PRESIDENT

Dr. Veronica Shaw has lived in Lockport for more than 30 years and is a graduate of LTHS. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and her Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of St. Francis, allowing her to receive her Superintendent's endorsement from the State of Illinois. At Lincoln-Way School District, she served as the Associate Principal of Discipline & Operations, Spanish teacher, and is Associate Principal of Curriculum & Instruction. Currently, she is employed as the Associate Principal of Instruction at Carl Sandburg High School. She is also certified in Special Education and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Francis. At LTHS, she serves on the District Curriculum Committee as a board representative.

She and her husband Jason returned to Lockport after college to raise their family because of the high academic standards set forth by the District. Dr. Shaw looks forward to addressing the challenges of maintaining the high standards already in place and assisting the district in its mission to provide an equitable and challenging environment for all students to achieve their life goals.

VICE PRESIDENT

Ann Lopez-Caneva is a graduate of LTHS, Joliet Junior College, and Governors State University. She has served multiple boards including the Kelvin Grove District 91 Board of Education, the White Oak Library District, and the Guardian Angel Community Services. Having served on the LTHS School Board in the capacity of Vice-President for several years, she assumed the position of President in 2018. She is also a member of the Lockport Woman's Club. Ann is married to Dr. Daryl Caneva and the mother of three children. She is an advocate for education, especially the fine arts, and wants to strive and maintain the best education for our students that will prepare them for life beyond school while overseeing the school budget and programs. Ann looks forward to working with her fellow board members to overcome the challenges that LTHS is facing with unfunded mandates and school safety.

COMPLETED TRAINING/DEVELOPMENT: Open Meeting Act Training (Office of the Attorney General State of Illinois); Orientating New School Board Members; Professional Development Leadership Training; and Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) Training for School Board Members.

SECRETARY

Candace Gerritsen has been a resident of District 205 for over twenty years. She has volunteered in various capacities within D92 and District 205, particularly in school and athletic arenas. Candace strongly believes in the volunteer mindset, recognizing volunteers as vital to schools and the community.

Professionally, Candace brings over twenty years of experience with a robust operations background, engaging with customers, partners, and board directors. She infuses an entrepreneurial mindset and analytical thinking into operational development and strategic planning. She brings expertise in budgeting, facilities, IT, personnel, and board management to the LTHS Board, along with a desire to learn new things and help whenever possible.

Candace graduated from Millikin University with a B.A. in International Business and a minor in Business Administration. She and her husband have two children: one is an LTHS graduate, and the youngest is a senior in the Class of 2025. Candace looks forward to collaborating with the Board, students, staff, faculty, administration, and community to continue refining the LTHS educational experience. Her goal is to ensure every student has the opportunity to gain a strong education, be college and career-ready, and foster a sense of good citizenship and community pride.

MEMBER

Lou Ann Johnson was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, and retired from Nicor Gas. Since 2005, Lou Ann has served as a trustee at Second Baptist Church in Joliet, serving in the finance ministry and as a youth mentor. She also serves on many boards including National Hook-Up of Black Women (NHBW), Inc.; Joliet Area Congregation Based Organization Body; Northeastern Illinois Agency on Aging, Community Life Ministries, Second Baptist Church; Church Women United; Guardian Angel Community Service Board; and Advocates United for Joliet Children. Lou Ann's goal is to provide the tools and resources needed for today's students to become tomorrow's leaders.

COMPLETED TRAINING/DEVELOPMENT: Basics of Governance; Law on Board Meetings and Practices; Basics of School District Finances; Leadership - Board's First Responsibility; Open Meeting Act Training for School Board Members; LeaderShop Symposium; Transforming the Paradigm of Education Children - Superintendents' Commission for the Study of Demographics & Diversity Leadership;Training for School Board Members (Attorneys of Sraga Hauser, LLC); Leadership Training for Community Engagement; Leadership Symposium 2014 - The Talk, The Truth, The Crucial Conversations About America's Schools; IASB Master Board Member Award; LeaderShop Training - Organizational Health; LeaderShop Training - Get Your Message Out: Your role in Crafting an Effective Public Image; and LeaderShop Training - The R Factor: How to Manage the One Thing You Control.

MEMBER

Michaelene O’Halloran was born and raised in central Illinois. She has worked and lived in Lockport for nearly 20 years. She received her undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in Rehabilitation Services and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from National-Louis University in Education. She recently completed her Trauma-Informed Practices Certification through North Central College. For the last 19 years, Michaelene has been an elementary teacher at Milne-Kelvin Grove School District 91. She is an active member of District 91’s Teachers' Union, the Strategic Planning Committee, Math Committee, and has contributed to the leadership team in past years.

