District Administrators
Meet the Administrators
At Morton District 201, we are committed to fostering a safe, enriching, and supportive environment for our students, staff, and community. Meet our District Administration team, whose leadership and dedication help ensure the highest quality educational experience for every student.
Superintendents
Dr. Michael Kuzniewski
Superintendent
Connie Chapman, Secretary, 708-780-2800 x5712
Welcome to Morton District 201! I am honored to return to serve as Superintendent of Schools and to lead a district where excellence in education and opportunity is the foundation of everything we do. I am proof that “Once a Mustang, ALWAYS a Mustang”!
With over 38 years of experience in public education—as a teacher, principal, and district leader—I bring a deep commitment to student achievement, staff collaboration, and community engagement. At Morton, our mission is to inspire, challenge, and empower every student to reach their full potential in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.
Under my leadership, Morton 201 is focused on:
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Raising academic achievement through high standards and innovative instruction
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Expanding career and college readiness programs
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Supporting the social and emotional well-being of all students
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Strengthening family and community partnerships
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Promoting equity and access across every school
I invite you to explore our website, connect with our schools, and join us in supporting the success of every Mustang.
Thank you for your continued trust and partnership.
Degrees and Certifications
- Superintendent's Endorsement- National Louis University
- Ed.D - Educational Leadership - Nova Southeastern University
- M.S - Administration & Supervision- University of South Florida
- B.A - Education – North Central College
Mayra Arroyo
Assistant Superintendent for Educational Programs
I am honored to serve as the Assistant Superintendent for Morton District 201. With 35 years of experience in education, I have had the privilege of serving in a variety of roles that have shaped my commitment to student achievement, equity, and continuous improvement.
My career began in the classroom and has evolved through several leadership positions, including Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent of Accountability and Compliance, and now Assistant Superintendent. I spent 17 years at Morton earlier in my career and am proud to continue serving a district that holds a special place in my heart. Most recently, I spent nine years in Arizona, where I focused on strengthening school communities, supporting instructional excellence, and ensuring high levels of success for all students.
I earned both my Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where I developed a strong foundation in educational leadership and policy. Throughout my career, I have remained committed to fostering cultures where collaboration, accountability, and data-informed decision-making drive meaningful outcomes for students.
Today, I have the privilege of working alongside an amazing team of instructional leaders as we embrace our commitment to being “One Team, One Goal.” Together, we are focused on creating coherence across the district and ensuring that every student has access to the highest quality educational opportunities. By working collaboratively, maintaining a clear focus on teaching and learning, and supporting one another in pursuit of our shared vision, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of our students.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family. I am married and the proud parent of two young adult children who continue to inspire me every day. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Morton community and look forward to partnering with students, staff, families, and community members as we work together to provide the very best educational experience for every learner.
District Leadership Journey
Teacher → Dean of Students → Assistant Principal → Principal → Assistant Superintendent of Accountability and Compliance → Assistant Superintendent
Building Principals
Jose Gamboa
Morton East Principal
As Principal of Morton East High School, I am very excited about the education your child will earn throughout their time.
I take great pride in serving as part of the administrative team responsible for ensuring that ALL students have access to a learning environment fulfilling Morton High School District 201 mission that “Every Student Succeeds” in a safe and welcoming environment. I started as a social studies teacher at Morton East High School in 2001, served as a dean of students for two years and as an assistant principal of instruction and student activities for six years. Serving this community at the historic Morton East High School is both humbling and a great honor. It is a challenge that I look to take on every day!
Degrees and Certifications
- Concordia University, Master's in Educational Leadership & Admin
- Illinois State University, Bachelor's in Secondary Education
Dr. Jorge Sanchez
Morton West Principal
I am honored to serve as the Principal of Morton West High School. My journey in education began at Morton East High School as a paraprofessional, where I discovered my passion for working with students and the lasting impact educators can have on young people's lives.
Over the years, I've held leadership roles in other school districts including Department Chair, Dean, Assistant Principal, and Principal.
This opportunity is especially meaningful because it brings me back to the community where I grew up and where my career in education began. Returning to Morton is more than a professional milestone, it's personal. This community helped shape who I am, and I am grateful for the chance to give back to a place that has given so much to me.
I look forward to working alongside our students, staff, families, and community partners to build on Morton West's strong tradition of excellence. It is a privilege to serve this community, and I am committed to ensuring that EVERY student succeeds.
