District 225 added two administrators to South with the promotion of Ashly Song as the new Associate Dean and the hiring of Joyce Kim as the new Associate Principal for Teaching and Learning.

The appointments were approved during a District 225 board meeting on Feb. 12. Currently, Song is the Assistant Dean at South and Kim is the Associate Principal of Instruction at Prospect High School, according to an email from D225. Both will be undertaking roles similar to their current positions, however, the new roles include more leadership opportunities and will require more responsibility, Song said.

Currently, Song’s responsibilities include student discipline, attendance, and most importantly, building relationships with students and families at South. With her new promotion, she will do more complex disciplinary work, Principal Dr. Barbara Georges said. Georges emphasized her support for Song and her abilities.

“[Song is] somebody that South as an organization has come to depend on as a critical team member,” Georges said.

Kim is currently working at Prospect High School, but is excited to join the Titan community and learn, she stated. Being a first generation Asian American woman will bring unique insights to her new position, Kim explained.

“When I left teaching and chose administration, I committed to using my multi-faceted identity as a first generation Asian American and former ELL student to speak for voices that are dismissed,” Kim said.

Because the new administrators are both female and Asian American, they have the power to convey a message diversity, and inclusion, Georges said. These two women can be great role models for those at South looking to step into administrative and leadership positions, Georges recognized.

“[The new administrators have] walked the journey that a lot of our students are traveling on right now,” Georges said.