District 112 Hires New Administrators

The information below comes from District 112.

Northwood co-principal promoted to assistant superintendent

At its April 2 meeting, the Board of Education approved the appointment of Northwood Co-Principal Jennifer Ferrari as the new Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, effective July 1, 2013.

Mrs. Ferrari will replace outgoing Assistant Superintendent Dr Heidi Wennstrom, who was appointed earlier this year as the new superintendent of Butler district 53 inOak Brook.

Mrs. Ferrari has been associated with North Shore School District 112 for her entireprofessional career. She taught English at Northwood Junior High School for 8 years from 1996to 2004. She was the school’s associate principal from 2004 to 2008, and has served as aPrincipal for the last five years. She is a highly regarded leader who is respected by staff andparents alike for her energy, passion innovative spirit, and commitment to students.

While principal at Northwood, she took on leadership roles for many districtinitiatives. She facilitated and implemented the launch of a new Science, Technology,Engineering and Math (STEM) and Communications Media Arts (CMA) program at all threedistrict middle schools. She helped develop a cutting-edge tiered program to address the needsof English Language Learners, presented and implemented a program to train teachers inacademic differentiation, and co-facilitated several district curriculum teams.

“Mrs. Ferrari is an exceptionally talented administrator who has dedicated herself tomaking our district’s mission of providing a world-class education to every student a reality,” said North Shore School District 112 Superintendent David L. Behlow. “Her energy and passion arecontagious.”

Mrs. Ferrari has a B.A. in Education and Political Science from Lake Forest College, anM.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University in Evanston, and administrativecertification from Loyola University in Chicago. She has completed all her coursework towards adoctoral degree in Leadership and Policy Studies at Loyola University in Chicago, and is currentlyworking on her dissertation. She lives in Highwood with her husband Matthew Ferrari, who teaches English at Highland Park High School. They are the parents of two students who attend Oak Terrace Elementary School.

New principal at Oak Terrace

At its April 2 meeting, the Board of Education approved the appointment of Jim Kallieris as thenew Oak Terrace principal, effective July 1, 2013.

Mr. Kallieris will replace outgoing principal Sandy Anderson, who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Mr. Kallieris currently serves as principal of the Hawthorn School of Dual Language, a K-5school in Hawthorn District 73 in Vernon Hills, a post he has held for the last three years. Prior tothat, he served for four years as principal of Antioch Upper Grade School in Antioch CommunityConsolidated District 34, and 1 year as principal of North Elementary School in North Chicago,Illinois. He also taught Spanish, language arts and literature in Libertyville, District 70 for 7 years,and 1 year as a 3rd grade teacher in Winthrop Harbor, Illinois.

As principal of the Hawthorn School of Dual Language, he is highly regarded by colleagues,teachers and parents for his collaborative leadership style, his ongoing visibility in classrooms andhis sincere commitment and ability to create a positive educational environment for all students.

“We are excited to welcome Jim to Oak Terrace,” said North Shore School District 112Superintendent David L. Behlow. “He has an exceptional understanding of dual language classroomsand the needs of English Language Learners, a great ability to mentor teachers and a strong record ofsuccess at involving families in school activities.

”Mr. Kallieris has a B.S. in education and an M.A. in Educational Administration from NorthernIllinois University. He is the son of a Greek Navy Officer who was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Waukegan and has lived in Lake County his entire life. Jim and his wife Jennifer have 3children: ages 9, 7, and 4.

New associate principal at Edgewood

Edgewood Middle School Interim Associate Principal Nicholas Demchenko was hiredpermanently for that position beginning with the 2013-2014 school year. Demchenko wasnamed interim associate principal last July.

The district posted the associate principal position earlier this year and conducted a thoroughsearch, and the selection committee wholeheartedly recommended that Mr. Demchenko remainin the position.

“Mr. Demchenko has done an outstanding job this year,” said Edgewood Principal Matt Eriksen.“He understands kids, builds longstanding relationships, and has shown the work ethic anddesire needed to provide Edgewood with strong leadership and stability. The Edgewoodcommunity is very fortunate to continue its work with him.”

Mr. Demchenko has worked for the district since 2005, where he began as a physical educationteacher at Ravinia School. He moved to Edgewood in 2006, and in addition to his teaching roles,he was the boys volleyball coach, the coed soccer coach, and an active member of the district’sphysical education facility review committee. He has a bachelor’s degree in education fromIllinois State University, and a Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from NationalLouis University.

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