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

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.