Dr. Kate Morris’s approval by the Community High School District 99 Board of Education named her the district’s new assistant superintendent of student learning, effective July 1. Dr. Morris will replace Gina Ziccardi, who will be retiring at the end of the school year.
“One of the most important aspects of the role will be working collaboratively with department chairs, faculty, and staff to meet the needs of both our current and incoming students,” Ziccardi said. “Ensuring that our curriculum evolves to meet the needs and interests of our students, thereby preparing them for their next step, whether that is college, work, or the military, is a very important aspect of this position.”
After years of guiding District 99’s academic programming, Ziccardi believes the district is well-positioned to continue that work under new leadership. According to district administrators, Dr. Morris stood out during the hiring process for her extensive experience and clear vision for supporting both students and staff.
“Her demonstrative work product and her ideas of how she can improve the district collectively seen throughout the entire hiring process, emerged her as the top candidate,” Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele said. “She’s extremely intelligent, she’s driven, she’s student-focused, and she is going to bring a lot of energy to the district moving forward.”
Dr. Morris’ qualifications include an extensive academic background in education and leadership. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and secondary education from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2004. She later earned a master’s degree in education administration from Olivet Nazarene University in 2008, a master’s degree in English from Southern New Hampshire University in 2016, and a doctorate in education from National Louis University in 2023.
“Professional learning is essential because it ensures educators evolve with pedagogical research and technological advancements, preventing instructional practices from becoming stagnant,” Dr. Morris said. “Ultimately, an educator’s commitment to their own development models lifelong learning for students and creates an environment where academic achievement is fueled by high-quality, modern instruction.”
Currently, Dr. Morris serves as the director of high school curriculum and instruction for Plainfield Consolidated School District 202. Dr. Morris brings a unique blend of in-classroom and district leadership with 10 years of teaching English and over 20 years of administrative experience.
“For the past 23 years, I have dedicated my career to high school students within a large K-12 district, but joining D99 represents a meaningful shift toward a specialized high school environment,” Dr. Morris said.
As assistant superintendent of student learning, Dr. Morris will oversee curriculum, instruction, and academic programming across District 99. She will start at the beginning of July and has expressed her excitement about joining the District 99 team, which is eager to get to work with her.
“I am excited to get to work with Dr. Morris on continuing our tradition of exceptional coursework and the need to innovate moving forward,” Dr. Thiele said. “We’re bringing her talent and expertise to bridge everything we’ve done historically, to be an amazing curricular leader here, and then drive that forward to what comes next.”
Morris shares that vision and is eager to begin working with District 99 staff to build on the district’s strong academic foundation.
“Although my journey is just beginning, the warmth and support I have already received from the D99 community make me eager to collaborate with this exceptional staff to enhance the vibrant culture and learning environment already in place.”