Oak Lawn Community High School Introduces New Staff

OAK LAWN, IL — Oak Lawn Community High School is happy to welcome several new members to its staff for the 2022-23 school year.

Jesenia Kolimas attended Illinois State University and comes to OLCHS from Lincoln Way East High School. Kolimas teaches both English 1 Honors and Spanish 1. Jessie is excited to help students succeed in her classes as well as beyond her classroom walls.

Student Services welcomes two new members to its staff. School social worker Sara McNulty comes to OLCHS from Oak Park River Forest High School. McNulty has enjoyed how welcoming everyone has been and looks forward to getting to know the staff. Counselor Eileen Sears, formerly of DeKalb High School, is excited to get to know her students and colleagues and loves the welcoming environment of the school.

Christina Ebertsch joined the nurse’s office this year. Ebertsch’s most recent post was Churchville Middle School in Elmhurst School District 205. Ebertsch can be found helping with anything health related but mainly in the Nurse’s office with a stethoscope around her neck. She looks forward to being a part of the Spartan team that makes our students feel heard, respected, and cared for. Ebertsch quotes Maya Angelou as her inspiration for her work. “People will forget about what you said. People will forget what you did. But, people will never forget how you made them feel.”

John Jensen comes to from Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School, where he taught for six years. Jensen teaches biology and serves as a substitute teacher this semester. Next semester, he will also teach social studies. Jensen is looking forward to being in the building and participating with the students outside of extracurriculars.

The special dducation department welcomes Nick Novak back in his role as special education coordinator. Novak served as assistant principal in Chicago Heights SD 170 for two years. Before working in S170, he taught special education here at Oak Lawn Community High School and was the head football coach.

“I am happy to be back at OLCHS,” Novak said. “The teachers and staff are some of the best I have worked with in my career and look forward to helping our staff provide a great education to our students.”

The dean’s office welcomes the addition of Joseph Butler. Butler comes to us from Parker Junior High School in Flossmoor, where he was an ELA/Social Studies teacher and coached the cross-country and track teams. He is excited to work with the dean’s staff and said, “the best is yet to come.”

David Early will serve as department chair of the physical education department. Early served as a dean at West Aurora High School for two years and taught physical education, health, and driver's education at Plainfield East high School.

“In my short time at OLCHS, I can already feel the Spartan Pride and family-like atmosphere with staff and students alike,” Early said. “I look forward to growing as a PE department and exploring health and wellness in new and exciting ways with the students here. Go Spartans.”

Finally, the world languages department welcomes Dustin Greenberg as its department chair. Dustin has taught for twelve years in the areas of ELL, bilingual education, and Spanish. Most recently, Greenberg taught Spanish 2, 3, and AP at Proviso Math and Science Academy. He looks forward to fostering, building, and sustaining positive relationships with the OLCHS community.

~ Contributed by Jennifer Jepsen, OLCHS Staff Writer