On Aug. 13, 2024, the District 97 Board approved the appointment of several new leaders who will play pivotal roles in supporting our students and advancing our district goals.
These appointments reflect our ongoing commitment to operational excellence and our dedication to providing the best possible support for our students and staff. We look forward to the positive impact these leaders will have on our district community and their contributions to our shared vision.
Adrienne Court, Interim Associate Principal for Julian Middle School
Adrienne has been a dedicated member of the District 97 community for nearly 15 years, serving as design teacher and department chair at Julian. Beyond the classroom, Ms. Court has served on Julian’s Building Leadership Team, Instructional Leadership Team and Professional Learning Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business teacher education from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in educational media design and technology from Full Sail University. She also holds master’s degrees in both teacher leadership and principal preparation from Concordia University.
Torri Gibson-Morris, Assistant Principal for Longfellow Elementary School
Torri enters her new role with more than 15 years of experience in urban and suburban settings, including seven years in District 97 (most recently as a teacher at Irving Elementary School). She earned a bachelor's in elementary education and a master's degree in instructional leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She also holds a master's degree in school leadership from Concordia University.
Nicole Pryor, Assistant Principal for Holmes Elementary School
Nicole joins Holmes with 14 years of experience in District 97 as an enthusiastic educator and leader. She taught both fourth grade and fifth grade at Mann Elementary School before serving as the school's student support specialist for the last two and a half years. She holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Northern Illinois University, a master's degree in elementary education from Roosevelt University, and a master's in school leadership from Concordia University.
Luis Rodriguez, General Counsel
Luis is rejoining the team as general counsel, providing in-house legal support for the district. He has more than 20 years of legal experience, including 15 years in public education. After leaving private practice in 2008, he served four years in Chicago Public Schools as an attorney and assistant general counsel and nine years as the assistant attorney to the chief legal officer of District U-46. He also served as the deputy general counsel for Elgin Community College.
Rodriguez earned both his Juris Doctor and bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois.
Stephanie Suerth and Erica Childress, Equity and Professional Learning Coordinators
Stephanie Suerth (left) and Erica Childress (right) will serve as Equity and Professional Learning Coordinators for District 97. They will take on the responsibilities of the former teacher mentor position, and will work directly with Dr. Natacia Campbell Tominov (center), the district's Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Equity, to support professional learning across all of our staff.
Stephanie Suerth
Stephanie is beginning her seventh year in District 97 and her 13th year in education overall. She was previously a French teacher at Brooks Middle School, and also served at Thornridge High School in Dolton, Ill. She holds a bachelor's degree in French secondary education from Augustana College and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, with an additional endorsement in English Language Learning, from National Louis University. Stephanie has a wide variety of experiences in education including serving as the District 97 World Language Department co-chair, several building leadership teams, and as a representative on the Education Council.
Erica Childress
Erica steps into her new role with more than 20 years of experience as an educator, including 19 years in District 97, where she has served as a K-3 teacher and a student support specialist. She also taught for three years in Chicago Public Schools. She has a dual bachelor's degree from the Erikson Institute of Early Childhood Education and Columbia College Chicago, as well as two master's degrees from Concordia University in curriculum and instruction and educational leadership. In 2017, she achieved her certificate as a National Board Certified Teacher.