U-46 Welcomes New Administrators

Superintendent Johnson announces new Cabinet members, school principals for the 2023-24 school year 

ELGIN - School District U-46 is preparing for the 2023-24 school year with new leaders stepping into top administrator roles. While some have recently joined the District, others have been promoted from within U-46 to serve in a new position. U-46 District and school administrators oversee schools, District-wide programs and services, collaborate with staff and teachers, and guide our families to help students achieve academic success.

“The start of a new school year is a time when we welcome new professionals to key roles in the District and congratulate U-46 employees who are taking on new responsibilities,” said U-46 Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Johnson. “They all join staff who are eager to work on behalf of our more than 35,000 students and their families.”

The following educators have been named to vacant positions due to retirements, resignations, or other opportunities within the District.

Cabinet Positions

Mrs. Lela Majstorovic - Deputy Superintendent of Instruction

Mrs. Lela Majstorovic served U-46 as Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the last two school years, during which she led the restructuring of the Office of Schools to provide enhanced and intensive support to executive directors.

She also facilitated and supported the implementation of a partnership with Instructional Empowerment to provide professional learning, instructional and leadership coaching, and support across all U-46 schools and instructional departments. This work resulted in a districtwide common instructional framework, model for continuous improvement, and an increase in the percentage of classrooms with target/task alignment and students working in academic teams.

Mrs. Majstorovic joined U-46 in June 2018 as the Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools, Instruction and Equity. Prior to that, Mrs. Majstorovic held leadership positions within Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for a decade, last serving as a Network Chief of Schools for CPS, supporting and overseeing 44 schools and principals, more than 2,600 teachers, and more than 34,000 students on the Northwest side of Chicago with a total budget of more than $200 million.

She began her career in CPS as a high school English teacher. Mrs. Majstorovic simultaneously earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education from Loyola University Chicago. She earned a Master of Education degree in educational leadership from the American College of Education. She earned her superintendent endorsement in 2020.

Dr. Frank Williams - Assistant Superintendent of Finance

Dr. Williams joins U-46 from Mascoutah Community Unit School District #19, where he’s served since 2015 as its chief financial officer.

There, he successfully created and managed annual budgets, consistently ensuring transparency and accountability. He also implemented efficient processes in accounts payable management, streamlining purchasing, billing, and invoicing processes.

Dr. Williams' expertise extends beyond the field of education. He worked at Scottrade, Inc., a leading investment services company based in St. Louis, where he held several key positions from 2006 to 2015.

Dr. Williams earned his bachelor of art degree in communications from Maryville University, a master’s degree in business administration from McKendree University, and his doctorate of education in higher education leadership from Maryville University.

Executive Directors 

Ms. Mary Sturgill - Executive Director of the South Elgin Network

Ms. Sturgill joins U-46 after serving as Principal of Westmoor Elementary School in Northbrook School District 28 since 2016. Under her leadership, the school received a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School Award from the U.S. Department of Education; the program recognizes schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

Also at Westmoor, Ms. Sturgill piloted a state-funded trauma-informed practices program, implemented a school-wide behavioral system, and partnered with community groups to launch a food program at the school to serve food-insecure families.

During Ms. Sturgill’s more than 20-year career in education, she’s held two other principal positions in Illinois as well as a variety of teaching, instructional coaching, and special education positions in Evergreen Public Schools in Vancouver, Washington.

Ms. Sturgill received a bachelor of arts degree in history from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree in special education from Portland State University.

Elementary School Principals

Mr. Ryan Corcoran - Co-Principal of Washington Elementary School 

Mr. Corcoran has been an educator in U-46 since 2017, and he has served as a Resident Administrator at Horizon and Huff elementary schools over the last two years.

Prior to serving as Resident Administrator, Mr. Corcoran was an 8th grade language arts teacher and instructional coach at Larsen Middle School. He started his career in education as an 8th grade language arts teacher in DeKalb School District 428.

Mr. Corcoran, a graduate of Elgin High School, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education from Trinity International University and his Master’s degree in educational leadership from Northern Illinois University.

Mr. Jeron Shelton - Principal of McKinley Elementary School 

Mr. Shelton began his career as an educator in U-46 16 years ago, and recently completed his second year as Resident Administrator for Clinton Elementary School.

Mr. Shelton has served as a classroom teacher and teacher of gifted students at Larsen and Abbott middle schools, as well as Ontarioville, Coleman, and Creekside elementary schools. He has also held positions as the Teacher Leader for the Teacher Appraisal Plan and was the first Peer Consultant Teacher for the Peer Assistance and Review program.

Mr. Shelton received a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Judson College, a master of arts degree in organizational leadership from Judson University, and his Master’s degree in educational leadership from Northern Illinois University. He is completing his Ph.D. in educational psychology at Northern Illinois University.

Ms. Anissa Upshaw-Lanotte - Co-Principal of Highland Elementary School 

Ms. Upshaw-Lanotte has spent the last four years as the Assistant Principal of Ridge Circle Elementary School.

Prior to joining U-46, Ms. Upshaw-Lanotte worked for six years in School District 65 as a special education teacher for self-contained classrooms and as a case manager for students with a wide range of learning disabilities. She also worked as a resource teacher and general education classroom teacher in the district.

Before changing careers to become an educator, Ms. Upshaw-Lanotte owned a marketing sales agency in Chicago.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Wayne State University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. From National-Louis University, she earned both a Master of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Educational Leadership.

Middle School Principals

Dr. Richard Lebron - Principal of Tefft Middle School 

Dr. Lebron brings more than 20 years of experience in education, including 17 years in School District U-46 and the last year as the Assistant Principal of Tefft Middle School.

Dr. Lebron joined U-46 in 2001 as a bilingual science teacher at Kimball and Larsen middle schools. He also served as a dean of students at Larkin High School from 2005 to 2009, and in roles including associate principal, interim principal, and principal of Bartlett High School from 2012 to 2016. He served as a Dual Language science teacher at Tefft from 2018 to 2022.

Outside of U-46, he served as the CEO/Head of School at Chicago Virtual Charter School from 2016 to 2018, and in leadership roles at DeKalb High School in DeKalb School District 428.

Dr. Lebron earned his bachelor of science degree in natural sciences from the Universidad de Puerto Rico, a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision from the University of Phoenix, and his doctorate in educational leadership in administration from Aurora University.

High School Principals

Ms. Paige Moran - Principal of Streamwood High School

Ms. Moran has served as the Assistant Principal of STEM at Streamwood High School since 2022, evaluating and coaching more than 35 instructional staff members.

Prior to joining U-46, she worked for 10 years at Pritzker College Prep in Chicago, serving as a 9th grade math teacher, Dean of Students, and then Assistant Principal from 2019 to 2022.

Ms. Moran earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and history at DePaul University and her Master of Education in educational leadership and supervision from National Louis University.

###

School District U-46 serves families in 11 communities: Bartlett, Elgin, Hanover Park, South Elgin, Streamwood and Wayne, as well as portions of Carol Stream, Hoffman Estates, St. Charles, Schaumburg, and West Chicago. In total, the District encompasses 90 square miles within the Fox River Valley, approximately 45 minutes west of downtown Chicago, and includes communities within Cook, DuPage and Kane counties. More than 35,000 preschoolers through 12th graders attend the 55 District schools and programs. To learn more, visit the U-46 website, or like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.