District Directory

Mrs. Jamie Adolphson is the Associate Principal. She earned her undergraduate degree from Bradley University and her Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration from Saint Xavier University. Jamie previously taught for Pekin District 108 as an emotional/behavioral classroom teacher before joining the Pekin High School Staff teaching Special Education Science. The last three years Jamie spent as a Dean of Students at Pekin High School. Jamie is married to her husband Cory, and they have a daughter Kylie and a son Bradley.

Welcome to the MJHS Library Media Center, also known as the LMC.
Hours of operation are Monday - Friday 7:15 AM through 3:15 PM.

LOG IN (https://search.follettsoftware.com/metasearch/ui/7654/widget?type=b) to search for print books, eBooks, Audiobooks and your one stop for research. Students, Please join the LMC Google Classroom to stay up-to-date on all the exciting things happening in the Library world! Class code: gbed7b8

Mission:
The mission of the Library Media Center at Morton Junior High School is to engage students in authentic learning experiences that encourage critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation. By employing the best educational technologies, resources and pedagogies, students will improve academic achievement and develop strong informational and digital literacy for life in the 21st century.

I have been blessed to be teaching 1st grade at Grundy since 2017! I cannot wait for each new school year to begin. Each one is filled with new faces, new learning and great adventures.

In May of 2013, I graduated from Illinois State University with my Bachelor's in Elementary Education. This year, I received my Masters in Elementary Education from the American College of Education.

I was born and raised in Germantown Hills, and I have two loving parents, two older brothers who are both married with children, and a cat named Betty White. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling when I can, reading and shopping.

I am extremely passionate about my career as a teacher, and I especially love 1st grade and all of the growth that it brings for students. I hope to instill a lifelong love for learning and reading in my students, similar to what my own teachers did for me. Let’s have a great year!

"Does life imitate art, or does art imitate life?" Whatever the answer is, the Arts are alive and well here in Morton 709.

It is a pleasure to be a part of the team that helps get nearly every arts-related production up and going in the district. Band, Orchestra, Choir, Theater, and Art Shows with promising student resident artists bring many into our community to enjoy the talents of our students.

The Bertha Frank Performing Arts Center is a busy place for budding talent and creative minds. Learn more about the school and community connection at berthafrank.org

Mr. B. began teaching in Morton during the 1993-94 school year. Prior to coming to Morton he taught one year in East Aurora. He is the Morton's head girl's basketball coach, having started in 1998.  He is married to Evelyn and they have three energetic kids, Bobby, Josi, and Maddy.

Mr. Becker's Mission
Mr. Becker wants all children to enjoy physical education.  Each day he tries to plan activities that are fun and promote action.  His goal is to have all of his students moving and having a great time.  If each child leaves his class feeling good about themselves and having pink cheeks and sweaty foreheads, his lesson has been successful.

Mrs. Behm graduated from Illinois State University with her Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2012 and has been working in Morton CUSD 709 ever since! She currently provides speech therapy services to our Early Childhood Education (ECE) students at Grundy Elementary School. Mrs. Behm resides in Morton with her husband and two daughters. She believes everyone deserves a voice and is excited to help students communicate effectively!

All students come to explore, perform, and enjoy the world of music. Students learn basic music theory, demonstrate their knowledge by playing many kinds of instruments, and perform their talents through a concert format. We strive to have all of our students feel successful in developing not only musical skills but also a lifelong appreciation of music.

I was born in Darien, IL and lived there until I was five years old. At that time my family moved to Central Illinois where I grew up in Tremont, just a few minutes away from Morton. After high school I attended Bradley University where I graduated with a degree in Vocal Music Education in 2009. I started teaching in Morton in 2010. I've been at MJHS since 2012. I graduated with my Master's Degree in Music Education from Illinois State University in 2015.

