Director of Comprehensive Education Services < Back PHIL ABRAHAM Director of Comprehensive Education Services pabraham@west40.org With over 25 years of experience in teaching, coaching and school administration, Phil built strong relationships with students and staff. He created effective partnerships with parents, law enforcement, and the community. Phil conducted school safety drills continuously throughout the school year, well above teh required amounts directed by the state. As a teacher in 2000, Phil helped form a districtwide safety committee for the first time, where he initiated the organization of conducting active shooter drills and carried it out throught his years as an administrator. Phil has extensive experience adn training in Postive Behavior Interventions and Supports, Restorative Practices, and Health/Life Safety. Phil is responsible for conducting over 150 school buildings' health/life safety inspections yearly as Director at West40 Additionally, he performs building Physical Security Assessments and provides ongoing training to enhance school safety through prevention and intervention. Previous Next

Chief School Business Official < Back CHRISTI TYLER Chief School Business Official In my role as Chief School Business Official I oversee the business, human resources and grant operations of West40. The Business Department is responsible for budgeting, processing all payables and receivables and for managing the general ledger. Human Resources, which is part of the business office, is responsible for processing payroll, selecting and managing benefits offered to employees, and guiding employees to success in their roles at West40. The Grants Department works independently on securing and managing grants. I began my career in education first as a second grade teacher and then moved to middle school math. I taught for 8 years before completing my Masters in School Business Management. I am in my 16th year as a CSBO. Most of my career in this role has been in large unit districts in Kane County, but moved to West40 in July 2021. During my tenure at West40, the business office has managed over $166.5 M in Emergency Assistance to Non-public Schools (EANS) funds which was part of the Federal COVID relief funds issued to states. We also serve as the fiscal agent for the Philip Rock Center processing their payables and payroll. On the human resources side, we have expanded our benefit offerings and are implementing an initiative to increase employee engagement. The grants department is awarded over $14M annually. These funds provide services to over 340+ schools across Illinois. Main Office Previous Next

Site Coordinator < Back EMILY ADAMS Site Coordinator Previous Next

Senior Director of Executive Support < Back DR. MIKE POPP Senior Director of Executive Support 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. Main Office Previous Next

< Back Human Resources Network Facilitated By: Matt Kane, Gina Sierra, & Sharon Balderas The West40 Human Resources Network is a group of West40 School District HR leaders that meet once a month to share best practices, information and ideas on all things human resource related. Educator licensure, professional development requirements, insurance, hiring issues, compliance, policies and procedures are just some of the topics discussed. Come together with your colleagues, problem-solve, and share best practices. If you would like more information, please email Sharon Balderas - sbalderas@west40.org and Gina Sierra - gsierra@west40.org Previous Next

Site Coordinator < Back BRANDICE CONNOR Site Coordinator Previous Next

12 PM - 1 PM < Back School-Based Medicaid Training 1/14/25 12 PM - 1 PM In Illinois, over 3.9 million people, including 1.5 million children, are enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. School districts can leverage this opportunity to fund health services. Recent policy changes offer more chances to expand Medicaid programs in schools. This 1-hour training covers billing requirements, policy updates, lessons learned, and available resources for school-based Medicaid. Register Here Previous Next

< Back Early Childhood Network Facilitated By: Diane Schoenheider Meeting Dates: 3rd Wednesday of every month (Hybrid), 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Join our early childhood network meetings! We're dedicated to exploring best practices, exchanging valuable information, and ensuring quality program implementation. Whether you join us in person or virtually, you'll have the opportunity to connect with other passionate early childhood professionals and expand your network and gather valuable resources to support our youngest learners. If you would like to be added to the listserv and receive more information, please fill out this form . Previous Next

Area Director < Back LAURA GUZMAN LOPEZ Area Director Previous Next

PEACE & Seniors Plus Site Coordinator for Proviso East & West < Back PEDRO PERALTA PEACE & Seniors Plus Site Coordinator for Proviso East & West Previous Next

< Back Illinois Holocaust Museum About This partnership brings powerful professional development rooted in human rights education, social-emotional learning, and culturally responsive pedagogy. Ideal for teachers planning interdisciplinary instruction. https://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/educators/professional-development/ Previous Next

Assistant Executive Director < Back DR. JAYME TIGHE Assistant Executive Director Dr. Jayme Tighe As the Assistant Executive Director at West40, I play a key role in supporting the organization’s mission by overseeing strategic initiatives and leadership development efforts. I work closely with the Executive Director to align West40’s goals with its strategic plan and represent the organization in key statewide education initiatives. Additionally, I support program development, ensuring that West40 continues to provide high-quality services to schools and students. A significant part of my work includes serving as a liaison to the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools (IARSS) regarding the role of Regional Offices of Education and Intermediate Service Centers in ISBE’s statewide system of support. With a background spanning teaching, administration, and school improvement, I have served as a principal, assistant principal, and instructional leader, as well as a consultant providing guidance to districts on data-driven decision-making and strategic planning. My experience includes leading district and school teams through comprehensive needs assessments, instructional coaching, and improvement planning to ensure all students receive high-quality learning experiences. One of the accomplishments I am most proud of at West40 is my role in shaping a statewide system of support that helps schools on their continuous improvement journeys. Collaborating with state and regional leaders, I work to develop structures that enhance school effectiveness and sustainability. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and cheering on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field during the summer. Main Office Previous Next