Dr. Michael Popp currently serves as the Senior Director of Executive Support at West40. His focus areas include promoting the financial stability of the organization and of alternative education programs across the state, developing short and long term strategies focussed on organizational improvement across departments, assisting leaders in all aspects of their roles, and developing and effectuating a long-term strategic plan.

During the past thirty-seven years, Dr. Popp has served as a teacher, dean of students, assistant & associate principal, high school principal, district-level administrator, district superintendent and Assistant Executive Director of West40. He was a founding administrator of Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Illinois, successfully opened and operated a freshman center and a center for high school seniors on a non-traditional schedule focused on the transition to post-secondary study. Dr. Popp has led equity efforts focused on bringing high quality educational experiences to all students and as an adjunct faculty member at Aurora University, he worked to build the capacity of aspiring leaders in the areas of education finance, curriculum development and law, promoting educational equity in each of these areas.

At West40, Dr. Popp’s work with the Illinois legislature has benefited students across our region and across the state, bringing needed funds to better serve students in alternative education programs.