Jill Castro
Plainfield
Summary
Results-oriented education administrator with expertise in strategic planning, curriculum development, and staff management. Strong communicator and problem-solver, dedicated to enhancing educational outcomes and cultivating positive environments for students and staff. Committed to embracing new challenges while leveraging adaptability and interpersonal skills to drive success.
Overview
1
1
Certification
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Principal
Forte Academy
Joliet
09.2024 - Current
- Provide visionary leadership in alignment with mission and therapeutic philosophy
- Oversee daily school operations, including staff scheduling, student programming, crisis management, and building operations
- Develop and implement policies and procedures necessary to build and grow an effective program
- Meet all ISBE requirements for a non-public facility, ensuring compliance with all special education laws
- Opened a therapeutic day school for students with autism between twelve years old and twenty-one years old
- Cultivated partnerships with local school districts to enhance enrollment in therapeutic programs. with school districts to increase and maintain enrollment in therapeutic program
- Serve as the public face of the school, interacting with families, community members, and other stakeholders.
- Collaborate with local businesses and organizations to enhance school opportunities
- Recruit, mentor, and evaluate a multidisciplinary team of educators, therapists, and support staff
- Evaluated and supported staff through feedback and professional development opportunities to strengthen evidence-based and individualized instruction
- Oversee the development and implementation of IEPs in collaboration with the special education team, therapists, districts, and families
- Implemented strategies for data-driven instruction to improve teaching effectiveness and student outcomes. and progress monitoring
- Support the integration of therapeutic and behavioral interventions
Principal
Catalyst Schools
Chicago
08.2023 - 08.2024
- Educational Leadership – Provide vision and direction for the school, ensuring educational goals and standards are met; Develop and implement policies and procedures to support achievement
- Managed day-to-day operations of school, overseeing budget management, scheduling, staff supervision, and facilities to ensure a conducive learning environment
- Managed scholar discipline, safety, and welfare; interacted with scholars to foster a positive learning environment and address behavioral and academic concerns.
- Represented school to families, community members, and stakeholders; Collaborated with local businesses and organizations to create enhanced opportunities for scholars
- Supervision – Support and evaluate staff, providing feedback and professional development opportunities to enhance teaching effectiveness
- Scholar Affairs – Responsible for scholar discipline, safety and welfare; Interact with scholars to foster a positive learning environment and address behavioral and academic concerns
- Analyzed scholar achievement data to evaluate school performance and inform data-driven decisions for continuous improvement
- Professional Development – Promote a culture of continuous improvementementement by supporting development opportunities for staff
Assistant Principal
Catalyst Schools
Chicago
08.2019 - 08.2023
- Implemented organization and school-wide vision and mission
- Implemented discipline policies to ensure student safety
- Attended, developed, planned, and presented professional development opportunities for staff
- Completed walkthroughs and performance reviews for staff
- Master Scheduler – responsible for scheduling students, grades K-8, starting with developing the master schedule
- Oversaw gradebook platform – including trainings, setup, maintenance, grade submission, and report card printing etc.
- Enforced discipline and safety
- Managed K-8 math curriculum implementation, providing guidance and support to teachers
- Conducted weekly reviews of lesson plans and grades to ensure alignment with curriculum standards
- Supported parental communication and involvement
- Supported the hiring process of teachers and staff
- Completed weekly checks of lesson plans and grades
- Supported daily school operations by managing various tasks
- Participated in organizing school events and specific tasks
- Developed and implemented the school MTSS process
- Maintained accurate records for principal's tasks
Director of Specialized Services
Catalyst Schools
Chicago
08.2018 - 08.2019
- Coordinated and oversaw all aspects of the special education program in a K-12 charter school
- Served as Special Education liaison with Chicago Public School District
- Participated in professional development and county meetings to enhance knowledge of special programs
- Scheduled and facilitated the development of IEPs and 504 plans
- Assumed the responsibility for the pre-referral and referral process
- Developed and implemented the school MTSS process
- Provided training, modeling, collaboration, and consultation to classroom teachers to maximize learning opportunities
- Scheduled and facilitated the development of IEPs and 504 plans
- Ensured compliance with all local, state, and federal laws
- Maintained accurate record keeping on all tasks directed by the principal
- Maintained accurate records on tasks directed by principal, ensuring compliance and effective tracking
- Supported curriculum planning utilizing technological resources and data gathered from various sources
- Collaborated in curriculum planning by integrating technological resources and data analysis
- Provided additional communication and support to families and students outside job scope
- Served as a member of the leadership team and supported all tasks, including duties, hallway support, discipline issues, school-wide activities
- Implemented organization and school-wide vision and mission
- Supported in the hiring process of teachers and staff
- Conducted weekly checks of lesson plans and grades
- Assisted in all daily operations of the school
Assistant Principal
Franklin Academy Charter School
Sunrise
07.2016 - 06.2018
- Implemented organization and school-wide vision and mission
- Oversaw implementation of curriculum – specifically Math and Science grades K-8
- Attended, developed, planned, and presented professional development opportunities for staff
- Completed evaluations of teachers and staff – utilizing Observe4Success
- Developed and presented professional development opportunities for staff, enhancing instructional practices
- Addressed student-related issues
- Coordinated teacher and staff hiring process, contributing to a strong and effective educational team
- Oversaw curriculum implementation for Math and Science, grades K-8, ensuring alignment with school goals
- Supported the hiring process of teachers and staff
- Weekly checking of lesson plans and grades
- Master Scheduler – responsible for scheduling 1375 students, grades K-8, starting with developing the master schedule
- Oversaw gradebook platform – including trainings, setup, maintenance, grade submission, and report card printing etc.
