Board President Elvis Madison, Jr., Raúl Gastón, and Dr. Theresa Rouse
Joliet Public Schools District 86 Superintendent Dr. Theresa Rouse and the Board of School Inspectors are pleased to announce Raúl Gastón as principal of Gompers Junior High School, effective July 1, 2024. Mr. Gastón’s appointment was approved during the school board meeting held on March 13.
Mr. Gastón comes to Joliet from DuPage School District 45 where he has been an administrator for 16 years. Since 2012, he has served as principal of Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Villa Park. He also has 13 years of experience as a middle school and high school Spanish teacher in Elmhurst and Urbana. Mr. Gastón is replacing Rita Sparks who retires in June.
“I am thrilled to welcome Mr. Raúl Gastón to Joliet Public Schools District 86 and the Gompers Junior High School community,” said Dr. Theresa Rouse, “His middle school principal experience will be a tremendous asset for our students, staff, and families.”
Mr. Gastón has an associate degree in education from Harold Washington College, bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and Spanish from Eastern Illinois University, and a master’s degree in Global Studies in Education and certificate of advanced study in educational leadership from the University of Illinois. He is currently pursuing his doctorate degree.
Gompers Junior High School currently serves 725 students in sixth, seventh, and eighth-grades. Plans are currently underway to build a replacement Gompers Junior High School on the corner of Briggs Street and Copperfield Avenue. A groundbreaking for the new school will take place this fall. The new school is scheduled to open for the 2026-2027 school year.