Our Faculty

Experienced and enthusiastic instructors encourage and support student success. CICS Wrightwood has a talented and dedicated faculty that believes in the hope and promise of educating young people.

It is well known and documented that excellent teachers make a significant difference in the achievement and well being of students. The faculty and staff at CICS Wrightwood engage in yearlong professional development programs to improve their teaching methods and strategies. Below you will find a complete list of our current faculty and staff. To email a staff member, simply click on their name.

Mr. David Lewis, Director

David A. Lewis has served as the Director of CICS Wrightwood campus since 2008. Lewis has had experience as a teacher, school leader, administrator at the K-12 and college level. Mr. Lewis is committed to urban education, student achievement and a safe and productive school community.

Born and raised in Chicago, Lewis taught eighth grade science and math at Woodson North Elementary School on the south side of Chicago. Later, he worked for the Baltimore County Public School System as a teacher and school administrator. While in Maryland, Lewis was the Associate Director of the University of Maryland's Urban Teacher Education Graduate Program. The program prepared both recent college graduates and career changers for certification in Baltimore schools. Mr. Lewis developed and taught graduate courses and supervised professional development sessions for school principals, teachers, and teacher interns, and served as liaison among the University and partnerships schools and districts.

Upon his return to Chicago, Lewis was the Director of Supporting Teachers Supporting Teaching a Teacher Quality enhancement Grant at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The grant was designed to support pre-service and beginning teachers as they improve their content area knowledge and cultural competence as well as pedagogical skills. Most recently, Mr. Lewis was an administrator with Perspectives Charter Schools' South Loop, Rodney Joslin Campus.

In both Maryland and Chicago Mr. Lewis has developed and worked with academic enrichment and mentoring programs to ensure that students have access and exposure which help to close the achievement gap.

Mr. Lewis' work history and work ethic will ensure that the students, teachers, staff and families of Wrightwood have a quality educational experience.

Joseph Dolan, Associate Director

Ext. 2048

B.A. St. Xavier University
M.Ed. St. Xavier University

Joe Dolan is entering his second year as Associate Director of CICS Wrightwood. Prior to working as the Associate Director, Dolan was the Junior Academy Team Lead for CICS Wrightwood. Dolan received his B.A. in Communications and his Masters in Education Administration/Supervision from Saint Xavier University

Prior to joining CICS Wrightwood Dolan was the Director at a charter school in Pilsen where the school had the highest composite score of all new charter schools in 2007. Prior to that he served as an administrator for four years, and a teacher for five years for that same charter school network.

Dolan is a huge Notre Dame football fan with hopes that new coach Brian Kelly can turn the program around. He also lans to become a golf teaching professional soon, and begin work with the world of Junior Golf.

Daniel Goodwin, Associate Director

Ext. 2098

B.A. Loyola University Chicago English/Literature
M.A. University of Phoenix Education

Daniel Goodwin is beginning his first year as an Associate Director at CICS Wrightwood. Prior to working as the Associate Director, Mr. Goodwin taught grades 6th, 7th, and 8th at Wrightwood. Mr. Goodwin received his B.A. in English/Literature and his M.A. in Education from the University of Phoenix.

Prior to joining CICS Wrightwood, Mr. Goodwin was the Director of a charter school on the West Side of Chicago where his school was recognized as an Illinois Spotlight School and honored for their continuous years of academic achievement and improvement. In all, Mr. Goodwin brings with him over 13 years of experience in the educational field.

Mr. Goodwin has aspirations of one day continuing his education and starting a doctoral program in the near future.

Kimberly Chase, Lead Literacy Coordinator

Ext. 2003

Kimberly Chase has been in education since 1990 and has more than 15 years as a classroom teacher and Reading Specialist in Southern California. She spent the last 5 years working in classrooms across Chicago as a Reading First Consultant with the Illinois State Board of Education, then as a New Teacher Induction Coach with the Chicago New Teacher Center.

As the new Lead Literacy Coordinator at CICS Wrightwood, Kim will support teachers in K-8 as they make the transition to balanced literacy instruction.

Timothy Albores, Student Services Case Manager

Ext. 2045

Loras College, BA Secondary Education and English Literature 12/2006
UIC, Jane Addams College of Social Work, Master of Social Work 05/2002
Olivet Nazarene University, Master of Education: School Improvement Leadership 01/2012

Tim Albores has worked as the Team Lead for Student Services since the 2010-2011 school year. He was very happy to join such a dedicated community of professionals who expect success!

