Publications & Sites 
District 219 briefs for the week of July 26, 2012
Updated: August 27, 2012 10:21AM
Gatta named ‘Educator of the Year’
SKOKIE — Niles Township High School District 219 Superintendent Nanciann Gatta has been named Educator of the Year by the Illinois State Crime Commission/Police Athletic League of Illinois, according to a news release.
Gatta was honored at the commission’s annual awards dinner on June 20 at Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace, the release stated.
Gatta was recognized, among other accomplishments, for the effective partnerships District 219 has established with local law-enforcement agencies, social-service agencies and youth advocates to reach out to youth and prevent crime, through such initiatives as the Niles Township Youth Coalition.
The coalition meets monthly to share information related to challenges facing young people in Niles Township.
“The coalition has been cited as a model of interagency cooperation, instituting such proactive programs as an alternative-to-suspension program that encourages at-risk youth to provide community service while they stay in school,” the release stated.
Gatta was also recognized for the district’s ongoing efforts to reach out to Niles Township’s diverse constituencies, including a large immigrant community; families of District 219 students speak more than 80 different languages.
In accepting the award, Gatta told the audience: “What we have learned in partnering with all of my colleagues in education, law enforcement, government and social services agencies is that schools are safe, not through heavy police presence or metal detectors. Schools are safe when students connect to at least one adult and one program that gives them a sense of belonging and pride.”
Gatta was one of two-dozen “leaders who make a difference.” Other honorees at this year’s ceremony included Chicago Police Department Superintendent Garry McCarthy, who won the Police Athletic League’s Jesse White Award and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis, who received the Award of Excellence in the Judiciary.
The Illinois Crime Commission is a not-for-profit organization committed to public safety and law enforcement. Its goal is “to offer insightful, creative legislative solutions and assist law enforcement agencies to prevent crime in our communities through a unique blend of awareness and activities.”
Rull appointed chief financial officer
SKOKIE — The Niles Township High School District 219 Board of Education appointed Kristine Rull the district’s new Chief Financial Officer at its July 9 meeting, according to a news release.
Rull has more than 20 years’ experience in financial and operations management in the private, public and nonprofit sectors, the release stated.
Rull was most recently senior vice president and director of specialized markets at Urban Partnership Bank in Chicago, which is recognized for its commitment to community-development banking.
She also served as chief operating officer for Three Arts Club in Chicago, a nonprofit gallery and residence for women in the arts.
Rull served Bank One (formerly First National Bank of Chicago) in a number of roles from 1980 to 2001, including Foreign Exchange Trading manager, directing both the United States and London offices.
In public education Rull served the Chicago Public Schools as Director of School Operations and Renovation. She was responsible for CPS’s $750-million budget for school-building renovation, day-to-day maintenance and operations. She started at CPS as deputy of Instruction and School Management.
“We are very excited to bring Kris to D219, since she has such big-picture experience in financial and operational management,” said Superintendent Nanciann Gatta. “Kris is a passionate advocate of public education who has shown time and again that she has the ability to identify and implement ways to improve system efficiencies to reallocate resources to the classroom. We are proud of D219’s strong fiscal health, and I believe Kris will help us take the right steps to maintain our financial stability.”
Rull holds a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and graduated with honors.