When I am not in school, I am either with my wonderful wife Melissa and our kids or my barbershop quartet, After Hours. Melissa and I were married in 2009, and we are current Tremont residents. We have two children, Lincoln and Gwendolyn, and they keep us busy! Melissa and I also enjoy serving with our musical abilities at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Groveland, IL. My quartet, After Hours, is the 2010 Illinois State Champion quartet, as well as the 2018 International Champion Quartet. We do quite a bit of touring on the weekends, throughout the country and we have recorded 4 studio albums. I absolutely love coming to work every day, working with students at Grundy. I love watching them grow as young musicians.

I am from a small town in eastern Iowa called Center Point. I graduated from Iowa State University (Iowa’s ISU) in the spring of 2008. There I met my wife, Jenna. After getting married in June of 2009, we moved to Peoria for her career in dietetics. I have spent most of the last four years substitute teaching in District 150 and taking classes at Illinois Central College and Illinois State University (Illinois’ ISU). In May of 2013, I graduated with a degree in History-Social Sciences Education with certification for grades 6-12. I am thrilled to be a part of District 709 and the Morton community. I look forward to teaching American History and getting involved in a variety of extracurricular activities and initiatives throughout the year.

In my free time, I enjoy running, spending time outdoors, traveling, volunteering, attending concerts, and watching the Chicago Bears.


Mission for the Class

The mission for this course is for students to gain an appreciation for history and to make connections between the past and their own lives. Students will also learn the importance of perspective-taking, from both a historical and present sense. The democratic atmosphere of this classroom will allow students to share their opinions and ideas and will also encourage them to acknowledge and appreciate the views of their peers. Students will practice teamwork by working collaboratively in groups on a regular basis. Finally, students will improve their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills that are essential for future success.

Hello! My name is Allie Bohnhoff and I am thrilled to be teaching Kindergarten at Jefferson! Before teaching kindergarten, I taught fifth, sixth, and fourth grades. I graduated from Illinois State University in 2011, majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in Spanish. My endorsements are in Language Arts, Reading, Science, and Spanish. I returned to ISU and earned my master's degree in Reading in 2016. 
When not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our little boy, Wyatt. We have two dogs that keep us busy and entertained! I love to read, write, visit with family and friends, and be outside in my spare time.

Mission for the Class 
I believe in a classroom where students are excited to share what they are learning and how it connects with their life. I believe in a classroom where students' questions and inquiries guide learning, so much of what we do will have real-world contexts and involve hands-on experiences. Kindergarten is such an exciting time for children and my goal is to foster that excitement throughout the year and in the years to come! Finally, I truly believe that a successful school experience requires collaboration between students, teachers, parents, families, and community members. For this reason, we invite you to join us throughout the year to see the learning we are engaged in for yourself! And we'll be taking the learning out beyond the walls of our classroom, too! It's going to be a great year! 

I will be beginning my tenth year as a teacher here at Lettie Brown School.  I have taught kindergarten all ten years, and I have enjoyed every minute of it.  It was a dream of mine since the time I was in junior high to one day become a kindergarten teacher, and I feel like all my dreams have come true.  I feel truly blessed to be at such a wonderful school such as Lettie Brown Elementary and to work with a great staff.  I graduated from Illinois State University in 2001 with a bachelor^aEURTMs degree in Early Childhood Education.  After several years of teaching I continued with my education and received my masters in reading in 2009.  My excellent educational opportunities have prepared for my every day teaching experiences!

 I grew up in the surrounding areas of Morton as the youngest of eight siblings.  Being the youngest helped me to gain lots of life experience as I have watched my siblings make choices in their life.  Several of them are teachers and they have taught me many things.  I also have twenty-two nieces and nephews!  I was fortunate to marry my best friend who I have known since kindergarten!  We have been blessed with two children.  Connor is going to be a fifth grader this year and my daughter Ella will be two!  We stay busy with football, walks, church, traveling, and enjoying all that life brings to us.  You can often find us on the side of the mountains of Colorado or having a magical time in Disney World.