Degrees and Certifications
- Superintendent Endorsement –Illinois State University
- Ph.D. - Educational Administration - Illinois State University
- M.Ed. - Educational Leadership - American College of Education
- M.B.A. - Accounting & Marketing - Northeastern Illinois University
- M.Ed. - Higher Education Leadership - Northeastern Illinois University
- M.A.T. - Business Education - Chicago State University
- B.S. - Accounting & Marketing - DePaul University
Eric Ramirez
Morton Freshman Center Principal
I am a proud Morton East Graduate and super excited to be part of the Morton Family. I’ve worked at Morton as a teacher for five years and as Dean/Lead Dean for eight years before becoming an Assistant Principal at the Freshman Center. As Principal, I strive to continue to set high expectations for our student body. I am excited to continue to enhance our supports and systems for our students to become productive members of society. I enjoy working with students and parents to obtain a common goal of our students succeeding. I am a firm believer that when schools and communities work together it sends the message that failure is not option.
Degrees and Certifications
- Bachelor's in Secondary Education, Spanish. Minor in Mathematics
Dr. Erin Kelly
Morton Alternative School Principal
To quote Shakespeare literally, “The wheel has come full circle.” Many years ago, I taught English at the Alternative School for four and one half years and after that I transitioned to administration.
As a Dean of Students at Morton West and then moved to positions as an Assistant Principal at both the West and East campuses in various capacities for six years. During my residency at Morton East, I filmed a documentary during which several families opened up their homes to me to speak about their personal struggle. Now I am back to where my career at Morton began serving as the Principal of the Alternative School. I strongly believe the measure of who we are is how you react to things that don’t go the way we would have wanted. My students’ stories about their journey that led them to the Alternative School have humbled me, but more importantly, have helped me to grow as a leader. I am so proud of all of the students I have come into contact with who have found reliance in adversity and have learned not to take failure personally.
District History
English Teacher > Dean of Students > Student Activities Director > Assistant Principal > Principal
Degrees and Certifications
- National Louis University, Doctorate in Educational Leadership
- Benedictine University, Master's in Educational Leadership & Admin
- Carthage College, Bachelor's in English Language & Literature
Department Administration
Gloria Ramirez-Solis
Executive Director of Multi-Tiered System of Supports
My commitment to supporting diverse learners has guided my career from the beginning. I started as an English teacher, but after earning a master’s in special education, I shifted to teaching both special education and general education students in need of additional reading support.
I had the honor of providing targeted interventions and individualized support to ensure their success. After 12 years as a teacher, I transitioned to the role of Differentiation Specialist, where I oversaw the school’s Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). Now, as J. Sterling Morton High School’s Director of Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports, I have the privilege of collaborating with the Morton community to ensure we provide students with the support they need to achieve our mission of ensuring every student succeeds. Under this framework, we deliver tailored support through a structured approach that addresses students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs using a tiered system of interventions and resources. A robust Multi-Tiered System of Supports is essential for creating equitable learning opportunities, and I am proud to be part of a dedicated team that is actively working to ensure this vision for our students.
Mi compromiso de apoyar a estudiantes diversos ha guiado mi carrera desde el principio. Comencé como profesora de inglés, pero después de obtener una maestría en educación especial, pasé a enseñar tanto a estudiantes de educación especial como de educación general que necesitaban apoyo adicional en lectura. Tuve el honor de brindar intervenciones específicas y apoyo individualizado para garantizar su éxito. Después de 12 años como maestra, hice la transición al rol de Especialista en Diferenciación, donde supervisé el Sistema de Apoyo de Múltiples Niveles (MTSS) de la escuela. Ahora, como Director de Sistemas de Apoyo de Múltiples Niveles de J. Sterling Morton High School, tengo el privilegio de colaborar con la comunidad de Morton para garantizar que brindemos a los estudiantes el apoyo que necesitan para lograr nuestra misión de garantizar que cada estudiante tenga éxito. Bajo este marco, ofrecemos apoyo personalizado a través de un enfoque estructurado que aborda las necesidades académicas, conductuales y socioemocionales de los estudiantes mediante un sistema escalonado de intervenciones y recursos. Un sistema sólido de apoyo de varios niveles es esencial para crear oportunidades de aprendizaje equitativas, y estoy orgullosa de ser parte de un equipo dedicado que trabaja activamente para garantizar esta visión para nuestros estudiantes.
Degrees and Certifications
- Elmhurst University, Bachelor’s of Arts in English/Secondary Education
- Dominican University; Master’s of Science in Special Education; Learning Behavior Specialist 1, Bilingual and ESL Endorsements
- Concordia University; Master’s of Arts in School Leadership, Principal Endorsement
Carol Best
Executive Director of Student Services
I am proud to have worked at JS Morton District 201 since 2009. I love the students, staff and community. I worked as a Morton School Social Worker for eight years before becoming an Assistant Principal in 2016-2017.
