New Principals Appointed at Ravinia and Indian Trail

At its May 17 meeting, the North Shore School District 112 Board of Education approved the appointment of two new principals, both effective July 1. Dr. Ellen E. Mauer will be the new principal of Ravinia Elementary School, and Mr. Craig Keer will be the new principal at Indian Trail Elementary School.

Mauer previously served as principal of Romona Elementary School in Wilmette District 39 for 7 years, and prior to that as principal of Diamond Lake Elementary School in Mundelein District 76 for 9 years. Since 2009, she has served as superintendent of Millburn School District 24 in Wadsworth, and is eager to return to working with children and staff. 

“She brings with her a wealth of experience, and is a strong leader deeply grounded in literacy and elementary curriculum,” said North Shore School District 112 Superintendent Dr. David L. Behlow. “She is skilled at forging positive relationships with all stakeholders, and has an enlightened approach to focused professional development.”

Mauer lives in Libertyville with her husband Tim and their two children, 10-year-old Kate and 6-year-old Nick, and serves on the Board of Education at Community High School District 128 in Libertyville-Vernon Hills. She earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Loyola University in Chicago; her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from National Louis University in Evanston; and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. 

Keer led the opening of the Park School Campus in Grayslake District 46 in 2007, and has served as that school’s principal for the last four years. Park School is a K-8 building that serves about 800 students. For two years prior to that, he was assistant principal of Prairieview School in Grayslake, and prior to that was a fourth grade teacher in District 46 for five years.

“Principal Keer has a wonderful collaborative approach, and is skilled at working together with teachers and staff to create positive educational experiences for children,”  Behlow said.  “His current district recognizes him as the go-to person for data, and he is particularly adept at using and presenting data in a friendly format for all stakeholders and using it to drive achievement.”

Keer lives in Buffalo Grove with his wife Tracy and their two children,  9-year-old Brandon and 5-year-old Rachel. He is a member of several professional organizations and an expert in the use of technology in the classroom. He holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Aurora University; and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Northeastern University.