Morton East Administrators

  • One Morton, One Family

    What we do at Morton East

    Our duty at Morton East High School is to provide a safe, enriched, and positive environment for our students, staff and teachers. Meet the Morton East administration team that are here to provide the best education for your students. GO Mustangs!

Principal

Phone: (708) 780-4000 x 2318

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Mr. Jose A. Gamboa

Sharon Helma, Secretary (708) 780-4000, x2318

Mirian Gonzalez, Secretary (708) 780-4000, x2320

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!

Illinois State University, Bachelor of Arts, Secondary Education Concordia University Chicago, Master of Arts, School Leadership

Assistant Principal of Assessment and Student Activities

Phone: 708 780 4000 ext. 2218

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Illinois State University, Bachelors of Science (Physical Education and Health Education) Roosevelt University, Masters of Arts, Instructional Leadership (Principal Endorsement)

Mr. Phillip Depa

I am proud to be a member of the Morton District 201 family and serve its community. I started at District 201 as a Dean of Students, then the Lead Dean of Students at Morton East. Over the last two years, I had taken on the role as the Night School Coordinator and Summer School Principal. Throughout my time at Morton, I have been committed to helping students achieve academic success and creating attainable action plans to increase success after high school.

Prior to my positions at Morton East, I was a Physical Education Teacher at Irving Elementary in Berwyn South School District 100. I was fortunate to obtain leadership experiences as the District Health and Wellness Coordinator and the Physical Education Department Head.

As an Assistant Principal, I will continue to see that all students can rise to their fullest potential, both educationally and personally. Building relationships with students and community is a very important to me. I am excited to be a part of the student activities team and connect with the community. This is my 10th year in education, and my 4th year in administration. I am excited to continue building relationships with the community and provide opportunities for students to create lifelong memories.

 

Assistant Principal of Operations

Phone: (708) 780-4000 x 2326

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Dr. Michael Parrie

Patricia Polk, Secretary, (708) 780-4000 x 2326

Welcome to Morton East High School! I am proud to be a Morton Mustang since 2003, having served as a science teacher, a curriculum and assessment director, and now as an assistant principal.  In my current role, I oversee attendance, registration, and the master schedule.  My goal is to provide an efficient school operation in which students learn best.  Aside from Morton, I serve as an adjunct professor at Concordia University of Chicago teaching master's and doctoral level educational leadership classes, as well as volunteer my time as a member of the Park Tower Board of Directors.  

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Assistant Principal of Student Services

Phone: (708) 780-4000 x 2310

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Ms. Carol M. Best

 Rosalva Chacon, Secretary (708) 780-4000, x2312

I am proud to work at Morton East High School.  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 (for six years).  During that time, I obtained my LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) certificate.  I learn 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 implementing interventions, evaluating instruction, providing access to students with disabilities and providing professional development to staff regarding mental health, response to intervention and community awareness. 

Degrees and Certifications: University of Kansas – Bachelors in Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago- Masters in Social Work and Type 73 Certificate, Dominican University- Principal Certificate, Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Assistant Principal of Student Activities

Phone: (708) 780-4000 x 2223

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Ms. JoAnne Rzadzki

I am proud to be a member of the Morton District 201 family and serve its community. I started in the district as a dean at Morton East, and am amazed as to how we use our resources as best we can to ensure that “every student succeeds.”  As an assistant principal, I strive to continue to see that all students can rise to their fullest potential by helping create an equitable learning environment in which our students will grow both educationally and personally.  Building relationships with students and community is a very important to me. Because of that, I am happy to be a part of the student activities team and connect with the community. This is my 17th year in education, and my 13th in administration.  Three of those have been at Morton, and I am excited to continue to work with our students and community. 

Degrees and Certifications: Concordia University Chicago, Master of Arts, School Leadership University of Illinois-Chicago, Bachelor of Arts, Spanish

 

Lead Dean of Students

Phone: 708 780-4000 ext. 2314

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Salandra Crockett

I am proud to be the Lead Dean at Morton East High School. Serving the Cicero community is a great honor. My goal is to create and maintain a safe learning environment for all students. My passion is developing positive and authentic relationships with students, families and staff.

I began my educational career in 1995 as a Social Studies teacher at Farragut Career Academy in Chicago. I have served in multiple administrative roles which include Dean of Students, Assistant Principal of Discipline, Education to Career Coordinator and Director/Principal of Evening School. I am so elated to work with Morton East students I want to help them to succeed and strive for greatness.

