The District 99 Board of Education has approved the hiring of Katie Wood to serve as the next English department chair at Downers Grove North High School, effective July 1.
“English is one of our core subjects, and having an experienced leader for this department is essential,” said North High Principal Dr. Courtney DeMent. “Katie has the right mix of experiences to succeed in this position, from having served as an English teacher to leading professional development and coaching others. We are excited to welcome her to the DGN family.”
Wood has worked in administration at West Aurora High School District 129 since 2017, and she currently serves as the English Curriculum Coordinator for Grades 9-12. In this position, she oversees a team of 33 teachers and collaborates with administration to identify and plan for student needs. She also guides curricular teams, conducts teacher evaluations, and provides professional development. Her training sessions have covered topics such as teacher leadership and adolescent literacy. Wood also served as a dean.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to join District 99,” said Wood. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation here and collaborating with such a talented group of educators and students.“
Wood began her career as an English teacher at West Chicago Community High School. She taught Advanced Placement English literature and composition courses as well as a variety of other honors classes for 11 years.
She received a master’s degree in education from Benedictine University and a bachelor’s degree in English secondary education from Millikin University.
Wood will replace Dr. Christopher Bronke. After serving District 99 for 13 years, the past 12 as department chair, Dr. Bronke will be embarking on a full-time role as an educational consultant.