Prior to joining our team, Tim was a social worker at Jamal Place group home for boys in Chicago for four years while he pursued his Master of Social Work degree. After this he worked for Heritage Grove Middle School in Plainfield, where he had wonderful experiences assisting students with students with special needs. The following school year, he was offered a position at Joliet Alternate High School where he worked with students with Emotional Disabilities that needed a more structured environment and intensive therapeutic services. After several years of rewarding work in Joliet he was offered a position at Komarek School in North Riverside where he again worked with students with special needs providing therapeutic services.

These pervious eight years of social work and administrative experiences have been valuable in guiding student success. He is extremely happy to be working with dedicated professionals who strive to provide the most relevant and successful educational experiences for each and every Wrightwood student.

Tyiesha Adams, Reading Intervention Specialist

Ext: 4401

Holly Applegate, Second Grade Teacher

Ext: 2112

Tonya Booker, First Grade Teacher

Ext: 2106

Annette Brockman, Fourth Grade Teacher

Ext: 2223

Valencia Bush, Seventh Grade Teacher

Ext: 2230

Christine Christianson, Special Education Teacher

Ext: 2107

Carrie Crumbaugh, Special Education Teacher

Ext: 2107

George Davis, Eighth Grade Teacher

Ext: 2023

Kelly Dugan, First Grade Teacher

Ext: 2105

Ramone Flowers, Dean of Students

Ext: 2024

Edmund Furlan, Seventh Grade Teacher

Ext: 2225

Teresa Furr, Second Grade Teacher

Ext: 2110

Elaine Glasper, Special Education Teacher

Ext: 2218

Dedrick Gordon, Eighth Grade Teacher

Ext: 2229

Melissa Guthman, Media and Literacy Specialist

Ext: 2097

Arlieta Hall, Teacher Assistant

Ext: 2001

Profit Hallom, Fifth Grade

Ext: 2220

Shirley Henry, Seventh Grade Teacher

Ext: 2232

Lillian Horn, Second Grade Teacher

Ext: 2108

Amy Jacobs, Third Grade Teacher

Ext: 2114

Bertha Jasso-Nunez, Team Lead

Ext: 2043

Aishia Jefferson, Special Education Teacher

Ext: 2111

Randy Johnson, Special Education Teaching Assistant

Ext: 2001

Ly Kim, Fourth Grade Teacher

Ext: 2221

William Lee, Sixth Grade Teacher

Ext: 2228

Caresse Matthews, Music Teacher

Ext: 2218

Linda McClay, School Nurse

Ext: 2004

Kevin McKenna, Fifth Grade Teacher

Ext: 2219

Jillian Memmel, Special Education Teaching Assistant

Ext: 2001

Myah Moody, Special Education Teaching Assistant

Ext: 2001

Loretta O'Brien, Eight Grade Teacher

Ext: 2227

Megan O'Brien, Kindergarten Teacher

Ext: 2101

Shomari Owens, Teaching Assistant

Ext: 2001

Andrew Petigo, Physical Education Teacher

Ext: 2099

Carol Pocica, Fifth Grade Teacher

Ext: 2222

Christine Poczik, Kindergarten Teacher

Ext: 2103

Jamie Porcelius, Kindergarten Teacher

Ext: 2102

Jovonna Quinn, Sixth Grade Teacher

Ext: 2217

Patricia Rangel, First Grade Teacher

Ext: 2104

Ora Robinson, Special Education Teaching Assistant

Ext: 2001

Scott Ruckoldt, Third Grade Teacher

Ext: 2113

Laura Ryan, Fourth Grade Teacher

Ext: 2224

Wil Seegars, Sixth Grade Teacher

Ext: 2226

Clato Smalling, Special Education Teacher

Ext: 2218

Christine Sullivan, Social Worker

Ext: 2006

Latonya Tate, Teaching Assistant

Ext: 2001

Tonisha Thigpen, Teaching Assistant

Ext: 2001

Robyn Varnado, Teaching Assistant

Ext: 2001

Cynthia Wade-Miller, Team Lead

Ext: 2066

Sonya Watkins-Hill, Office Manager

Ext: 2001

Khaneica Watson, Third Grade Teacher

Ext: 2116

Benetrious Wiley-Alexander, Office Assistant

Ext: 2002

Sally Yerkes, Teaching Assistant

Ext: 2001

CICS Wrightwood Students Featured on Green Screen Adventures!

Join us as we celebrate CICS Wrightwood students Melvin and Leon Griffith on having their Young Authors award-winning book produced and featured on the Green Screen Adventures (GSA) web site. Read more

Mon 05 Mar
Pulaski Day - No School at All Campuses
Thu 22 Mar
End of Third Quarter at All Campuses
Fri 23 Mar
Teacher Professional Development Day 4 - No School at All Campuses

Full Calendar