PEACHTREE CITY, GA — July 26, 2012 — Dr. Linda Curtis, Senior Civilian and Deputy Director for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) and Department of Defense Dependents Schools, Cuba, (DoDDS-Cuba) announced today that Mrs. Helen Balilo has been named assistant superintendent for the New York, Virginia, Puerto Rico District. She will reside in Puerto Rico.

Mrs. Balilo most recently served as principal at Bechtel Elementary School, in the Okinawa District, in DoDDS-Pacific , a position she had held since August 2011. She began her career in education as an elementary teacher in the Tall Timbers, Maryland, school system. She began her career with DoDEA in 1990 and taught at several schools in the Pacific. Her first administrative assignment was as an Assistant Principal at Smith Elementary School in Baumholder, Germany. She was selected as the 2004-2005 Kaiserslautern District Assistant Principal of the Year. While principal of Wetzel Elementary School in Baumholder, from 2005 to 2011, she received the 2010 Phi Delta Kappa Distinguished Service in Public Administration Award, the NAESP 2010 National Distinguished Principal Award and was named the 2010 DoDEA Principal of the Year.

“Mrs. Balilo brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as an educator and administrator to the role of Assistant Superintendent. Her passion for education is evident in her achievements which include selection as the DoDEA Principal of the Year in Baumholder, Germany, in August 2010,” said Mr. Michael Gould, New York/Virginia/Puerto Rico District Superintendent.  “She has a specific skill set that positions her to positively impact student achievement and enhance professional learning opportunities for staff members in this new capacity.”

A native of Canvas, W.Va., Mrs. Balilo earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education from Glenville State College, Glenville, WV,  and her Master’s of Science degree in Educational Leadership from the Troy State University (Ala.) extension on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan.

Mrs. Balilo and her husband, Arnel, have two children who have attended DoDEA schools. Chad is an honor student and a junior in college and Amber will attend Antilles Middle School as a fifth grader.