- PowerSchool expert – online platform utilized to communicate various aspects from the school, including grades, field trips, lunch count, etc.
- Coordinated testing logistics and schedules for student assessments
- Oversaw the process of scheduling and managing substitute teachers
Special Programs Coordinator
Franklin Academy Charter School
Cooper City
07.2013 - 07.2016
- Planned and developed programs for students with special needs
- Coordinated ESE programs to ensure effective implementation and support for students with special needs
- Attended all professional development and county meetings regarding special programs
- Acted as ESE Liaison with the school district
- Acted as the 504 Liaison with the school district
- Worked with district staffing specialist and psychologists to coordinate referrals and IEP meetings for students requiring additional support
- Provided training and consultation to classroom teachers, enhancing strategies to maximize learning opportunities for students with diverse needs
- Ensured compliance with all local, state, and federal laws
- Scheduled and facilitated the development of IEPs, EPs, and 504 plans
- Assumed the responsibility for the pre-referral and referral process
- Supported the RtI process and implementation
- Maintained accurate records for all tasks assigned by the principal
- Oversaw staff members supporting the ESE population, including ESOL coordinator, as well as completing end-of-year evaluations
- Supported curriculum planning utilizing technological resources and data gathered from various sources
- Acted as Testing Coordinator for K-8 in-house assessments and 3-8 state assessments
- Coordinated scheduling of all additional school assessments, including Franklin Writes, Access 2.0, EOY assessments, Portfolio, and SAT
- Oversaw the implementation of Accelerated Reader and i-Ready online platforms, including set-up, professional development, and support for teachers and families
- Facilitated the Best Practices in Inclusive Education (BPIE) process, start to finish, for multiple campuses
- Served as a member of the Leadership Team and supported all tasks, including duties, hallway support, discipline issues, school-wide activities
- Coached middle school boys soccer team in the MSAA league
- Conducted skills-based clinics for soccer players to support growth
Education
Master of Science - Education
City University of New York - Hunter College
Manhattan, NY05-2007
Bachelor of Science - Education
Dominican College
Blauvelt, NY05-2005
Ed.D - Educational Leadership And Management
American College of Education
Indianapolis, IN07-2026
Skills
- Educational leadership
- Crisis management
- Compliance oversight
- Crisis management
- Crisis response strategies
- School administration
- Communication skills
- Positive school culture
- Standardized testing
- School culture
- Organizational leadership
- Behavioral management
- Faculty collaboration
- Operational efficiency
- Training and mentoring
- Documentation
- Policy and procedure development
- Networking
- Emergency preparedness
- Compliance reporting
- Mentoring
- Schedule oversight
- Staff management
- Multitasking
- Policy development
- Assessment strategies
- Data-informed instruction
- Collaborative learning
- Discipline
- Strategic leadership
Certification
- Childhood Education - New York & Florida
- Students with Disabilities - New York
- Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing - New York
- Elementary Education - Illinois
- LBS1 - Illinois
- Teacher of Students Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing - Illinois
- Principal Endorsement (anticipated August 2026) - Illinois
- CPI - 6/26
- International Baccalaureate - Level 3 Trained
Timeline
Principal
Forte Academy
09.2024 - Current
Principal
Catalyst Schools
08.2023 - 08.2024
Assistant Principal
Catalyst Schools
08.2019 - 08.2023
Director of Specialized Services
Catalyst Schools
08.2018 - 08.2019
Assistant Principal
Franklin Academy Charter School
07.2016 - 06.2018
Special Programs Coordinator
Franklin Academy Charter School
07.2013 - 07.2016
Master of Science - Education
City University of New York - Hunter College
Bachelor of Science - Education
Dominican College
Ed.D - Educational Leadership And Management
American College of Education