Mission for the Class
My mission for my class is to provide a positive atmosphere where my students feel comfortable, safe, learn a lot, and most importantly that they have FUN!  I want my students to be engaged in learning that is hands on and relevant to their little worlds.  My personal goal is to see each student grow in all areas and to make my classroom a multi-level classroom where each activity will meet each student's academic needs. I want their first year of school to be a positive and fun learning experience and a year where we see lots and lots of growth both academically and socially.

About the Teacher
I am married with two wonderful children. My wife,  Kerry, works in the music department of Morton High School. I have two children, Kyle and Darby. 

Fourth grade is a wonderful transitional year. The students get to come upstairs with the big kids for the first time. With that privilege, come more responsibilities. I expect great things from my students and push them to develop skills and attitudes that will allow them to be succesful students, as well as successful citizens throughout their lifetimes.

Students are encouraged to become much more independent during this year. It becomes their responsibility to turn work in on time and in the right places. Their assignment books should be filled out on a daily basis.

New academic topics include learning about our United States: the regions, states, and capitals. We have units on sound, light, animals, recycling, rocks and minerals, and states of matter in science. Our biggest math goal in 4th grade is long division. Once they figure that one out, they feel like they have really accomplished something.

Learning how to play recorders, preparing for a music program, and going on various fieldtrips are just a few more highlights in 4th grade.

Mrs. Brooks has been teaching at Lincoln since 2002. She taught kindergarten for six years before moving to first grade. She is originally from Morton and was a student at Lincoln Elementary from second through sixth grade. She graduated from Illinois State University in December of 2002 with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. Mrs. Brooks also has her Master's Degree in Reading and loves the energy and enthusiasm of young learners. Mrs. Brooks and her husband live in Morton with their three active children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, going to all her kids' events, shopping, decorating, walking, and reading.

Mission for the Class
Mrs. Brooks's mission for her class is to establish a safe classroom environment where all students feel comfortable to take risks in their learning. She will also help students to appreciate themselves as individuals while teaching them to work together as a team. Mrs. Brooks teaches using a variety activities so that each students' needs are met to help them feel successful and develop a love of learning.

As the Principal here at Morton Junior High School, it is my privilege to serve the Morton-Groveland community. I have been here at Morton Junior High School since 2006 after spending nine years at Tri-Valley Middle School as a 6th Grade Language Arts, Reading and Social Studies teacher and basketball and track coach.

As a life-long Central Illinois resident, I graduated from Eureka College in 1997 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in elementary education and a middle school endorsement. While I was at EC, I played basketball and was fortunate to be a member of the National Championship team in 1994. I also graduated from Illinois State University in 2006 with a Master’s degree in Educational Administration.

My wife, Stacy, teaches kindergarten at Starke Primary School in Pekin. We have three children: Abby, Ben, and Katy.

We love being part of this wonderful community and enjoy meeting our Junior Potter families. Please stop by the school any time! My door is always open!

Mrs. Chan has been teaching at Lincoln for eight years. After teaching in the Early Childhood during the 2007-2008 school year, Mrs. Chan is returning to the Early Childhood program. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Special Education and Early Childhood at Eastern Illinois University, along with an endorsement in Early Childhood Special Education. Mrs. Chan is currently attending Illinois State University working towards her Master's Degree in Special Education. She loves coaching the Morton Red Wing's Special Olympic basketball team. Mrs. Chan and her husband live in Morton with their two children, Brooklynn and Hudson. In her spare time, she enjoys exercising, crafting and spending time with her family

Mission for the Class
Mrs. Chan's goal is to build a nurturing, child-centered classroom with a high-quality educational program. By providing her students with an enriched and hands-on environment, she believes the students will learn to become active learners and develop to their fullest potential..

Jesse Crawford completed his sixth year as Head Baseball Coach at Morton High School by winning the IHSA State Championship in June of 2018. As a result of this accomplishment he was rewarded IHSA Class 3A Coach of the Year by the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association.

