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

Eagle Families:

My name is Anthony Crespo, it is with great pride and excitement I write this to you.  I am honored to serve the students, staff, and the community of Monroe Middle School as your Assistant Principal. Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to meet so many fantastic teachers, staff members, and students.  During these interactions, it is abundantly clear that Monroe Middle School is a family with dedicated professionals devoted to educating the whole child.

For 18 years I have had the privilege to serve students and their families in public education. I have served as a physical education teacher, varsity basketball coach, dean of students, athletic director, assistant principal, and principal.   My mission is to place students first in my educational career and be a supportive role in providing positive educational experiences for all. I am grounded in a strong belief in unity.  This belief is founded on the importance of positive relationships, trust, communication, equitable and restorative practices, and meaningful collaboration.  

On a personal note, my wife and I have been residents of Wheaton for 11 years.  We have three children who attend District 200 schools and my wife is a teacher here in the district.  As a family, we have seen and experienced the dedication of those serving our students.  It is with great joy, we are happy to join them and serve the community in which we reside!  

Throughout the year, if you have any questions or would like the opportunity to partner in enriching the educational experiences for our students, please do not hesitate to contact me. Looking forward to meeting you in person and welcoming you to take part in the Eagle Nation! 

Sincerely,  
Anthony Crespo, M.Ed.