Meet the 2014-15 Leadership Team judges
Mersiha Abdic: School counselor at Larkin High School in Elgin. Started her professional career as a teacher in Elgin U-46 in 2008 and became a counselor in the fall of 2013. Holds a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education from Northeastern Illinois University and a master's degree in Education from Loyola University Chicago.
Sherri Anderson: Director of Communications at Lake Park High School District 108, with a decade of secondary and higher education experience at DuPage High School District 88 and DeVry University. Has an undergraduate degree in communications from Loras College in Dubuque and a master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University.
Jennifer Burkhalter: Assistant Principal for Student Life at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein. In 20 years at Carmel she has taught English, been the English Department chairwoman, volleyball coach, student council moderator and Activities Director. From 2008-2013, she was Associate Principal for Faculty Development. A Carmel Catholic graduate herself, she has a bachelor's in English from Bradley University, a master's of Secondary Instruction from Northeastern Illinois University and Administrative Leadership Certification from Dominican University.
Robert Freitag: Counselor at St. Charles North High School for 12 years - prior, he was a counselor at Bartlett High School, McHenry High School West Campus and at the John F. Kennedy School in Berlin, Germany. Dr. Freitag has a bachelor of arts in History and German from St. Ambrose University, a master's degree in education and his doctorate in Counselor Education from Northern Illinois University. He also has served many years on the Government Relations Committee of the Illinois Association for College Admissions Counseling.
Mary D. Hawley: Associate Principal for Curriculum and Instruction at Dundee-Crown High School who recently returned to the area after serving as a coordinator for the Department of Assessment, Accountability and Evaluation for a Tampa, Florida, school district. Previously she was assessment coordinator for Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, and held administrative positions in curriculum and instruction at DeKalb High School, John Hersey High School, and Lake Park High School.
Tyler Reimer: Counselor at Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa. Previously was a school counselor at James B. Conant High School in Hoffman Estates. Started his career working in special education in a variety of roles and positions. He also has coached multiple sports, including boys basketball at Lakes High School.
Mary Roley: A counselor working with a general education caseload at Community High School District 94 in West Chicago. She taught health and coached at West Aurora High School, coached at Aurora Central High School, and came to West Chicago in 2004 for the counseling position. Has a bachelor's in Health Education from Western Illinois University; earned MSED in Curriculum and Instruction from National Lewis University and in School Counseling from Northern Illinois University. She is currently the AP Coordinator Assistant.
Betsy Sagala: Counselor at Warren Township High School in her 12th year. Taught special education for almost seven years before transitioning to counseling in 2009. Been a counselor at both buildings, recently moving to Almond with the Class of 2015. At Warren has been assistant adviser for National Honor Society, assistant adviser for the International Club, and participated in the teacher improv comedy group AYP.
Judy Tyler: An educator at Maine East High School for 26 years, presently teaching AP Biology and the junior/senior Gifted: Leadership for Life classes. Is the Building Instructional Coach, Youth Development Sponsor, and on the R-Code Teaching Team. Has a bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Medicine from Western Illinois University and a master's of Science Education from Northern Illinois University.