Office of Catholic Schools

Dr. Merry Quinn joined the Office of Catholic Schools in July 2014. Dr. Quinn has more than 20 years of education experience. Prior to joining OCS, she was the  assistant superintendent in Community High School District 117. Her career has included roles in both the Archdiocese of Chicago and public education as a high school teacher, counselor, director of student services and assistant principal. Dr. Quinn currently serves on her district's library board and volunteers as a mentor at the College of Lake County.

Dr. Quinn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology, a Master’s of Education degree in Administrative Leadership and a Doctorate in Administration/Educational Leadership. In addition she has a certification in the Danielson Group Framework for Teaching Proficiency. 

Before joining the Office of Catholic Schools in July 2016, Lorelei Bobroff was the principal of St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge, she was also previously a teacher at Ascension School in Oak Park. Lorelei has taught second grade, as well as junior high language arts and religion.

Lorelei has attended Bearing Witness Holocaust Studies programs in Washington, D.C. and Israel. Prior to her role as Regional Director, she served on several committees for the Office of Catholic Schools, including a committee that developed a Standard Based Report Card System. Lorelei also implemented service and curriculum projects with St. Paul of the Cross School that involved working with other schools in the Archdiocese and the Field Museum in Chicago. Lorelei holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Education from Loyola University, Chicago and a Master’s of Education from Dominican University. She also has an Administrative License from the Illinois Department of Public Education.

Therese Craig has more than 21 years of experience in the educational field. Therese began her role as the Regional Director for Vicariate III Catholic schools in July 2015. Prior to joining the Archdiocese, Therese was the principal of St. Luke Parish School in River Forest. Throughout her career, she has been a classroom teacher, curriculum coordinator, director of student services and assistant principal.

Therese holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Loras College and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Aurora University.

Dr. Kari King has more than 30 years of experience in the educational field. Dr. King began her role as Regional Director for Vicariate IV schools in July 2015. Prior to joining the Archdiocese, Dr. King was on the faculty at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the education and communication departments. Throughout her career, Dr. King was a teacher, dean of students, director of discipline, assistant principal for personnel and principal.

Dr. King holds a Master’s from Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago and a Ph.D. from Loyola University, Chicago.

Prior to joining the Office of Catholic Schools, Jerry Spatara was the principal of Divine Providence School in Westchester for seven years. Jerry’s professional background includes three years as a missionary and Facilities Manager at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Arkansas, several years as a community economic development organizer in central Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh. He has taught at Catholic schools in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota and Illinois. He has worked as a Catholic school principal within the Diocese of Joliet and Archdiocese of Chicago for more than15 years.

Jerry earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science/History from Westminster College, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. His teaching credentials are from the University of St. Francis, his Type 75 is from North Central College. Additionally, Jerry completed doctoral work at Lewis University.
 

Dr. Bridget de la Peña has worked in Archdiocese of Chicago elementary schools for 15 years as both a teacher and administrator. She previously taught at various schools in Chicago, including Children of Peace Holy Family Campus, St. James School, and St. Michael the Archangel School. She also taught summer school at St. Ignatius College Prep for eight years. She served as principal of St. Michael the Archangel for five years before joining the Office of Catholic Schools. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her hard work and dedication which has earned her the South Chicago Education of the Year Award (2009), Croghan Teachers’ Award Finalist (2013), Polk Bros. Leadership Incentive Award (2014) and Stone Foundation Fellowship for Leadership in Early Childhood Education (2012, 2013, 2014).

Dr. de la Peña graduated summa cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts in music and a minor in the Catholic social tradition. She also has earned a Master of Science in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University and Doctorate of Education in Urban Education Leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Julie Ramski has been the Director of Early Childhood Education for the Office of Catholic Schools for almost two decades. She previously was a teacher and assistant principal at Santa Lucia School in Chicago. Julie presents at various trainings throughout the year for Catholic schools’ early childhood teachers and at national conferences. She previously was a National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) validator. She is trained to be an AdvancED Lead Evaluator. She works with city and state agencies, private foundations, universities, and organizations to bring information, resources and professional development to our early childhood programs. She is responsible for implementing initiatives such as Preschool for All. She currently serves on the Mayor’s Early Learning Executive Council.

Julie holds a Bachelors of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the University of Illinois in Chicago and a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

As a parent of a present Catholic school student herself, Katrina knows the importance of Catholic education. Katrina McDermott began her teaching career in Ireland before moving to the United States. She taught in the Archdiocese of Chicago before becoming assistant principal at St. Sylvester School and then St. Bruno School. She then became principal of St. Bruno School for three years. She was the principal at St. Juliana School for four years before joining the Office of Catholic Schools.

Katrina has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from St. Mary’s College in Northern Ireland and a Master’s degree in School Improvement Leadership from Olivet Nazerene University. 

Hedi Belkaoui joined the Office of Catholic Schools in January 2017 as the Regional Director for Turnaround Schools in Vicariates I – IV. Prior to joining the Archdiocese, he was the first male principal of Queen of Peace High School. Hedi has a diverse teaching and administration experience. He previously taught at Morton West High School in Berwyn and Providence St. Mel in Chicago and was the Academic Dean for Providence Englewood Charter School in Chicago for three years. Following his time at Providence Englewood Charter School, he traveled to Cambodia to become the Director at Jay Pritzker Academy and then traveled to Philadelphia to serve as the Founding School Director for Young Scholars Kenderton Charter School.

Hedi has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science and a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration from Dominican University. During his time at Dominican, he was a member of the honors program, student trustee, Mulroy Award Winner 2004 and 2014 Mazzuchelli Model Award for Outstanding Alumni. He was named a Golden Apple Foundation Scholar Class of 2000. He went on to be a Golden Apple Staff Liaison where he mentored and conducted seminars for college students who participated in the Golden Apple Scholars Program for teaching training.

Hedi is currently working on his doctorate in Educational Leadership at Loyola University.