Student Achievement is Main Focus of New R.C. Hill Principal

Editor's note: The following is a release issued by Valley View School District.

In her mind, new Principal Alyson Ewald has been teaching since she was a little girl when she would play with extra workbooks given to her by her next door neighbor.

In reality, she’s been teaching since 2000 when she launched her career as a second grade teacher in Chicago Public Schools after obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Eastern Illinois University.

“I always knew I would be a teacher,” Ewald said, adding elementary-age kids are her favorites. “I like the age group. They’re excited about school. You can really see the light bulb go off.”

Ewald is succeeding longtime Hill teacher and administrator Paula Bowling as principal, a job that would prove daunting for many people. But the fact that she taught at Hill for four years and has been assistant principal at the Romeoville school since 2007, makes the transition significantly easier.

“Mrs. Bowling was a really good mentor for me,” Ewald said. “Plus I don’t have the hurdle of getting to know the staff and the parents. The staff and the parents here are awesome.”

Ewald intends to focus on learning and student achievement.

“We need to make sure we are using every moment we have with them while they’re here in school,” she said.

And, Ewald adds, Hill’s parents will be asked to play a key role in their children’s education as well.

“Every parent needs to make time for their children,” she said. “I understand the demands of being a working parent because I'm a parent too. If you can find a way to make time for your children by asking them about school and what went on during the day or helping them with school work. This can go a long way toward building a parent-teacher partnership."