The Elmhurst District 205 board unanimously voted for Jill Zapata, the assistant principal at Conrad Fischer Elementary School, to become the new principal of Emerson. This comes after Sheleen DeLockery was the school's principal for seven years. Zapata's tenure has spanned 15 years. The district highlighted significant gains at Fischer since Zapata was hired two years ago, with a 14 percent increase in math achievement and literacy. The position attracted 73 applicants.