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Superintendent
Dr. Wallace was named superintendent in 2009 and started with Maine Township High School District 207 in 2005 as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. While Dr. Wallace was Assistant Superintendent, he led improvements in the District’s technology program that included becoming Google’s first K-12 partner and pioneering 1:1 learning.
In 2015, District 207 received an International Digital Content and Curriculum Achievement Award from the Center for Digital Education, and was named one of America’s 14 Most Innovative School Systems in 2016 by Tech Insider. In 2018, District 207 was named one of 25 school districts to be honored as one of the “Most Innovative School Districts” for its unique approaches to expand and support teacher learning and student success both during and after high school.
Dr. Wallace has made teacher leadership and job-embedded professional development a major focus. District 207 is perhaps the only U.S. district that includes annual instructional coaching plans for all teachers who work with peer teacher coaches. One of the District’s four coaching paths includes authentic teacher action research, and the District has developed a research consortium with Northwestern, Illinois ASCD, several other universities and local Districts.
Dr. Wallace was a high school English and journalism teacher for five years and taught computer science for six years. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Southern Indiana and both an education specialist degree and doctorate degree from Indiana State University. Dr. Wallace was named the 2017 Illinois Association of Career and Technical Education Champion of the year for the District’s innovative work to improve college and career counseling and experiences for every District student. |
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Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Mr. Dagres began his career in District 207 in 2002 as a Dean of Students at Maine South High School and served in that role until 2009.
In 2010, Mr. Dagres became the Associate Principal of Maine South High School and moved into his current position, Direction of Human Resources with District 207 in 2020.
Mr. Dagres started his education career in 1996 teaching Chemistry and Math at York High School in Elmhurst. In 1999, he became a Team Leader (Dean of Students) at Libertyville High School in Libertyville.
Mr. Dagres holds a Bachelor of Science degree in the Teaching of Chemistry from the University of Illinois, a Master’s Degree in School Administration and Leadership from Lewis University. |
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Assistant Superintendent for Student Services
Ms. Di Sanza joined District 207 in 2016 as the Department Chair for Special Education at Maine West, followed by her role as the Co-Director for Special Education and Coordinator of Private Placement.
Previously, she was the Assistant Director for Student Services and Director for Transition Services at Niles Township High School District 219, and served as a school psychologist at both Niles North High School and Community High School District 155.
Before starting her career in education, Ms. Di Sanza worked both in social services and recruiting. These endeavors led her to the field of education where she was able pursue her passion of working towards equity in education for all students while preparing them for life post-secondary.
Ms. Di Sanza holds a bachelor’s in Psychology from Western Illinois University and a master’s in Education and educational specialist degree in School Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. She received her Educational Leadership endorsement from Concordia University and holds a Director of Special Education endorsement.
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Assistant Superintendent for Finance
Ms. Kalou has served as the Assistant Superintendent for Business/CSBO for District 207 since 2009. She has more than 20 years of experience as a school business official.
After spending several years at a large public accounting firm, Ms. Kalou began her school district career at District 207 in 1993, serving as the Director of Accounting.
She served in that capacity for five years. She also has served as an Assistant Superintendent for both Arlington Heights School District 25 and Lake Zurich School District 95.
In addition to being a certified public accountant, Ms. Kalou holds a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University, a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University, an education specialist degree from Northern Illinois University and earned her Chief School Business Official (CSBO) endorsement from Northern Illinois University. |
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Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Innovation
After starting a career in advertising following his bachelor’s degree, Dr. Messmer realized through his work as a basketball coach that his passion resided in helping young people reach their full potential and prepare for a successful school and work life.
Moving into the field of education, he taught middle school and high school before serving as an assistant principal for five years at Souderton Area High School in Pennsylvania, his home state. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Temple University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Lehigh University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Concordia University of Chicago.
In 2010, Dr. Messmer became the principal of Maine South High School and moved into his current position with District 207 in 2017. He is currently a member of the Midwest Principal’s Center’s Advisory Board, serves as the President of the Board of Control of NSERVE, and is pursuing his doctorate in educational leadership at Concordia University of Chicago. |
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Director of Communications
Mr. Clark began his work in District 207 in 2018. He has more than 25 years experience in both higher education and public K-12 schools.
He spent 13 years with Glenview School District 34 serving as Executive Director of Communications and Strategic Planning before becoming Executive Director of Human Resources during his time with the district.
Mr. Clark also has worked for Parkway School District and Ladue School District in Missouri. In the higher education sector, he worked for Millikin University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Mr. Clark holds the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) certification from the Public Relations Society of America. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. |
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Director of Adult Learning
Dr. Geocaris began her career in District 207 in 2014. She started her career in the District as the Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning at Maine South High School.
