Sarah PRICE

I am honored to serve as the Early Childhood Programming Administrator for West Aurora School District 129. I believe that early childhood education provides the foundation for lifelong learning, and I am committed to creating a nurturing, inclusive, and engaging environment where every child can grow, learn, and thrive.

Throughout my career, I have worked in a variety of educational leadership roles supporting early childhood and special education programs. My experience includes leading instructional initiatives, collaborating with educators and families, supporting students with diverse learning needs, and fostering positive learning environments that help all children succeed.

I value strong partnerships with families, staff, and community organizations and believe that working together creates the best opportunities for young learners. My goal is to ensure every child feels welcomed, supported, and empowered to become the best version of themselves each day.

I earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education from Illinois State University.
 

ANITA CONKLIN

I am grateful to be part of School District 129 and thrilled to continue serving the students, families, and staff of the Early Learning Academy in my role as Assistant Principal.   

Prior to this role, I served as an early childhood special education coordinator for West Aurora School District 129. I was responsible for the enrollment of incoming early childhood special education students. Additional responsibilities included arranging specialized transportation for students, developing professional learning for teachers, and facilitating monthly professional learning community meetings.

I also spent five years as an early childhood special education teacher in West Aurora School District 129. As a teacher leader, I was an active member of the school improvement and curriculum pilot teams and served as a mentor to new teachers.

Before joining West Aurora School District 129, I spent eight years as a public school substitute teacher, four years as a parents' day out director and church nursery coordinator, and one year as a kindergarten teacher at Wasco Elementary School in Community Unit School District 303. 

I hold a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Science in teaching and learning from the University of St. Francis. 

In the coming school year, I look forward to embracing the curiosity, complexity and joy of learning with our students and staff!