The District 99 Board of Education has approved the hiring of Phil Culcasi to serve as the next math department chair at South High School in Downers Grove, effective July 1. Culcasi will succeed Jake Giblin, who will become associate principal for curriculum and instruction at the school.
Culcasi has over 25 years of experience as a math and science teacher, and has taught at Wheaton Warrenville South High School since 2002 and served as science department chair since 2012. He is an active leader and participant in professional development sessions and workshops regionally and nationally, and also serves as assistant girls basketball coach at WWSHS. Culcasi is also an adjunct professor at the University of St. Francis, teaching graduate level education courses.
“Phil is tremendously talented and a proven educational leader,” said South High Principal Arwen Lyp. “We’re confident that his skills as a science leader will transfer effectively to our math department, and that he will inspire our teachers to continue providing quality instruction to our students.”
Culcasi received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, an M.A. in secondary education from Lewis University, and administrative certification from Aurora University. In addition, Culcasi is a 2022 Golden Apple Fellow and was a Presidential Award Winner in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2017. He is also National Board Certified.
“Being a community member, I’m thrilled to join the well-respected faculty and staff at DGS and partner with them to design and deliver an innovative curriculum,” said Culcasi. “My daughters will graduate from DGS this May and both have received a strong educational foundation, and I look forward to providing the same quality instruction for future students of DGS.”
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