Assistant principal at QJHS named principal at Denman Elementary for 2024-25 school year

QUINCY — Amber Whicker will be recommended to the Board of Education as the new principal of Sarah Atwater Denman Elementary School beginning with the 2024-25 school year.

Whicker will assume the role currently held by Chrissy Cox, who has been the principal at Denman since it opened in 2019. The Board of Education will vote on her appointment at its next meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28. If approved, she will begin her duties as Denman Elementary principal on July 1, 2024.

Todd Pettit, superintendent of Quincy School District 172, announced the recommendation of Whicker in a press release Thursday morning.

“I am looking forward to becoming a part of the Denman community,” Whicker said in a press release. “I am excited for the opportunity to utilize my skillset to build upon a positive climate as we foster intellectual rigor while supporting and meeting the individual needs of our students.”

Whicker is currently the assistant principal for curriculum and instruction at Quincy Junior High School. Her previous roles in the district were as a second- and third-grade teacher at Ellington School, a STEM coach at Denman Elementary and a school administrative manager for academics at Lincoln-Douglas Elementary.

Before her time at QPS, Whicker spent six years teaching in Chicago, focusing on literacy and realigning the English language arts and math curriculum.

“Mrs. Whicker is a servant leader who has helped move Quincy Junior High School to new heights,” Quincy Junior High School Principal Brenda Fleer said. “Her knowledge of K-5 learners, English language learners and best practices in curriculum and instruction have been invaluable. Our immense loss will be Denman’s gain.”

Whicker is married to Ryan Whicker, chief of business operations for Quincy Public Schools.