New principals hired at Unified

By Brent Killackey

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:35 PM CDT

Racine County - When Racine Unified School District students return on Sept. 1, many students will encounter new principals running their buildings.

During the summer, Unified's human resources department made the following hires: * Alfredo Cintr�n has been hired as principal at Jerstad-Agerholm Middle School.

Cintr�n is currently working as literacy coach/leadership team for the Victory K-8 Gifted and Talented School in Milwaukee, a position he has held for the past year. Prior to that, he served as an assistant principal at Fritsche Middle School in Milwaukee for two years, as an assistant principal-in-charge at Whittier Elementary School in Milwaukee for one year, as a Spanish immersion teacher for three years at the Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School, as a math and science resource teacher for one year and as a fifth grade bilingual teacher for seven years for the Milwaukee Public Schools, as a second and sixth grade teacher for the Bridgeton Public Schools in New Jersey for four years and as a third grade teacher at Fairton Elementary School in New Jersey for two years.

Cintr�n holds a bachelor's degree in elementary and bilingual education from Asbury College, a master's degree in educational leadership from Marian College, and a doctorate of education from Cardinal Stritch University.

* Mary Jane Gajdos has been selected principal at Fratt Elementary School.

Gajdos is currently serving as a second-grade teacher at West Ridge Elementary School, a position she has held for the past three years. Prior to that, she served as a bilingual and elementary school teacher for Racine Unified for 15 years, as a Spanish teacher for the Kenosha Unified School District for four years, and as a Spanish teacher for the Mukwonago School District for one year.

Gajdos holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish literature and Hispanic civilization and elementary and secondary teacher, and a master's degree in classroom guidance and counseling with an emphasis in reading. She will complete her administrative leadership program at Carthage College in the fall of 2006.

* Anne Swanson has been selected as principal at Giese Elementary School.

Swanson is currently serving as an associate principal at Goodland and Red Apple Elementary Schools, a position she has held for the past three years. Prior to that, she served as a fifth-grade teacher at Winslow Elementary School for 10 years, as a fifth-grade teacher and year-round school coordinator at Janes Elementary School for four years, as an assistant principal at Starbuck Middle School for three years, as an assistant principal at Mitchell Middle School for two years, as a sixth grade teacher at Mitchell Middle School for three years, as a sixth grade teacher at Brown Elementary School for two years, and as a third- and sixth-grade teacher at Hansche School for nine years.

Swanson holds both a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in administrative leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

* Gayle Titus has been selected as principal at Knapp Elementary School.

Titus is currently serving as principal of Giese Elementary School, a position she has held for the past four years. Prior to that, she served as an associate principal for two years, as an English and social studies teacher at Starbuck Middle School for 4� years, as an English teacher at St. Hubert School in Hubertus for one year, as an English teacher at Richfield Joint District in Richfield for one year, as a fifth-grade teacher at McKinley School in West Virginia for 4 years, and as a special education teacher for the Wood County Schools in West Virginia for 16 years.

Titus holds a bachelor's degree in education from West Virginia University, and a master's degree in administrative leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

* Mark Zanin has been selected as principal at North Park Elementary School.

Zanin is currently working as a sub-school principal at Horlick High School, a position he has held for the past seven years. Prior to that, he served as a team leader for seventh grade advanced learners at Lincoln Middle School in Kenosha for 16 years, and as an elementary teacher at Wilson Elementary School in Kenosha for four years.

Zanin holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and elementary education from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, and a master's degree in

administrative leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Special Offer: Get 5 Weeks of the Journal Times for $7!