Post Details - J Sterling Morton High School District 201

Board of Education Honors All-Conference Athletes and State-Qualifying Boys Cross Country Team

On December 10th, the Board of Education recognized our All-Conference athletes and our State-qualifying Boys Cross Country team. With more than 500 fall athletes, we are proud of the 32 students honored for their outstanding achievements. Boys Soccer and Boys Cross Country both won the West Suburban Conference Championship, Orlando S. set a new Morton Cross Country school record, and our Girls Flag Football athletes earned the first All-Conference honors in school history during the sport’s inaugural IHSA season. Our Mustang athletes continue to demonstrate exceptional dedication, leadership, and pride!

Morton Athletics Welcomes New Girls Soccer Head Coach

Morton Athletics has named Stefano Crancich as the new head coach of the Girls Soccer program, marking an exciting new chapter for the Mustangs. Crancich, who has been part of Morton’s coaching staff since the 2015–16 school year, brings nearly a decade of experience, steady leadership and a deep commitment to student-athletes. He has contributed to both the boys' varsity and girls' programs, earning a reputation for preparation, integrity, and a clear vision for growth.

Crancich currently holds a U.S. Soccer E License and is working toward his D License, reflecting his dedication to continual improvement. “I am honored, humbled and grateful for the trust placed in me and ready to take the program to the next level,” he said.

School Board Secretary Jessica Jaramillo-Flores praised the appointment, noting, “Coach Crancich has demonstrated outstanding character and an ability to inspire our athletes. We’re confident he will guide this program with excellence.”

Morton Athletics looks forward to the future under his leadership.

Morton District 201 Awarded at the MWRD's 13th Annual Sustainability Summit

Morton District 201 recently received the 2025 Public Education Award at the 13th Annual Sustainability Summit on November 13th, a recognition that highlights the district's commitment to sustainability and transformative education. At the heart of that commitment is the Monarch Butterfly Garden at Morton Freshman Center, a 5,000-square-foot Citizen Science Monarch Butterfly Ecological Engineering Project that was initially conceived by Kevin O'Toole and brought to life by students, staff, and community volunteers on the north side of the campus. The garden, which features native milkweed, over 100 native plant species, and several trees, offers vital habitat and nourishment for migrating monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Its impact has reached a national stage, as the Monarch Butterfly Garden has been included in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., as part of the Warner Age of Humans Gallery within the Deep Time exhibit. More than a habitat, the garden has become a living classroom where students learn ecology, environmental science, native planting, and community stewardship. Its many benefits for students, community, pollinators, and local biodiversity demonstrate how the Monarch Butterfly Garden continues to create powerful learning experiences and make a lasting difference.

Two Morton West Mustangs Awarded NEIU Scholarship for STEAM Leadership Event

Morton West students Dannielle Santos and Fernanda Ostiguin were awarded Northeastern Illinois University’s STEAM Pathways Scholarship to attend the Xfinity STEAM Symposium, held November 6–10 in Orlando, Fla. The annual national gathering brings TRIO students from across the country together to explore innovation through hands-on learning, leadership development and career-focused programming in science, technology, engineering, the arts and math.

The two Mustangs were selected through the NEIU 21st CCLC Pathways Initiative Grant and the TRIO Upward Bound Grant. They joined six peers from Chicago Public Schools and additional Morton sites, representing the region at the fourth annual symposium. Throughout the week, students participated in innovation labs, design challenges, college and career panels, and workshops that highlighted how STEAM fields continue to shape emerging industries.

According to NEIU program leaders, the theme “Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators” guided this year’s sessions, helping students see the connection between education, technology and long-term opportunity. For Dannielle and Fernanda, the symposium offered a rare chance to interact directly with industry professionals, collaborate with motivated peers from across the country and gain exposure to rapidly evolving careers.

“This scholarship opens doors for our students and shows them what’s possible when education and opportunity come together,” School Board Member Dr. Margaret Kelly said. “We are incredibly proud of Dannielle and Fernanda for representing Morton West with integrity, curiosity and enthusiasm. Experiences like this change lives, and they deserve every bit of this recognition.”

Xfinity underscored its commitment to digital access by providing every TRIO attendee with a free year of Xfinity Mobile service, a Google Pixel Pro XL smartphone distributed in partnership with Google and access to more than $100,000 in laptop distributions. These resources ensure students can continue building their STEAM skills long after the event ends.

The symposium concluded with an exclusive after-hours celebration at Universal Orlando Resort, where students enjoyed the parks privately as part of their closing activities. Attendees were also treated to an advanced screening of Wicked: For Good, offering a memorable and inspiring finale to an educational week celebrating achievement, innovation and the future of STEAM leadership.

Morton Boys Cross Country Shines at State

Morton’s Boys Cross Country team delivered a standout performance at the state meet in November, marking one of the strongest showings in recent program history. Leading the Mustangs was Orlando Sandoval, who finished 15th in Illinois with a time of 14:24.80, setting a new school record.

Following close behind, Miguel Flores clocked 14:36.90 for 26th place, and Alex Rodriguez finished in 14:49.60, placing 46th. Perfecto Lopez (16:27.90), Gavin Quinn (16:39.70), David Hernandez (17:07.20), and Nathaniel Punti (17:27.70) rounded out Morton’s full roster of state competitors. Their combined efforts secured a 19th-place team finish.

School Board Vice President Mark Kraft applauded the runners. “This team represented Morton with grit and pride,” he said. “Breaking a school record on the state stage is remarkable, and every runner contributed to a performance our community can be proud of.”

The district also recognized coaches Bloom, Kraft, and Anderson for guiding the athletes throughout the season, and thanks literacy coordinator Leah O’Donnell of District 100 for providing event photos.