Originally from Pekin, Illinois, Crawford played his high school baseball at Pekin High and later his college ball at Illinois Central College and Western Illinois University. Following his career at Western, Crawford moved to Missouri and was hired as an assistant coach at Knox County High School. In short order, Coach Crawford took over as head coach of both the varsity basketball and baseball programs at Knox County. In 2008, the Eagles had outstanding seasons on both the court and the field leading to Crawford being named Class 2A Coach of the Year for both sports. Overall while at Knox County, Crawford was able to take his basketball team to two Sweet 16 appearances while compiling a 68-42 record overall on the hardwood.

Following his success in Missouri, Coach Crawford returned to Illinois taking a teaching position in Morton Community School District 709 and took on coaching roles in football, baseball, and basketball. Crawford made an immediate impact as an assistant basketball coach helping the Potters program advance to its first Elite Eight in program history. A few years later, Crawford took over as Head Varsity Baseball Coach and Head Junior High Baseball Coach.

2012 was Coach Crawford’s first year as Head Junior High Baseball Coach and in that year the Junior Potters went a remarkable 25-0 and captured the IESA State Championship. In his six years heading the Junior Potter program Crawford is 124-31 with two title game appearances and two additional Elite Eight bids.

As a varsity baseball coach between his time at Knox County and Morton, Jesse Crawford is 189-110. He has been part of 11 conference titles in 14 years of coaching. Over the past four seasons his varsity team at Morton High School has averaged 28 wins per season and made an Elite Eight appearance in 2017 backed up by a State Title in 2018. The Potters have also captured multiple Mid-Illini Conference, Regional and Sectional crowns during Crawford’s tenure.

In addition to his role as a baseball and basketball coach at Morton High School and Morton Junior High, Jesse works as a PE Teacher at Morton Junior High School. He has been teaching for 14 years including stints as an elementary classroom teacher in addition to his current job teaching PE at MJHS.

Coach Crawford, his wife Michelle, and two children, Cameron and Finley, reside in Morton. They are active members of the Morton community participating in multiple activities. When Coach Crawford is not on the court or field at Morton High School he can often be found coaching a youth team helping not only his own children but the next generation of Morton athletes.

Responsibilities: User accounts, email, web filter

I started working for Morton 709 in 1994. I have worked as an aide, a third-grade teacher at Jefferson, and retired from teaching as a fourth-grade teacher at Grundy. I am now working as a Resource aide at Grundy and I love working with the students and with my former colleagues. I attended Grundy when it opened its doors in 1961 and all three of my sons attended here. We are Grundy Strong!

Education: BS in Elementary Education, BS in History and MS in Curriculum and Instruction

I have taught in the Computer Lab at Lettie Brown since 2002.  When I'm not helping students on the computers at Brown, I enjoy spending time with my family.  My three sons all attended Lettie Brown Grade School!  In my free time, I enjoy making jewelry, gardening, watching movies, and playing cards and games with my husband and the rest of the family. 

Mission for the Class
In the computer lab, we strive to reinforce with technology what is taught in the classroom.  Our goal is to help our students to become comfortable with and more knowledgeable about technology to prepare them for the ever-increasing importance of technology in our world. 

I absolutely love my job, a perfect combination of two of my passions, art and teens! I graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in art and a minor in English. I began my career teaching middle school art near Chicago for a couple years before settling down with family downstate. When my children were little, I stayed home with them and led an after-school art program at the Crossword Cafe, a youth center in Chillicothe, where I live with my husband, two boys, and collie dog. I began teaching art part-time at Morton Junior High in 2015, and was thrilled when it became a full-time position the following year.

In art class, we explore a variety of media including drawing, painting, printmaking, digital art, paper maché, ceramics, and sculpture. We also learn to observe and discuss the work of other artists, contemporary, historical, and multicultural. I believe that with just a little secret principle here and there and a bit of practice at basic skills, everyone can express their passions, opinions, and interests with visual art. Creating can be so much fun! That's not to mention the growing career opportunities in art and design.

Mission:

My mission for art class is to empower students with skills to create, discuss, and understand art so that they may express their own artistic voice.

I have been teaching health and PE in Morton since 2004, and have taught at many of the buildings in the district. I love teaching PE at Grundy! My husband Kevin and I have two kids, Brady and Aubrey. I also coach the junior high cross country team.

