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SPRING VALLEY — Hall High School has seven new staff members this year, including Kayli Biccochi, Kelsey DeSchepper, Linda Hoover, Sydney Markham, Jay McCracken, Cody Miller and Brianna Verucchi.
Biccochi is the Algebra I and Core math instructor. She studied marketing management at Western Illinois University and secondary math at the University of Illinois-Springfield. She comes to Hall after teaching at Newark High School for three years. She is a Hall High School graduate and looks forward to working in the new school.
Spanish I and II will be taught by DeSchepper. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish at Aurora University before she started teaching at Bureau Valley High School. She is impressed with Hall’s up-to-date facility and the abundance of resources available for new staff.
Hoover joins the Hall staff as the family consumer science teacher. She will be teaching orientation to home economics, clothing, foods, childcare and consumer education. She earned an associate’s degree in health and human services, a bachelor degree in family and individual development and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. She previously taught at Rochelle Township High School and Shepherd Middle School.
Markham is Hall’s new school counselor. She has previous experience as a paraprofessional at Princeton and after-school program coordinator at Bureau Valley. She earned a bachelor’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Illinois-Springfield and master’s degree in school counseling from Lewis University. She will also be a member of the RtI Team.
McCracken is the interim superintendent this year. He comes to Hall with a wealth of experience as a teacher, coordinator, dean, principal and superintendent. He received a bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University, a master’s degree from Aurora University and his superintendent’s endorsement from Western Illinois University. In addition to his degrees, he has taken several graduate courses in education from Illinois State University and the University of Illinois. He has 20 years of municipal and educational administrative leadership experience and in 2016 was the recipient of the IASA Superintendent of Distinction Award.
Miller is the new science teacher. He will be teaching chemistry, conceptual chemistry and literacy biology, and he will be sponsoring the Science Club. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota and taught at Midland High School for four years. He has also served as a hydrologist intern and an environmental chemist.
Verucchi is the new teacher in the behavioral disorder classroom. Her undergraduate degree is from Illinois State University and her master’s from Aurora University. She previously taught at Henry High School, Henry Grade School and Bureau County Specialty Schools.