously served as chief school business official at the Special Education Association of Peoria County, assistant superintendent for Dunlap Community Unit School District 323, business manager at Chester East-Lincoln School District 61 and coordinator of Student Assistance and the Freshman Academy in East Peoria Community High School District 309.
Bryan Bolton, M.S.Ed. Educational Administration, ’19, is the next principal of Whittier Elementary School in Downers Grove Grade School District 58. He begins in July. Bolton is currently principal of Fullerton Elementary School in Addison School District 4, where he is noted for strengthening instruction in English language arts and math. He previously was as an elementary assistant principal and taught middle school social studies.
Sarah Cacciatore, Ed.D. Curriculum and Instruction, ’16, was named superintendent of Cary Community Consolidated School District 26. She begins July 1. Currently serving as deputy superintendent of Mundelein Elementary School District 75 and Mundelein High School District 120, Cacciatore is noted for “a strong record of instructional leadership and a deep understanding of how to build trusting partnerships with staff, students, families and the community.” Previous roles include assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and curriculum director in Oak Grove School District 68.
Mitch Dubinsky, M.S.Ed. Literacy Education (Reading), ’05, was named principal of Westmoor School in Northbrook School District 28. He begins July 1. Currently principal of Briar Glen Elementary School in Community Consolidated School District 89, where he has worked sincd 2011, Dubinsky also served as an assistant principal and Bilingual/ELL coordinator in River Trails District 26 and as an elementary school teacher in East Maine School District 63.
Amanda Herrera-Ford, M.S.Ed. School Business Management, ’24, was named director of Business Services for Coal City Community Unit School District #1. She begins July 1. Herrera-Ford currently is director of Human Resources at Valley View Community School District 365-U and previously held the same title at Joliet Township High School District 204.
Billy Hueramo, Ed.S. Educational Administration, ’20, and M.S.Ed. Literacy Education, ’09, is the next superintendent of DeKalb Community Unit School District 428. He begins July 1. Hueramo first taught in District 428 as a student-teacher at Clinton Rosette Middle School in 2007, and he has remained committed to the district ever since. He currently is director of Teaching and Learning, PreK–5, and has also served as the district’s elementary curriculum coordinator as well as a bilingual education teacher, principal and assistant principal.
Toriano Horton, M.S.Ed. School Business Management, ’14, begins July 1 as the next assistant superintendent of Finance and Operations and chief school business official for Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233. Horton is currently assistant superintendent of finance and operations for Thornton Township High School District 205, where he was worked for the last decade. He previously worked for the Chicago Public Schools as well as for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Melydi Huyett, School Business Management certificate, ’22, and B.S.Ed. Elementary Education, ’06, has been named superintendent of her alma mater Dixon Public Schools District 170. She begins July 1. Huyett is currently principal of Centennial Elementary School in the Polo Community Unit School District, where she has worked for two decades and is noted for leading efforts in math and ELA development, state and federal grant writing, increased technology use and after-school programming. Previous roles in Polo include reading specialist, Response to Intervention coordinator and second-grade teacher.
Kathryn Rogalski, Ed.D. Adult and Higher Education, ’18, is the new (and 12th) president of Grand Rapids Community College. Rogalski most recently worked as vice president for academic affairs and workforce development at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, where she had led a $55 million division since 2018. She previously served as Business and Social Sciences dean for Harper College and as an associate dean for College of Lake County. In 2021, she was selected for the Aspen Rising Presidents Fellowship.
Austin Westbrook, M.S. Sport Management, ’24, was named defensive analyst for the Coastal Carolina University football program. Westbrook served as a graduate assistant for defensive backs at Missouri State during the 2025 season.
Julie Wiejak, Ed.D. Higher Education, ’24, was promoted to assistant vice chancellor for University Recruitment and K-12 Strategy at Purdue University Northwest. In this expanded role, Wiejak will provide strategic leadership for university-wide undergraduate and graduate recruitment efforts while continuing to advance PNW’s K-12 partnerships and early engagement strategy. She most recently served as executive director of Undergraduate Admissions.
If you’re a College of Education grad with news to share, please let us know – and send a photo! Our email address is ceduEdNews@niu.edu.