Hi, my name is Mike Finck and I began teaching 5th grade at Lettie Brown in 1994.  I have a beautiful wife, Trisha and two awesome children Austin and Alli.  I enjoy the outdoors and spending time with my family.  You can often find us at a sporting event for one of the kids.  Teaching is the greatest profession.  I never get tired of the look on a 5th grader's face when they have learned something new and I get to see the "Now I get it expression" for the first time.

Grundy gators love books! We devour them daily. The Grundy Library belongs to all of us. The PTO gives generously to the purchasing of books at Grundy. As parents support the Scholastic book fairs during the year, classrooms and the library, are gifted with even more books.

Students come to library once a week. Students are also encouraged to check out books during school and immediately before and after school if they desire. Students check out books once a week from the library and return them the following week. If they want to renew their book, have them bring them weekly anyway. We will renew their book when they bring it to the library. Ask your child about what they are checking out from the library. And help them keep track of them at your house, so our books can return to their Grundy library home.

The days of card catalogs are long gone. Now each student (and STAFF) has access to looking for books in our library online 24/7 through the DestinyQuest website. Go to Grundy Gators homepage>>Students tab>>Destiny. Or here: http://destiny.morton709.org/. Students sign on with their Accelerated Reader name and password. Students can put books on hold, request them to be sent to Grundy from other Morton Elementary libraries, or just browse for a book.

I am very excited and grateful to be the library aide at Grundy! I look forward each year to sharing my love of reading with all the students. My husband Patrick (who was a Grundy Gator!) and I have been married for 17 years. We have three sons, Jack in 9th grade at Morton High School, Andy in 7th at Morton Junior High, and Sam in 5th at Lettie Brown. Previously I have worked at Lettie Brown as an aide in first grade and early childhood. In addition, I have worked as a substitute aide in each elementary class and the library. In my free time I enjoy reading (of course), watching movies, and spending time with friends and family. We also have two cats that perform tricks like playing fetch and shaking hands.

My mission for our library is to help every child find books they love, in which they can have an adventure, learn about a place they want to visit, get wrapped up in a fantasy or mystery, and just find themselves enthusiastic for the next chapter. When you read, the whole world opens up for you.

Mrs. Fitzpatrick earned her bachelors degree in music education from Bradley University and her masters in music education from Illinois State University. Along with directing the MJHS bands, she is the woodwind instructor for the MHS marching band.


Mission for the Class

To develop and enhance a musical community through independent musicianship, music performance, and music appreciation.

Although I moved around a few times while growing up, I was born in Peoria and came back to the area for middle school and high school. I attended Metamora Township High School and went off to The University of Illinois to receive my teaching degree. I moved back to the area after graduating in 2010 and taught at Edison Junior High School in Pekin the first 8 years of my career. I also received my Master’s Degree in 2015 from Illinois State University. My husband is from Morton, so we settled down in here in town after getting married in 2011. We have two children, Titus and McKenna. I enjoy spending time with my family, reading and being active outdoors.

I have been teaching pre-kindergarten since 2011 and in 2018 started teaching early childhood in Morton. I have a bachelor's degree in early childhood education with an endorsement in special education from Illinois State University. I reside in Morton with my husband, Nicholas, and our two children.

Hi, I am Katy Gingerich! I began teaching 5th grade at Lettie Brown in 2012 upon graduating from Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Middle Level Education. In 2015, I received a Master's of Science in Teaching and Learning with a specialization in educational technology. I grew up on a farm in rural Tremont with three older brothers. Now, my husband and I live in Morton and have two children, Elyse and Reid.I enjoy running and spending time with my family.

Mission for the Class:
My goal is to educate each student to achieve personal excellence. I want to instill my passion for learning into my students in a supportive, encouraging environment with infectious enthusiasm.

Zach Glisan is the business services associate for Morton 709. He assists with vendor contracts, bid proposals, and related assigned projects. He also helps manage the grant reporting for the district, payroll operations, and other related ISBE reporting.

