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.

VICE PRESIDENT

Dr. Veronica Shaw has lived in Lockport for more than 20 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 High School, she has served as the Associate Principal of Discipline & Operations, Spanish teacher, and is currently the Associate Principal of Curriculum & Instruction. She is also certified in Special Education and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Francis. She is a member of the District 210 Strategic Planning Committee, the Welcome Basket Coordinator for the National Association for Down Syndrome at Silver Cross Hospital, and a Parent-Wise Volunteer at the Ann & Robert Lurie Children's Hospital. 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.

SECRETARY

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

Michael Travis is a lifelong citizen of the city of Lockport, and is a proud graduate of Lockport Township High School. He and his wife Rebecca have three children, all graduates of LTHS, and two grandchildren. He is employed with Canadian National Railroad and is an active member of the Lockport community.

He has served as a committee chairperson at his church, and is excited to be serving the community in the capacity of Member of the Board of Education. He plans to work to ensure effective, transparent, and fair handling of all Board matters. He looks forward to addressing such issues as health, education, and welfare for all students. His top priority is to ensure that our students are served well.

MEMBER

Lance Thies is a multi-disciplinary landscape architect and planner and is currently employed as the Director of Community and Economic Development for the City of Lockport. He possesses a Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from Ball State University and a Master's in Business Administration from Concordia University Chicago. Thies and his wife have lived in Lockport since 2000, and their two children graduated from Lockport Township High School.

MEMBER

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

Derek Patton has been a resident of Lockport and Homer Glen for over 20 years. He holds a BS in Civil Engineering and an Executive MBA from the University of Illinois. A Marine Corps veteran, Derek participated in multiple deployments, including Iraq in 2003. He has built a professional career in the construction industry, serving on several committees, including as a management trustee for one of Chicago’s largest health and welfare funds, representing union employees. Derek also spent many years on the board of two non-profits focused on community advocacy and veteran support.

Derek and his wife, Jamie, have four children, ages 8 to 17, who attend local public schools. Over the years, he has interacted with various departments and teachers, including those at LTHS. Derek and Jamie are active members of their church and regularly attend their children's sports events, which include swimming, water polo, soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball, and cheerleading.

Derek is passionate about collaborating with staff, faculty, and the Board to help the district consistently produce academically proficient, versatile, and confident students—students who will graduate from LTHS as exemplary representatives of our community.

STUDENT MEMBER

Averi Colella is a senior at LTHS and a lifelong citizen of Lockport. She is immersed within Lockport’s community, participating in activities in and out of school. At school, she is captain of the Girls' Wrestling team and a state qualifier in Girls’ Wrestling in 2024. She also participates in Girls’ Track and Field, is a dancer and choreographer for Orchesis, and is a member of the National Honors Society. Since her sophomore year, Averi has been competing in Power Equipment Technology through SkillsUSA, where she received 3rd at the state competition in April of 2024. She now serves as SkillsUSA Illinois’ elected President on the national level. She is also a member of Illinois’ CTSO Student Board. These two organizations allow her to represent the state of Illinois in delegations and in front of elected officials and truly advocate for Career and Technical Education courses in schools across Illinois. Outside of school, she is both a Director and Sound Technician for the youth theater, Bragi's Players, where she is dedicated to providing young actors with valuable experiences that will teach them powerful communication and public speaking skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

As a student representative on the Board of Education, she is committed to ensuring that each student’s voice is heard and that everyone has the opportunity to discover and pursue their passions at Lockport.

STUDENT MEMBER

Mia Fontanetta is a senior at LTHS who wishes to pursue a career in dermatology. She is president of Orchesis Danceworks, where she serves to create a family-like atmosphere within the dance community. She also serves on the Model UN Design Team, a lab assistant for the science department, an AP Advocate where she tutors students who are new to the AP program at LTHS, and an ACES Leader in the special education department. Outside of school, Mia is the philanthropy leader for Leading With Heart, a leadership class that fundraises for children with congenital heart defects, as well as being involved with the Ace Hardware Foundation benefiting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. She is rooted in her church and deeply values her church community.

STUDENT MEMBER, FINANCE & FACILITIES COMMITTEE

Wazeera Shekoni is a senior at LTHS interested in pursuing a career in the legal field. She is actively involved in several school organizations, including the French National Honor Society, S.E.A.C, and Model United Nations. Beyond her school commitments, she is a co-captain and founder of EconUnited, an online club for high school students interested in economics. Wazeera also dedicates her time to volunteer as a tutor at LearnToBe, a nonprofit organization focused on providing educational support to students in need.

STUDENT MEMBER, CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

Michael Dierkes is a senior at LTHS. His interests range from economics, geography, and international relations to math, science, and engineering. This past year, he served as president of Lockport's Model United Nations team; participated in math, science, and engineering design competitions; worked with an Argonne National Laboratory nuclear physicist on soon-to-be-published research; and volunteered in his local community. He believes in the power of creative, interdisciplinary problem-solving coupled with community engagement to ensure all students at Lockport get access to a world-class education.