New Special Ed Director Will Join D135

Special education in District 135 will be run by a new staff member in 2012.

Ellen Belotti, who now works as director of student services for the Mokena School District 159, will be taking the place of Colleen Schultz, who serves as both D135’s assistant superintendent of student services and director of special education. Schultz will be retiring at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. In leading up to Schultz’s departure, Belotti will be working alongside her to become familiar with the district.

“I’m grateful to be mentored by Dr. Schultz,” Belotti said during the board meeting.

District 135 Superintendent Paul Howell said Belotti was “well received by the interview committee,” after listing her academic and work history. Belotti was chosen out of 50 applicants, and after 18 people were interviewed for the position, Howell said.

Belotti holds masters degrees from University of Illinois in social work and from Governors State University in education. She previously worked as a counselor at Interventions/Crossroads Youth Services, as a social worker and program coordinator at Olympia Fields Osteopathic Medial Center and as a social worker for the Mokena school district.

The following people were also taken on or announced retirement at the meeting:

• Dan Doogan, who has worked in District 135’s technology department for the last eight years, will be replacing technology director Rich Kalinski, who will be retiring at the end of June.
• Gerald Dignan, Spanish teacher at Jerling Junior High, will be retiring after the 2011-2012 school year. Howell said he “moved students far forward at a young age” and described Dignan as a “phenomenal employee.”
• Amber Heslau will start as a school psychology intern for Center and Liberty schools for the 2011-2012 school year, and will be paid a salary of about $9,000 that is expected to come from state funding. Heslau will be working toward a school psychology certification. Howell said with at least five school psychologists in 135 retiring within the next few years, a goal is to have a candidate for potential openings with experience from within the district.
• Mary Nowaczyk was hired as a secretary for Center School.