Principal's Message

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year!

I will be serving as the new principal of Wesley Elementary. My name is Dr. Joshua Markward. I am extremely excited to meet our students and families! 

This is my 18th year in education. I spent the first 17 as a teacher (3rd, 5th and 7th) and administrator (K-8) in the south suburbs. In a very short amount of time here in Addison, I can say that I truly feel at home and have felt very welcomed and supported. I am a lifelong learner who is extremely inquisitive and curious. I love to explore and have built my career on learning with, and from, others.

My favorite part of being an educator is building relationships with students, staff, and families. So, please  introduce yourself if you see me around. I am eager to have open dialogue with anyone and everyone in the Wildcat family.

Just a little about myself personally...I have a wife (Julia) and three kids (Hawk 11, River 10, Winter 7). We moved to Elmhurst about 4 years ago after living in Chicago for the previous 22. I love to cook, garden, see live music, watch a variety of sports, and, most of all, spend time with my family. I attended the University of Iowa. My sports teams are: Cubs, Bulls, Bengals (long story), anything Hawkeyes, and any team my kids play on. 

As I mentioned, I am tremendously excited about this new opportunity to serve as the principal of Wesley Elementary. Let's get this party started!

See you real soon!

Dr. Markward