Principal's Welcome Message

Hello, fellow Bulldogs! I am excited to be a part of the Culver Community! This is my 21st year in education, and I am looking forward to another fantastic year in this fulfilling field. I became an educator to impact the lives of young people, and I have found students have influenced my life in wonderful ways. I genuinely love young people, and I feel grateful to be in the educational realm. For the past ten years, I worked as an assistant principal in School District 204, in Naperville. Prior to that, I was an administrator in Dixon, Illinois. I began teaching in 1998 in Spring Wood Middle School in Hanover Park, Illinois. There I taught 8th grade reading and language arts, and I also coached the dance team. 

My undergraduate work took place at Illinois State University.  I then completed two masters programs - one at St. Xavier University and the other at Aurora University.  In May 2017, I earned my doctorate in education at Lewis University, studying educational leadership and social justice.  

John Dewey stated, “Education is not the preparation for life; education is life itself.” The Jackson 5 tells us, “You went to school to learn...things you never, never knew before.” We learn about life and others and things we never knew in school. We learn when we interact with one another during registration. We listen and learn about each other while enjoying delicious ice cream during the PTA Back to School Bash. Kids learn from each other as they discuss their favorite novel character or recent science lab. Adults learn when discussing each other’s interests and passions. Education plants the seed for happiness, fulfillment, and the love of learning. I look forward to learning about the Culver community during this first year. At Culver, there is a wonderful sense of connectedness and genuine care for others. As an educational leader, I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give one another is belief in the value of education and the desire to know more. I look forward to a great year with all of you, getting to know the Culver community of excellence. 

Dr. Erica Smolinski
Culver Principal
esmolinski@niles71.org