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.

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.

Dr. Baccellieri has an extensive amount of experience in leadership and education. In his early career, he served as a Youth Minister and parish catechist, eventually becoming a theology teacher at St. Ignatius College Prep. Dr. Baccellieri served as Program Director for the Facing History and Ourselves program before being hired by Chicago Public Schools in 2001. Dr. Baccellieri served as the Deputy Chief of Networks for the Office of Network Supports from 2014/2016 and more recently became the Chief Officer of the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services. Dr. Baccellieri holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from Portland State University, an MTS from Graduate Theological Union in Berkley California, a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Seattle University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Maria Hawk’s educational career began teaching second grade at Mater Christi Catholic School in North Riverside. She also taught at St. Mary of the Woods School in Chicago and St. Mary School in Riverside. She has been a principal at St. Gall School in Chicago, Incarnation School and Resurrection College Prep High School in Chicago.

Dr. Hawk received a Bachelor’s degree with a Marketing major from University of Illinois at Chicago. She has also received a Master of Arts in Teaching from National-Louis University, a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Dominican University and a Doctor of Education Degree from Loyola University Chicago.

Prior to joining the Office of Catholic Schools as the Director of Instructional Technology, Theresa Allen was the technology teacher and coordinator for the Cathedral of St. Raymond School in Joliet for 15 years working with teachers, students and parents with technology integration. She was involved with several online communities fostering student digital citizenship and collaboration. She is always passionate about connecting, communicating and collaborating with students and educators around the world.

Theresa received her Bachelor’s degree from Loras College and Master’s of Education degree from Lewis University in Instructional Technology. She was the DeICE (Dedicated Illinois Computing Educators) president from 2012-2015. In 2013, she received the Great Teacher award of Joliet and in 2011 she received the honor of the first Joliet Diocese Technology Teacher of the Year.

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. 

Sr. Margaret Farley, CND has worked as a Catholic school educator in New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Illinois. She has worked as a teacher, Reading Specialist and an elementary school principal. Sr. Margaret has served in the Office of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago for several decades. For the past seventeen years, she has worked in School Personnel Services.

Sr. Margaret holds a Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University, a Master’s degree from the University of Dayton Ohio and another Master’s degree from Loyola University, Chicago.

Kurt Lewis is the Director of Enrollment Marketing for the Office of Catholic Schools (OCS). Prior to joining the Archdiocese, Kurt spent five years as the Director of Marketing at St. Pius V School in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. He has a wealth of experience in non-profit marketing along with a passion for Catholic education. He has worked in a variety of roles in Chicago non-profit organizations for the last 15 years. He has been an after school program director, a political organizer, a director of development and the director of a gang violence intervention program.

Kurt is a relatively new Catholic having been baptized in 2009. Since then he has dedicated his life to the Church by working for the Archdiocese, teaching religious education, and attending and regularly volunteering at his home parish, St. John Berchmans in Logan Square. Kurt holds a Bachelor’s degree in theater, he trained at Chicago's famed Second City and is a sketch comedy writer and performer in his spare time.