U-46 fills 3 key administrative roles
Elgin Area School District U-46 has made a number of changes in its administrative ranks, filling the positions of director of school and community relations, director of instruction for K-12, and coordinator of math, science and industrial technology.
Patrick Mogge takes on the school and community relations role, succeeding former chief of communications director Tony Sanders, who was named chief of staff more than a year ago. The new position now also includes community outreach after Karen Fox retired from the district. Mogge’s salary is $103,500.
Most recently, Mogge, 34, of Wheeling, served as the downstate and suburban director of Stand For Children, a multistate education advocacy and parent organizing group with offices in 10 states.
“I am excited to continue engaging the community and facilitating communication with the stakeholders throughout the district,” said Mogge, who has also worked on various political campaigns including as campaign manager for Dan Seals in the 10th Congressional District. He has held various roles at the Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Learning Partnership and the governor’s office.
Mogge was familiar with the district since he volunteered with the district’s Hispanic and African American Parent Leadership Institutes, Sanders said.
An internal move put Jennifer McDonnell in charge of instruction for grades kindergarten through the 12th grade. The position was previously divided into elementary and secondary instruction roles. McDonnell’s salary will be $138,000.
McDonnell said the new approach will allow the district to streamline its curriculum.
“We can focus on what kids need,” McDonnell said. “At the secondary level we can focus on what students learned in the elementary grades. It will be a seamless transition, and we can work more as a team.”
Sanders said McDonnell revamped the district’s secondary math curriculum and spearheaded the district’s science fair at Gail Borden Library.
Marc Hans will replace McDonnell in the role of math, science and instructional technology coordinator. Hans, a Golden Apple winner for science, served as the executive director of the Science FIST Foundation, which he co-founded. Hans also taught middle-school science at Hanson Park School in Chicago, as well as third grade in Bloomington, a news release from the district says. A salary for Hans was not immediately available.
“Through his work with not-for-profits, he increased access to STEM opportunities for underprivileged populations,” McDonnell said, referring to areas of science, technology, engineering and math. “He has a lot of connections and relationships that will help U-46.”
Jobs: New U-46 approach will streamline curriculum