District U-46 Announces New Principals and Promotions

Six employees receive administrative positions, including three new principals

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:20pm

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A brightly colored, abstract silkscreen illustration of a stylized school building icon repeated in a grid pattern, conveying the energy and transition of leadership changes in the district.The vibrant leadership changes at District U-46 schools aim to provide stability and direction during a period of district-wide realignment.Chicago Today

The District U-46 School Board has promoted six employees to new administrative positions, including three new principals who will start in August 2026. The new principals are Jennifer Reyes at Kenyon Woods Middle School, Jason Krause at Abbott Middle School, and Ashley Talip at Century Oaks Elementary School. Other promotions include Paige Moran as executive director of the U-46 High School Network and Jacqueline Menoni as executive director of the Bartlett Network.

Why it matters

These leadership changes come as District U-46 realigns its school buildings and moves sixth-grade students into middle schools. The new principals will be tasked with overseeing these transitions and providing stable leadership for their schools.

The details

The three new principals are replacing retiring or departing administrators. Jennifer Reyes has been the principal of Abbott Middle School since 2024 and will now lead Kenyon Woods Middle School. Jason Krause, currently the interim principal at Centennial Elementary, will become the principal at Abbott Middle School. Ashley Talip has been the assistant principal at Century Oaks Elementary and will now lead the school.

  • The new principals will assume their roles in August 2026 at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
  • Paige Moran and Jacqueline Menoni will begin their new executive director roles in the 2026-27 school year.

The players

Jennifer Reyes

Will become the new principal of Kenyon Woods Middle School, replacing Rebecca Gabrenya. Reyes has been the principal of Abbott Middle School since 2024.

Jason Krause

Will become the new principal of Abbott Middle School. Krause has been an administrator in District U-46 for the past four years, most recently as the interim principal of Centennial Elementary.

Ashley Talip

Will become the new principal of Century Oaks Elementary School, replacing Cheryl Frederickson who is retiring. Talip has been the assistant principal at Century Oaks since 2022.

Paige Moran

Will become the new executive director of the U-46 High School Network, replacing William Johnson who has been named the new assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. Moran has been the principal of Streamwood High School since 2023.

Jacqueline Menoni

Will become the new executive director of the Bartlett Network, replacing Kyle Bunker who is retiring. Menoni was the area superintendent of Waukegan Public Schools from 2024 to 2025 and served as a principal in the Chicago Public Schools system from 2015 to 2024.

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The takeaway

These leadership changes in District U-46 come at a critical time as the district realigns its school buildings and transitions sixth-grade students into middle schools. The new principals and executive directors will be tasked with providing stable leadership and overseeing these changes to ensure a smooth transition for students and families.