Welcome to Monroe Middle School, home of the Eagles!

James Howard Monroe Middle school was named after Medal of Honor recipient James Monroe, who received the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1968 for his act of selflessness and valor during the Vietnam War. We are honored to carry his name and have great pride in housing the medal in our building that his family received from the Secretary of Defense in 1968.

I am also honored to be the principal of James Monroe Middle School and look forward to meeting our students and parents in the months to come. This is a truly special place full of wonderful people who care very much about our students and their success. We are Monroe: One Team, One Family!

It's hard for me to believe that this is my 17th year in education. I began my career teaching Spanish at Johnsburg High School where I also coached the dance team and served as a club sponsor. In 2014, I began serving the Geneva community as Dean of Students / Athletic Director at Geneva Middle School North. I then became the Assistant Principal at the same school, and loved my time working with students and staff in Geneva. In 2019, I accepted the Assistant Principal for Student Services position at Lake Zurich High School, and also served LZHS as Assistant Principal for Academics, Assessment, and Innovation for the past three years. I am grateful for these 17 years of experience as they have prepared me to take on the principalship with confidence and a renewed sense of spirit and energy.

My husband, Trevor, and I live in Geneva and have one son, Cole, who will be a third grader this school year. Our weekends are typically filled with basketball, golf, fishing, hiking, and spending as much time outdoors as possible. Trevor is also a middle school educator, so our dinner conversations provide a chance to share fun stories from the day and bounce new ideas off of one another.

My absolute favorite day of the school year continues to be the first day of school. The first day provides such excitement and anticipation of new beginnings and a chance to set new goals. We've got this!

Our team works hard to ensure your experience at Monroe will be a positive one. If there is anything we can do to support your student in their middle school journey, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at any time.

Kindly,
Ashley Huettemann, Principal

Hello Eagle Families!

It is with great excitement that I am writing to you. I am honored to serve the students, staff, and the community of Monroe Middle School as your Assistant Principal. I have quickly learned that the Monroe Middle School community is one with a staff devoted to educating the whole child and a greater community dedicated to the education of its students. I am so grateful to be here!

This year will be my eighth year as an educator in public education. I began my career teaching social studies at Whiteland Community High School in Whiteland, Indiana, where I also coached the varsity girls' cross country team. I then moved to the Chicago suburbs and taught middle school social studies for three years at Leman Middle School in West Chicago School District 33. In 2022, my husband's job moved us to Kansas City, KS, and I took a position as a middle school social studies teacher at Westridge Middle School in the Shawnee Mission School District. After teaching there for a year, I took a position at Indian Hills Middle School, also in the Shawnee Mission School District, as an assistant principal. I served my staff, students, and community in that role for the last two years. I am so grateful for all of these experiences and the various communities that I have had the pleasure of serving along the way; all of which have brought me to where I am today!

Outside of work, I enjoy taking walks, watching and rewatching movies, and spending time with friends and family. My husband, Patrick, and son, Jameson, moved back to the Chicago suburbs this year to be closer to family and friends. We are excited for this opportunity and change in our lives!

My core values and educational philosophy are rooted in integrity, loyalty, and community. It is my goal to adhere to student-first decision-making while supporting a safe and effective learning environment for all students and staff. I am eager to bring my values and practices to Monroe Middle School! Throughout the year, if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to support your student(s), please do not hesitate to reach out. Go Eagles!

Sincerely,

Jennifer Gorniak, Assistant Principal