New principal to replace retiring Glacier Ridge Elementary School leader

Glacier Ridge Elementary School’s new principal has been with Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47 since 2001, serving as assistant principal at two schools and a director at the district level.

The school board approved hiring Anastasia Gruper as the school’s principal at its meeting Tuesday.

She’ll start with the 2022-23 school year. She’ll replace John Jacobsen, who has been the principal of Glacier Ridge for the past 15 years and is retiring at the end of this school year, according to a news release.

“Taking the lead after Mr. Jacobsen’s retirement will be tough shoes to fill, but I will give it my all,” Gruper said in a statement. “I’m excited to return to the incredible staff and families I had the pleasure of serving in my previous position and look forward to meeting the new families who have since joined the Glacier Ridge community.”

Gruper joined District 47 during the 2001-02 school year as a middle school teacher at Bernotas Middle School, according to the release. She became the assistant principal there in 2008 where she spent five years. After that, she became an assistant principal at Glacier Ridge Elementary School and served there another five years.

Gruper joined the district leadership team as director of professional development in 2018 and currently serves as the district’s director of literacy and social studies, according to the release. She holds a master’s degree in teaching from Dominican University and educational leadership from St. Francis University. In 2020, she earned her doctoral degree in literacy from Judson University.

“Dr. Gruper has been a valuable member of our administrative team in every position she’s held,” Superintendent Kathy Hinz said in a statement. “She has been instrumental in supporting and moving district initiatives and goals forward and has earned deep respect and trust among the Glacier Ridge community. We look forward to her continued leadership.”