Crete Elementary is excited to welcome two outstanding leaders for the upcoming school year. Kendra Leftridge has been named principal, and Lakisha Carter has been promoted to assistant principal.
Kendra Leftridge brings 23 years of experience in education and a strong background in both classroom instruction and school leadership. She began her career at Matteson School District, where she taught general and gifted education to fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students. She later spent many years in Kankakee School District 111, serving as a middle school teacher, assistant principal, and principal, while also coaching volleyball.
Leftridge brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to supporting student success and ensuring all students reach their full potential. She holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Administration from Governors State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University. As a lifelong learner, she also plans to pursue her doctoral degree in the near future.
She shares that serving as a school leader is deeply rewarding, as it allows her to connect with and learn from a diverse community each day. Her educational philosophy is grounded in ensuring high-quality instruction for all students, fostering a positive culture of learning, and promoting continuous growth and collaboration among staff and students.
Her leadership is rooted in core values of courage, respect, kindness, trust, and joy. Ms. Leftridge shares that she is deeply humbled by the opportunity to lead the Crete Elementary family and is already preparing for a successful school year. She looks forward to meeting students, staff, and families and building strong partnerships within the community.
Outside of her professional life, Ms. Leftridge values time with her family and friends, whom she affectionately calls her “village.” She and her husband are proud empty nesters, supporting their daughter as she begins her sophomore year at Tennessee State University and prepares to pursue a career in elementary education.
We are pleased to announce the promotion of Lakisha Carter to Assistant Principal at Crete Elementary. Carter brings more than 20 years of educational experience and a deep passion for helping students, supporting teachers, and building strong school communities.
She began her teaching career in Illinois before spending several years in Arizona, where her innovative work in positive behavior support earned commendations from a sitting United States Congressman for the impact of her behavior management system on students and school culture. She later returned to Illinois and has proudly served Crete-Monee School District 201-U in a variety of instructional and leadership roles. Most recently, she served as the PYP IB Coordinator and Enrichment Teacher in the district. Throughout her career, she has also served as a PBIS Coach, Middle School Science Teacher, and Summer School Coordinator, consistently demonstrating a commitment to student achievement, instructional excellence, and fostering positive school cultures.
Carter holds a Master's Degree in General Administration and in Curriculum and Instruction. A firm believer in lifelong learning, she will begin pursuing her Doctorate in Leadership Stewardship at the University of St. Francis this fall. She is also the creator of the Take 5 Behavior Management System, a research-based framework currently implemented at both the middle and high school levels within Crete-Monee School District 201-U. The system has strengthened consistency in behavioral expectations, improved school climate, and helped create learning environments where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to succeed.
As Assistant Principal, Carter is excited to bring her strong background in behavioral systems, positive school culture, and organizational leadership to Crete Elementary. She believes that meaningful relationships, collaboration, and high expectations are the foundation of student success and is committed to partnering with students, families, and staff to ensure every child reaches their fullest potential.
Carter is honored to join the Crete Elementary community and looks forward to becoming part of such a wonderful school family. She is excited to build lasting relationships with students, staff, and families while supporting the outstanding traditions of excellence that make Crete Elementary a place where every child can thrive.
Outside of school, her greatest joy is spending time with her family. She is the proud mother of one son, who will be entering fourth grade this fall.
Together, Leftridge and Carter bring valuable experience to Crete Elementary and are looking forward to welcoming students and families for the new school year.