Mrs. Grant is in her 19th year of teaching. She has been at Grundy School for fifteen years. She taught special education for eleven years and is now in her 7th year of teaching Kindergarten. She graduated from Western Illinois University in May of 1998 and also has a Master's Degree. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, shopping, working out, and spending time with her family and friends at the cabin. She and her husband live in Peoria with their 2 kids, a son and a daughter and one furry friend, Charlie Brown.

My mission in Kindergarten is to provide a safe and encouraging environment where students can explore all aspects of learning. I hope to motivate children by creating a classroom family where hands-on acitivities foster communication, literacy and love of learning.

Mrs. Guetschow is very excited to be teaching third grade at Lincoln this year!  She previously taught first grade at Lincoln, second grade for two years in Geneseo, Illinois and one year of fourth grade in Prophetstown, Illinois.   She graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2007 with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education with middle school endorsements in both Social Studies and Language Arts.  Mrs. Guetschow lives in East Peoria with her husband, David, and their cat, Maya.  Her hobbies include reading, traveling, and cheering on her favorite baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals!

Mission for the Class
Mrs. Guetschow's mission for the class is to create a caring, positive learning environment that encourages all students to always try their best to reach their full social, emotional, and academic potentials.

Welcome to an exciting year of 3rd grade! I began teaching third grade at Grundy in 2008. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Bradley University, a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Illinois State University, and a second Master’s in Elementary Education.

I love teaching and feel blessed to be working in a district with great students, supportive parents, and an amazing staff! My husband Nick and I live in the Morton/Groveland area. We have two boys and many fur babies including dogs, a cat, and miniature horses. I am very passionate about teaching and learning. It is an honor to have the opportunity to prepare students for not only the next grade level, but for life as well. My goal is to help each student reach their highest potential in a safe, structured environment. I want my students to have fun learning and love coming to school each day!

This is my 12th year teaching English Language Arts at MJHS. I graduated from Bradley University in 2004 with a degree in Elementary Education. While not in the classroom, you can find me coaching and sponsoring multiple extra-curricular activities. I have coached MJHS softball for 11 years. The last 3 years I have been an assistant coach for the Morton Lady Potters Girls’ Basketball team. In addition, I am co-sponsor of the MJHS student council.

Mission for the Class

The mission of my class is to widen a student's outlook on learning and literature through providing a wide range of stories and novels to share. Also, I strive to provide a positive and welcoming environment to all students. Learning in a positive atmosphere is not only a path to success, but also a way to a better educational outlook.

Brenda is our HR Coordinator. She handles dental, vision and health insurance as well as personnel topics ranging from new hires to retirees.

I have been teaching at Morton Junior High School since 2011. I love teaching and getting to interact with a variety of students. I am married and have a daughter named Lila. In my free time I enjoy watching and playing sports, especially football. I also enjoy traveling, playing ultimate Frisbee, and karate. My mission is to encourage and challenge students to reach their full potential through critical thinking skills and high expectations.

Mission for the Class

My mission is to assist students to achieve their highest potential by helping them become problem.

Mr. Todd Herrman is an Assistant Principal and Dean of Students (A-L) at Morton High School.
He earned an undergraduate degree from Illinois State University in Marketing. After a couple years of working in the business sector, Todd decided to pursue a career in education. He worked as a classroom aide in an alternative education classroom and went on to acquire an undergraduate degree in Business Education from Illinois State University.
Mr. Herrmann taught and coached at East Peoria Junior High and High School for six years. He taught both STEM and Business courses, and he coached cross country and track and field. After obtaining his Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Aurora University, he worked as Dean of Students at Pekin High School for two years.

Mr. Herrmann is married to his wife Nicole, they have two daughters and a son, Adelyn,Olivia, and Zachary.

I live in Peoria with my wonderful husband, who is also an educator. We got married in the summer of 2016 and purchased a house shortly before that keeps us very busy. I grew up in Waukegan, IL. I obtained my Bachelor's Degree from Illinois Wesleyan in 2011 and received a Masters in Reading Education in 2015 from St. Xavier University. I began teaching in Chillicothe, IL where I taught 5th grade for 6 years. I am incredibly excited to start my first year at Lincoln and I look forward to being a part of the Morton Community! Go Lions! 

