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East Aurora SD 131 introduces several new administrators and promotions
Summary
At the July 7 meeting, the district introduced and welcomed multiple new and promoted administrators, including assistant principals, special education leaders and a new chief information officer.
The East Aurora School District 131 Board of Education on July 7 heard introductions of several newly appointed and promoted administrators.
Dr. Halverson asked Dr. Ballard to introduce the new staff. Dr. Ballard presented the following appointments and promotions: Ayolalia Hernandez, named elementary assistant principal (17 years of experience in bilingual education; holds a principal endorsement from Roosevelt University and graduate degrees in dual-language leadership and curriculum); Adrienne Espinosa Zamora, promoted to assistant principal at Waldo Middle School (over 15 years in education; master's in educational leadership from Aurora University); Melinda Thompson, reintroduced as director of special education (promoted from assistant director; holds master's degrees and is pursuing an EdD); Dr. Katrina Dorsey, reintroduced as executive director of elementary special education (more than 25 years in special education; doctorate in special education); Paula Cardona, reintroduced as executive director of information systems and chief information officer (more than a decade in education technology; master's in networking and communications management); and Walter Ornelas, promoted to principal of Allen Elementary School (previously assistant principal at Waldo Middle School).
Each appointment was introduced with brief biographical details shared by Dr. Ballard including prior roles and educational credentials. The board offered congratulations. No formal vote on these staffing introductions is recorded in the transcript; presenters described them as promotions or reintroductions to positions within the district administration.
The board thanked community relations staff in a separate recognition: Yolanowski (community relations) delivered a final report and the board acknowledged parent leader Liliana Olayo for service as Bilingual Parent Advisory Council president and for participation in the Illinois State Board of Education Bilingual Parents Summit Committee.
These leadership assignments place district staff in roles overseeing elementary administration, special education services, information systems and school-level leadership ahead of the 2025–26 school year.