Prior to working at Morton East, I worked as a DCFS Coordinator and School Social Worker in Chicago. During that time, I obtained my LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). I've learned from everyone at Morton, especially about perseverance and grace. I believe the staff here at Morton are constantly finding innovative ways to ensure “All Students Succeed.” My work is primarily overseeing our programs that provide access to education to students with disabilities.
Degrees and Certifications
- University of Kansas, Bachelor’s in Social Work
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Master’s in Social Work and Type 73 Certificate
- Dominican University, Principal Certificate, Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Kristy Cavanaugh
Executive Director of Safety and Alternative Educational Programs
I am proud to be a career Mustang and honored to serve Morton District 201. My journey began as a Social Science teacher at Morton Alternative School, and over the past 27 years I have had the privilege of serving our students, families, and staff in a variety of roles, including Dean of Students, Assistant Principal of Operations, Principal of Morton West High School, and now Executive Director of Safety and Alternative Educational Programs.
Throughout my career, I have been passionate about creating safe, supportive, and engaging learning environments where all students can thrive. School safety is a particular area of focus, and I have led efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness, build community partnerships, and expand supports for students and families. I am also honored to share this work through presentations at national school safety conferences. In my current role, I work closely with schools to develop alternative pathways and support programs that help students overcome challenges, stay connected to school, and achieve success. Whether through school safety initiatives, attendance interventions, alternative education programs, or student support services, I believe every student deserves opportunities to learn, grow, and reach their full potential. I am grateful to be part of the District 201 family and honored to help create pathways that support student success both in and beyond the classroom.
I am grateful to be part of the District 201 family and remain committed to supporting the success, safety, and well-being of every student we serve.
Degrees & Certifications
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Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Saint Xavier University
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Bachelor of Arts in Social Science Secondary Education, Saint Xavier University
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FEMA Emergency Management Training
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National Incident Management System (NIMS) Training
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Behavioral Threat Assessment Training
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NASRO Project Unite Training and Certification
Once a Mustang, always a Mustang. I am proud to continue serving the students, families, staff, and community of Morton District 201.
Daniel Woulfe
Director of Athletics and Student Activities
Hello Mustangs! Prior to becoming an educator/administrator, I served in the U.S.A.F. as a Special Warfare Airman in the TACP career field. Once I became an educator, I worked as a PE/Driver Ed/Health teacher for 12 years, at a lot of different schools where I coached multiple sports as well. I'm excited about the opportunity to lead Morton Athletics!
I am originally from the great state of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner!) but I have been living in the Chicago area now for 15 years. My wife Lacy, also a teacher, and I have two daughters that are really into gymnastics.
Degrees and Certifications
- Bachelors Recreation - Southeastern Oklahoma State University 2000
- Masters: School Leadership - Concordia University Chicago 2012
Natalie Kozlowski
Assistant Director of Athletics and Student Activities
Hi! I’m Natalie Kozlowski, and I’m the Assistant Director of Athletics & Activities here at Morton District 201. This is my tenth year in the district, and I’m so excited to continue supporting our Mustangs across all of our extracurricular programs. Before stepping into this role, I spent time as a Business Teacher, Dean of Students, and volleyball coach for both boys and girls. I also sponsored PBIS and FBLA, which gave me an awesome foundation in student engagement and leadership.
In my current role, I help keep our athletics world running smoothly—from scheduling and contracts to staying in constant communication with coaches and administrators. I also supervise and support our events to make sure everything is safe, fun, and full of Mustang pride.
Two of my favorite parts of the job are putting together our Athletic Newsletter (I love bragging about all the amazing things our teams accomplish!) and being out at games cheering on our student-athletes. I also get to tap into my marketing and PR background to run our Morton Athletics social media and highlight all the great moments happening across our programs.
I’m looking forward to continuing to elevate our Athletics & Activities programs and celebrating all the incredible things our Mustangs do.
Degrees and Certifications
- Georgetown University – Bachelor of Science: Marketing and International Business
- Roosevelt University – Master of Arts: Secondary Education
- National Louis University – Master of Arts: Educational Leadership with Principal Endorsement
Melody Becker
Director of English Learners and Modern Languages
¡Bienvenido a Morton! Es un orgullo ser parte de la comunidad Morton. I began my career as an ELL and Bilingual teacher at Morton West and later at Morton East, where I served as the Lead Teacher.