Degrees and Certifications: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Roosevelt University, Master of Arts in History, Master of Arts in Secondary Education, Master of Arts in Education Administration

Dean of Students

Phone: 708 780 4000 ext:2208

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Sarah Lorraine

Jocelyn Cervantes, Secretary - (708) 780-4000 ext. 2228
It is my great pleasure to work with the students, families, and staff of Morton East High School. I began my career at Morton East High School in 2014 as the Head Librarian before becoming a Dean of Students in 2022. Prior to working at Morton East, I worked in event planning and fundraising for the American Diabetes Association and taught English as a Second Language in Taipei, Taiwan. I am a passionate believer in the positive ways that education can transform our students' lives, and my goal is share that appreciation for learning with students. As a Dean of Students, I have the privilege of working with our Morton East team to support students, create equitable learning environments, and build community.

Degrees and Certifications: Loyola University Chicago – Bachelor's in Anthropology; DePaul University- Master's in English; University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana - Master's in Library Science; National Louis University- Principal Certificate

Dean of Students

Phone: 708 780 4000 ext: 2344

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Bart Bates

Welcome to J. Sterling Morton High School! This is my first year at Morton School District 201. I am a Dean of Students. While this is my first year at Morton, it is my 28th year in Education. Several of those years were in the Chicago Public School District at Farragut Career Academy, where I was the Music Department chair. Additionally, I worked in Waukegan District 60 as the Department Lead for Special Education, as well as Palatine District 15 as the Director of Community-After-School Programs. I take great pride in serving the Cicero community and truly believe in fulfilling District 201's mission that "Every Student Succeeds." I am excited to working with all stakeholders and building on those connections to take Morton East to the highest level of excellence.

Degrees and Certificate: VanderCook College of Music - Bachelor of Music Education, American College of Education - Master of Education, Educational Leadership: Principal Endorsement, American College of Education - Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Concordia University - Director of Special Education: Director of Special Education Endorsement

Dean of Students

Phone: 708 780 4000

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Estefania Cortes

As a Morton East graduate, it is a privilege to serve the Cicero community. I started my career at Morton six years ago as an English teacher, before joining the Special Education Department as a vocational Teacher two years ago. This year, I join the administration team as a Dean of Students. I hope use my experience in the classroom and community to best connect with students and their families. Once a Mustang, Always a Mustang! 

Como graduada de Morton East, es un privilegio servir a la comunidad de Cicero. Comencé mi carrera en Morton hace seis años como maestra de inglés, antes de unirme al Departamento de Educación Especial como maestra vocacional hace dos años. Este año, me uno al equipo de administración como Decana de Estudiantes. Espero usar mi experiencia en el salón de clases y la comunidad para conectar con los estudiantes y sus familias. ¡Una vez un Mustang, siempre un Mustang!

Degrees and Certificates: BA in English, Northeastern Illinois University, MA in Secondary Education, National-Louis University, MA in Principal Preparation, Concordia University, LBS1 Endorsement, National-Louis University 

Dean of Students

Phone: 708 780 4000 ext.2225

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Natalie Kozlowski

Hello! My name is Dean Kozlowski, aka Dean K, and I am proud to work at Morton East High School as a Dean of Students and one of the Night School Coordinators for the 2022-2023 school year. This is my seventh year in the district, and I previously taught business courses and TSI at both Morton East and Morton West. Being a part of the Morton community is very important to me, and I already miss coaching girls and boys volleyball.

Prior to working at Morton East, I worked in marketing and PR, doing social media for startup companies and hotel brands. I love bringing my real life experiences into my educational philosophy, as well as utilizing it to run the Morton Deans Instagram page. As a Dean, I enjoy finding innovative ways to ensure “All Students Succeed”  and building relationships with our students to help them grow.

Degrees and Certifications: Georgetown University – Bachelor of Science: Marketing and International Business, Roosevelt University – Masters of Arts: Secondary Education, National Louis University – Master of Arts: Educational Leadership w/ Principal Endorsement

 

Special Education Coordinator

Phone: 708 780 4000 ext: 2333

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Megan Stachura

Biliteracy Coordinator

Phone: (708) 780-4000 Ext: 2971

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Arianna Gonzalez

Welcome to J. Sterling Morton High School! I am the Biliteracy Coordinator for Morton East and the Morton Freshman Center. Prior to this position, I’ve had the pleasure of being the Dean of Students at Morton East. I was also a fourth grade teacher at Cicero School District 99 for five years. I take great pride in serving the Cicero community and truly believe in fulfilling District 201’s mission that “Every Student Succeeds.” I look forward to collaborating with building stakeholders to improve student academic and linguistic achievement. I plan on providing continued support, resources, and innovative ideas for Biliteracy development. I can’t wait to see what amazing things our students do this year. Go Mustangs!

Degrees and Certifications: DePaul University - Bachelor of Education, Elementary Education; Spanish Minor, DePaul University - Master of Education, Educational Leadership: Principal Endorsement, St. Francis University – ESL Endorsement