Previously in her career, Dr. Geocaris worked as a Social Studies Department Chair and Assessment Literacy trainer at Downers Grove North High School.
Dr. Geocaris holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies Education from Eastern Illinois University, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Northern Illinois University and earned a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University.
She also leads the Chicago Coaching Center, a progressive collection of instructional coaches interested in providing a collaborative learning environment for instructional coaches and teachers who wish to develop their craft. |
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Director of Personal Learning and Student Support
Dr. Morrissey joined District 207 in 2015 as the Response to Intervention Coordinator and was promoted to the Director of Personal Learning and Student Support in 2018.
Prior to working in District 207 she taught at Foreman High School, in Chicago, where she was also the Special Education Department Chair and the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Internal Coordinator. For over a decade she taught graduate and undergraduate courses as an adjunct instructor in the Loyola University Chicago School of Education.
Dr. Morrissey earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Dayton, a master’s in School Leadership from Concordia University Chicago and both a master’s degree in Education and a doctorate degree in Educational Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Her research, publications, and presentations have included topics such as PBIS implementation in the high school setting, Universal Design for Learning, and using literacy data effectively to screen for student needs and progress.
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Chief Technology Officer
Mr. Ringelestein’s career started as an adjunct instructor teaching philosophy and as a multi-unit manager in retail stores.
Realizing that he wanted to combine his passion for technology with his passion for education, Ringelestein moved into educational technology. Most recently serving as the Director of Technology at West Aurora School District 129, Ringelestein has worked in educational technology for more than 12 years. Mr. Ringelestein has also worked at Community Unit School District 308 in Oswego.
Mr. Ringelestein holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Philosophy and has completed Ph.D. coursework in Philosophy at Loyola University in Chicago.
Mr. Ringelestein is also the President of the Illinois Educational Technology Leader’s organization, the premier association of educational technology leaders in Illinois. |
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Maine South High School Principal
Dr. Collins was named Principal at Maine South in 2017. He arrived in District 207 in 2014 and served as the Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning at Maine West. From 2012-2014, he was the Division Coordinator for Fine Arts, CTE and Physical Education at Batavia High School and the Music Department Chair there from 2009-2012.
Dr. Collins has taught general music and band at Lemont and Batavia High School. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Aurora University and a doctorate in School Administration and Supervision from Loyola University Chicago. His research targeted teacher and leader evaluation systems design and administrative capacity.
Dr. Collins is a board member of the Illinois Principals Association North Cook Region, a past president of the Illinois Council for Instructional Coaching and a board member of the Music Educators Development Division for ILMEA. He is a frequent presenter on teacher and school leader accountability, instructional coaching and arts standards utilization and alignment across the state. |
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Maine West High School Principal
Dr. McMahon started in District 207 in 2017 as the Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning at Maine West. She began as principal at Maine West in 2019. Prior to District 207, she was the Assistant Principal for Curriculum & Instruction at Highland Park High School for three years.
She previously served as the English Department Chair at Highland Park High School for two years, English Department Chair and English teacher at Bexley High School, and as an English teacher at New Trier High School.
She also has taught at the university level, having served as a lecturer at The Ohio State University and a field instructor at the University of Michigan.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Northwestern University, a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Chicago and a doctorate in educational administration from The Ohio State University. |
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Principal, Maine East High School
Dr. Pressler is dedicated to a strengths-focused approach to teaching and learning that honors each student’s individual assets and proclivities as the basis for creating relevant and engaging learning experiences. Helping students identify interests and passions and then weaving those into learning experiences at school is central to his personal educational mission.
He has been with District 207 since 1992. He was named principal at Maine East in 2010, following five years as Assistant Principal for Instruction. He earlier served as Fine Arts Department Chair and Director of Bands at Maine South, during which time the department received state and national recognition for exemplary arts education programs. Before coming to District 207, he taught at Lyons Township High School, Wichita East High School, and in Carlinville.
Dr. Pressler has a bachelor’s degree in Music from Fort Hays State University, a master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois and a doctorate degree in Education in Educational Leadership from National-Louis University. Additionally he has completed advanced degree course work in public school administration at the University of Illinois. |
Dr. Ken Wallace
George Dagres
Kathleen Di Sanza
Dr. Shawn Messmer
Brett Clark, APR
Dr. Jill Geocaris
Dr. Kelly Morrissey
Don Ringelestein
Dr. Ben Collins
Dr. Eileen McMahon
Dr. Mike Pressler