Indian Prairie superintendent named 2025 Educator of the Year in DuPage County
The DuPage Regional Office of Education has named Dr. Adrian Talley, Superintendent of Indian Prairie School District 204, as the 2025 DuPage Educator of the Year.
The inaugural DuPage Educators of the Year event, held on May 1, honored Talley and other DuPage school administrators, educators, and paraprofessionals for their visionary leadership, commitment to student well-being, and transformative contributions to education.
“This event marks the beginning of a meaningful new tradition in DuPage County,” said Amber Quirk, Regional Superintendent of DuPage Schools. “We are honored to celebrate the outstanding contributions of Dr. Talley and others who consistently go above and beyond in service to their students, schools, and communities.”
Talley has championed numerous initiatives that reflect his commitment to equity, innovation, and student-centered learning. One of his most impactful achievements is the expansion of mental health services across the 34 schools in Indian Prairie Unit District, which serves the diverse communities of Bolingbrook, Naperville, Aurora, and Plainfield.
Under his leadership, the district secured more than $2 million in grant funding to establish in-school mental health clinics, providing free therapy to students and families — eliminating barriers such as long wait times and lack of insurance.
Through his advocacy, this initiative has expanded beyond District 204, with more than 20 other DuPage County school districts securing similar funding.
The DuPage event also recognized excellence in several other categories:
• Educational Support Person of the Year: Karly Bartolucci, a speech pathologist at Hinsdale South High School, was honored for her inclusive approach to student engagement, leadership in culturally responsive practices, and commitment to social-emotional and trauma-informed education. Her exceptional communication skills are reflected in the clarity and precision of her speech and language reports, as well as her ability to convey complex information to teams, families, and students in a relatable way.
• Elementary School Teacher of the Year: Anthony Quarto, known affectionately as “Mr. Q,” was named Elementary Teacher of the Year for his contributions to physical education at Hawthorne Elementary School in Wheaton, where a large percentage of students have Individual Education Plans or are English Language learners. Quarto thoughtfully plans accommodations to ensure every student can succeed. He also launched a running club, and more than half of the students at Hawthorne participate.
• High School Teacher of the Year: Jeffrey Waterman was recognized for integrating his background in banking with dynamic, real-world instruction in Economics, World Studies, and Humanities. His commitment to experiential learning is evident in his leadership of the Investment Club, where students managed $50,000 of Waterman’s money, consistently generating profits. He also coached the economics team, leading them to two state championships, and has chaperoned students on multiple international learning experiences.
Additional honorees included:
• Aaron Pearlman, math teacher and coach, Wheaton North High School
• Allison Arseneau, special education supervisor, Naperville Unit District 203
• Kaitlyn Stanley, social worker, Waterbury Elementary School in Roselle
• Lana Radi, multilingual paraprofessional, Hinsdale Central High School
• Christy Parsetich, fourth-/fifth-grade math teacher, J.T. Manning Elementary School in Westmont
• Dr. Brian Turyna, principal, Wiesbrook Elementary School in Wheaton
• Kevin Maloney, special education paraprofessional, Hinsdale South High School.
The DuPage Regional Office of Education plans to make this event a lasting tradition to honor the excellence and commitment of educators throughout the county.