Mission Statement
It is my personal mission as a fourth grade teacher to provide all students with the highest quality of education. I promise to do so in a safe learning environment that will continually support the academic, social, emotional, and physical growth of my students. I will strive to teach all students fourth grade curriculum in innovative ways. Not only will I teach and stress the importance of academics, I will also work hard to help students develop the skills they need to be knowledgeable, value-driven, and open-minded members of our community.

Thank you for taking time to visit the Lincoln Elementary School website. I consider it a privilege to serve the students, families and teachers of Lincoln School and the Morton-Groveland community. I grew up in Morton and am a proud graduate of Morton High School. A little background about my professional path that brought me back to Morton…I attended Illinois State University, obtaining undergraduate degrees in Mass Communication and Elementary Education. I taught sixth grade for seven years at Northwest School in Lincoln. While there, I pursued a Master’s Degree in Administration, also from Illinois State. I began my administrative career at Thomas Metcalf School in Normal, working as assistant principal and athletic director for four years. For the next nine years, I worked as principal at Midland Elementary School, a Pre-K to 4th grade school in the rural community of Lacon. I truly consider it such an honor to now serve as your principal, in the community where I was raised and where my family continues to reside. I will strive to maintain open, direct communication with parents and families, create a positive school environment for our teachers and students and provide a welcoming setting for all families and stakeholders who visit our school. I encourage parents and families to become involved in all of the wonderful activities at our school. As parents, you are the key to your child’s success, and I thank you in advance for all that you will do to contribute to your child’s academic and emotional success this year. I know that you will work collaboratively with our teachers and staff members, while I have high expectations for me, our teachers and faculty to provide the best educational experience possible for your child. Please know that I am always available to meet with you, communicate via email or talk with you about any concerns or suggestions you wish to share or discuss. (Well…except on Sundays during football season, when I am watching and cheering on my beloved Green Bay Packers!!

Please stop in to introduce yourself and say hello…my door is always open!

Sincerely,

Julie Horchem

I began working as an aide at Grundy in 2004. I love watching the children grow from grade to grade, and from semester to semester as they learn. I love putting my Elementary Ed. Bachelors degree from ISU to work as the 2nd grade aide.

I am married to Bob, since 1984 at Pumpkin Festival time, and we have 3 children. All were Grundy Gators at one time. Laurel and her husband, Tyler, in Bloomington; Greg, in Denver; and Erika and her husband, Kyle, in Washington state. My husband works at Lighthouse Buick part time, and we enjoy traveling.

When I have a moment I enjoy reading, gardening and cheering for my beloved CUBS!!

Adam Jacob is our District Accountant. He helps with processing payroll and can help you with anything payroll related. Adam also helps manage the district's cash ledger and general ledger by performing monthly reconciliations.

Scott Jones is the Athletic Director. He is a native of Berwyn, IL where he attended Morton West High School and Hinsdale South High School. He holds degrees from Western Illinois University and the American College of Education. Scott taught instrumental music for 19 years and during that time has coached Football, Baseball and Softball. He was awarded the ICA Softball Coach of the Year in 2007 & 2009, and was also awarded the Illinois Principal’s Association (CIV) Assistant Principal of the Year in 2014 while working for Dunlap High School. During his free time Scott enjoys playing Golf, Softball, and traveling with his wife Jeanie, who teaches 3rd Grade for the Brimfield Schools. Scott and Jeanie have 5 children and 2 grandchildren.

Mrs. Christina Kienitz grew up in Lubbock, Texas and Michigan City, Indiana. She attended Ball State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Education. During thirteen years as a Social Studies teacher at Pekin Community High School, Mrs. Kienitz also completed a Master of Science at ISU in Curriculum and Instruction and a Master of Science in School Counseling at Bradley. Mrs. Kienitz was a school counselor at PCHS for two years before becoming a school counselor at MHS in 2016. Mrs. Kienitz is thrilled to be a part of the greater Morton Community and to collaboratively serve the students and families of MHS!