The great experiences I have had with students and staff at Morton always inform my work as the director of the English Learner and Modern Language Departments. We believe that being bilingual and biliterate is an asset that our students bring to Morton. We encourage students to develop their literacy in more than one language to promote understanding of themselves, their community, and the world.
Degrees and Certifications
- Governors State University, MA in Educational Leadership
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De Paul University, BA in Secondary Education
Colleen Del Monaco
Director of Career and Technical Education
Welcome Mustangs!
This fall, I am excited to begin my 17th year in education and my 3rd year as an administrator here at Morton District 201.
As the Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE), I'm proud to support programs that help students explore their interests, discover their passions, and prepare for life after high school, whether that means college, a career or both. I truly believe in the power of CTE to connect classroom learning to real-world experiences and to give students the tools they need to succeed, no matter what path they choose.
One of the most rewarding parts of my job is working closely with our amazing teachers, administrators, postsecondary partners and local businesses. Together, we are building programs that reflect student interests and meet the demands of today’s workforce. I believe CTE can be a powerful pathway for all students to achieve their goals, and I am excited to keep growing those opportunities here in District 201.
Degrees and Certifications
- Concordia University Chicago, MA in Curriculum and Instruction & MA in Principal Preparation
- Eastern Illinois University, BA in Career and Technical Education
Eric Bjornstad
Director of Science
I first started my teaching career in Scottsdale, AZ at Desert Mountain High School Teaching Advanced Algebra and Geometry, and eventually AP Calculus.
After working and living in Arizona for several years, I decided to move to the Chicago area, where I was first introduced to the Morton family and began teaching my true passion here - Chemistry. Later, I became employed at Lyons Township High School, where I taught Chemistry and AP Chemistry for the following decade. During that time, I had the opportunity to further my educational experience as well as exploring the consulting side of education, working with amazing teams of science teachers from various schools in Oregon, Southern California, Texas, and New York. Much of my work centered around developing and refining teaching practices related to formative processes, data analysis, and student outcomes. I was even able to share much the work on a national scale as an educational author, working with an amazing team of current and former educators across the country. I’m extremely excited to be back at Morton Schools as the Director of Science.
My vision is to foster the growth, development, and ultimately success of students across the district by empowering our incredible staff of science educators through collaborative innovation of our teaching practices. Go Mustangs!
Degrees and Certifications
- Michigan State University, BA Telecommunications & BA Chemistry and Secondary Education
- Illinois State University, MS Chemistry Education
- Concordia University, MA Principal Preparation and Leadership
Kevin Vesper
Director of Fine Arts and Social Sciences
Welcome to the Morton family! My name is Kevin Vesper, and I began my educational career as a paraprofessional for the North DuPage Special Education Cooperative (NDSEC)
I then moved to Plainfield North High where I had a wonderful time teaching 7 years of Social Science courses, with a focus on AP Economics. I also was a head volleyball coach, head golf coach, chess club sponsor, and cosponsor for the freshman mentor program (FMP).
In 2014, I was lucky enough to be welcomed into the Morton family! While at Morton, I was a Dean of Students at both the Morton West Campus and the Morton Alternative School. I also was the District’s Summer School Principal. The students, staff, parents, and entire community of Morton is something I am absolutely privileged to be a part of. I look forward to supporting the entire school community to make sure every student has an equal opportunity to reach the highest learning standards.
Degrees and Certifications
- Benedictine University, Masters in Administrative Leadership
- Illinois State University, Bachelor's in Social Science Education
Megan Holub
Director of Mathematics
Welcome to Morton! As a Morton West graduate, I am honored to have spent my entire career in District 201.
I began teaching at Morton East where I taught all levels of Math. I enjoyed teaching and working with our students for 12 years. As a teacher, I learned and grew so much from all the experiences I had in the classroom. Two years ago, I accepted a position as a Dean at Morton West. As a dean, I gained more administrative knowledge and built strong relationships with our students, staff, parents and community. The Morton community is an amazing group of people whom I enjoy working with as we share the common goal to have all students succeed.
This year, as I enter my 14th year at Morton, I look forward to working more closely with the Mathematics Department. I am grateful for this opportunity and am excited to collaborate with and support our Math teachers. My vision is to ultimately have all students succeed by empowering our fantastic educators.
It’s going to be a great year! Go Mustangs!
Degrees and Certifications
- Illinois State University, Bachelor's in Mathematics/Secondary Education
- Concordia University, MA in Educational Leadership