She and her husband, Kevin, have four children: one LTHS graduate, two currently attending LTHS, and one attending Homer Community Consolidated School District 33C. She teaches religious education for her church and volunteers for all the schools she is affiliated with.

Michaelene is looking forward to working with the LTHS Board, administration, staff, students, and the community to address the ever-changing needs of the District. She prioritizes ensuring every student is provided a climate and culture that will equip them with opportunities to achieve academic and social success.

MEMBER

Wendy Streit has been a resident of Lockport for more than 20 years. She has over 30 years of professional experience in education. She holds degrees in English, Bible, and Speech, along with a Master’s degree in English. Her background includes teaching grades 7–12 and serving in a range of roles such as English Teacher, Building Union Representative, Educational Technology Trainer, Teacher Trainer, and Adjunct Professor at both Joliet Junior College and Lewis University.

Wendy is passionate about literacy, student growth, and empowering educators. She has led community reading initiatives recognized by the Illinois Reading Council, including the well-known Reading Walk. Additionally, she serves as Chairwoman of the Lockport Summer Art Series. In this role, she has led a team of dedicated volunteers and collaborated with local organizations—including the White Oak Library, Lockport Woman’s Club, Main Street, Illinois State Museum, Midwest SOARRING Foundation, VFW, and Gallery 7—to raise over $200,000 in support of local arts and culture. Wendy is a proud wife and mother to two teenage daughters—and their cat, Percy.

MEMBER

Tammy Hayes has been a long-time resident of Homer Glen since 2002, when she and her family moved to the District. She is the co-owner of a family-run automotive repair business in Will County,  originally founded in 1982. For nearly 20 years, Tammy has worked across all aspects of the business—including customer service, human resources, financial management, and strategic growth—navigating the challenges of an evolving automotive industry.

She is a devoted wife and mother of four, all graduates of District 92 and Lockport Township High School. Over the years, she has actively volunteered in her children’s school activities and currently serves as president on boards in both her community and parish.

Tammy is committed to being a force for good for all students of Lockport Township High School, both current and future. She looks forward to working in collaboration with the District, staff, and teachers to support productive dialogue and policies that benefit the entire community. Her focus remains on ensuring a strong educational foundation, equipping each student with the skills needed for future success, and fostering a lifelong love of learning that extends beyond high school.

STUDENT MEMBER

James Wyatt is a senior at LTHS with aspirations of pursuing a career in engineering. He is deeply engaged in his school and community. At LTHS D205, he writes for the Porter Press, covering Lockport athletics, and serves as the National Honor Society Vice President. He is also an Advanced Placement (AP) advocate who mentors students in AP classes, a gym leader, and a member of the Varsity soccer team.

Outside of school, James works as a busser at the Public Landing in downtown Lockport and volunteers regularly within his church community. As a Student Board Member, James is dedicated to representing his peers, addressing student needs, and supporting efforts to provide the best possible educational experience.

STUDENT MEMBER

Ryan Gleason is an LTHS senior pursuing a STEM career in mechanical engineering and cybersecurity. His interests and hobbies include exploring nature, engineering, cooking, robotics, and computer programming. He is involved in the LTHS robotics club, where he has competed since his sophomore year. The Lockport robotics club has taught him the importance of teamwork when solving complex problems. Outside of school, he has also done extensive volunteer work with special needs individuals. Through volunteer work, he has learned the importance of compassion and the value of different life perspectives. He has a passion for understanding the world around him and seeks to bring new ideas from students to the board.

STUDENT MEMBER, FINANCE & FACILITIES COMMITTEE

Abigail Carroll is a senior at LTHS and a lifelong citizen of Lockport. She is very involved in the community and the surrounding areas, in and out of school. Outside of school, she works at the local Dairy Queen as well as being a Museum Assistant at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, both of which she is dedicated to creating a positive experience for visitors and a positive attitude for her coworkers. At LTHS, Abigail works in the technology assistance center, helping students and staff troubleshoot any technology-related issues. She is also the Editor-In-Chief of LTHS' school newspaper, Porter Press. Through her roles, she is committed to representing and advocating for the needs and voices of all LTHS students.

STUDENT MEMBER, CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

Evelyn Siedlarczyk is a senior at LTHS with a passion for NASA and outer space, aiming for a career in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or astrophysics. She is active in the National Honor Society, the Superintendent’s Advisory Council, Robotics, Math Team, and the Science Club. Through her work on the advisory council, she developed a passion for student leadership. With her Robotics teammates, she earned two Excellence Awards at the local level and the Create Award at the state level. Mentoring younger students in FTC robotics deepened her understanding of learning and her commitment to maximizing LTHS resources for all students. After 12 years in a Polish school, she brings a global perspective and new ideas for education at LTHS.