News Releases
April Employee of the Month: Jim Morrissey
Executive Director to the Superintendent for Administrative Services
“Deserving … dedicated … loyal.” That’s how his nominator described Jim Morrisey’s 31 year-career with District 15. Jim, who’s been executive director to the superintendent for administrative services since 1991, has served the district in a variety of capacities at various locations.
A native of New Jersey, Jim came to Elmhurst with his family as a freshman in high school. His family moved back east, but he stayed in the midwest, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wisconsin State University at Stevens Point and a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University, certified to teach LD, BD, and socially maladjusted students. He student taught at Lake Louise and at Elk Grove High School before taking a job at Westdale School in Franklin Park, where he started a program for socially maladjusted children. In 1972, he joined District 15 as a teacher in a self-contained learning disabilities classroom at Carl Sandburg. After a year, he became an LD resource teacher, also at Sandburg, then moved into administration, becoming an assistant principal at Walter R. Sundling Junior High, interim principal at Marion Jordan, and acting principal at Jonas Salk School. From there, he was named director of special education and then executive director for special services before moving into his current job.
In his current job, Jim has been responsible for supervising technology, transportation, environmental services, special education, and construction. As the manager for the 43-classroom construction program completed last year, Jim brought the projects to completion on time and within budget. He was also in charge of last year’s districtwide technology update.
“Jim is an excellent listener and problem-solver who works well with principals and other staff members to help them find solutions. He can always be depended upon to take on whatever is assigned him, then complete it in a professional manner, taking into consideration what’s best for the school district, the students, and residents of the communities it serves,” his nominator said. “Jim is a master ombudsman who has a gift—he can turn a negative situation into a positive one within the time it takes to complete a telephone conversation.” Jim sees his job more simply. “Every day’s interesting,” he explains. “You never know what you’re going to run into.”
A former LD student recently shared his memory of Jim as a teacher: “I would never have made it without the help of Jim Morrisey. He was my sixth-grade teacher and he caught me up three grades in one year. He made all the difference in my life.”
Jim and his wife Irene have a home on a one-acre lot in unincorporated Lake County, where Jim enjoys yard work and just being outdoors in the “peace and quiet” of the area. He has two children and two stepchildren, all adults. Jim also enjoys deer hunting when he has the time.
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