I am an interventionist and work with students who may need support academically or socially/emotionally. If a student has a plan with me, I may push them into a classroom to support them or provide more intensive instruction within my classroom. I graduated from Trinity Christian College with my undergrad in Special Education and have my master's from ISU for Special Education and Curriculum Adaptation. I am currently working on my School Counseling master's degree from Arkansas State University.

Carolu is the front desk receptionist and secretary to the District Office. She oversees building rentals, substitutes, crossing guards and school volunteers.

Hello! My name is Elizabeth Knapp and I am the Social Worker at Grundy Elementary School. I have been working in the Morton 709 District since August 2016. I previously worked in the Decatur, IL school district with students in preschool-8th grade. I attended Illinois State University for my Bachelor's degree in Social Work and the University of Illinois for my Master's degree in School Social Work.

I feel very honored to have the opportunity to work in such a wonderful district. I look forward to working with all of the students, parents, and staff in the Morton community.

I met my incredible husband, Andy, at Morton High School, and we have been married for 19 years.  After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagin, we settled in Mahomet where I spent seven years teaching junior high language arts.  During that time, I also earned my Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Illinois.  In 2004, I decided to stay home with our daughters, Aleksi (now a sophomore at MHS), and Ilyse (now a 7th grader at MJHS).  In 2005, Andy’s job brought us back to Morton.  I volunteered and subbed at Lincoln before deciding to return to teaching in 2014.  I have taught 3rd and 4th grades at Lincoln and am excited to be teaching the 6th grade this year!  Aside from teaching, I keep busy with traveling, photography, pickle ball, and tennis.    

Mission Statement:
“You can do more than you think you can” became my classroom mantra in 2014, and I can sincerely say that it is incredibly fulfilling to watch children embrace this notion.  It has always been my philosophy that children should feel loved, valued, and respected academically as well as emotionally before any learning will occur.  I run a “silly but strict” classroom.  Your children can probably describe this better than I can.  Basically, I love to laugh and to see your children laugh.  However, my expectations for work ethic and respect for one another are high.  I have no tolerance for bullying or misbehavior in a safety situation.  Even though you can expect me to push your child to do his/her best, I consider myself pretty laid back.  Additionally, I sincerely believe that your child’s education has to be a partnership between home and school.  It takes all of us to ensure your child’s success! 

I love third grade!!  I love it so much that I have been in third grade since 1991.  My husband, Brian, and children Tyler and Samantha and I  live in the Peoria area.  We enjoy playing sports together especially baseball and softball.  We also enjoy being outdoors and swimming in our pool.

Mission for the Class
In my classroom, I hope to create a positive atmosphere where as students feel that they can take a risk without fear of making mistakes.  I also promote independence and responsibility to prepare the children for future grades.

Lisa Kowalski graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University in 1996, and a Master of Business Administration from DePaul University in 2001. She has worked in the legal field, marketing, and business management. In 2017, she received her Chief School Business Official Endorsement from Illinois State University and is licensed with the State of Illinois.

Lisa was the business manager at the Illinois State University Laboratory Schools before joining Morton CUSD 709 in 2019, where she is currently serving as Chief Financial Officer.

I am thrilled to be working here at Jefferson as the crossing guard and recess aide.  Jefferson was home to my three children.  It is a great school and I am looking forward to a great year as a part of the Jefferson staff.

Mrs. Levitt joins the Lincoln family after teaching at Morton High School for 8 years.  She is excited to join the team and to work with younger students in the Middle Instructional Program.  She has her Bachelor's Degree in Special and Elementary Education from Greenville College, and her Master's Degree in Special Education from Illinois State University.  She is also a National Board Certified Teacher.  Mrs. Levitt lives in Morton with her husband, Rob, and their two daughters.  She enjoys spending time with family and friends, learning new things, and reading.