With the new 2020-2021 school year arriving and fall approaching, it’s time to appreciate the staff and all that they’re doing for us this year. Along with our staff from last year that we love, it’s also time to welcome the new ones! 

Alaina Nebel

Nebel is a Special Education Teacher and Case Manager. She teaches Math 1-2, co-taught Geometry, and Jr./Sr. English. Before coming to Rolling Meadows, she was a teacher at York High School in Elmhurst, IL. She was drawn to Rolling Meadows because of the wonderful community and her parents graduated from Rolling Meadows in 1979. A fun fact about Alaina Nebel is that she’s an avid runner and hopes to accomplish completing a marathon one day. She also loves to get creative with cooking because of her 21 food allergies. 

Alvin Lewis

Lewis serves as a Division Head for Student Success, Safety, and Wellness. His office will be located in the attendance office. He came to RMHS for the great history of student, staff and community success. His prior job was at West Aurora High school where he was a Dean of Students. He enjoys fishing with his wife, son, and dog.

Bonnie Panicko

Panicko will be serving as an instructional assistant (IA). Her prior job was teaching at Wheeling High School where she worked in the preschool for 11 years. She also loved teaching her own children. She was drawn to Rolling Meadows because she would always come and see the school plays with her daughter. She loves cats and at this current time, she has three of them. She is looking forward to a great year.

Joseph Battaglia

Battaglia teaches one section of World History at Rolling Meadows. He will also be teaching U.S History at Prospect. He is the Head Boys Lacrosse Coach at PHS. He came from Hinsdale Central High School prior to teaching in District 214, where he also taught social studies and coached lacrosse.

“I was drawn to District 214 because of the reputation of the district and each of its schools. The opportunity to be a part of that was something I could not pass up.”

Kristine Pietruszynski

Pietruszynski is currently working primarily with incoming freshmen as the instructional assistant for the special education program. She obtained her paraprofessional certification about 6 years ago and transferred to the Life program at Forest View. Not long after that, she came to Rolling Meadows. She moved to Elk Grove Village with her husband in 1997, but lived in Arizona prior to then. She has an elderly miniature Schnauzer named Greta who will be turning fifteen this month.

Mary Moore

Moore is a part-time social worker for all grade levels to support their social and emotional needs. She was a substitute at RMHS just last yearand really loved it. She was delighted to have a chance to be back. Prior to Rolling Meadows, she was a social worker in District 25, but she also used to work as a probation fixer at the Juvenile Court in Chicago in the Neglect/Abuse Unit. She was born in Massachusetts and has lived in Munich, Germany. She attended Bucknell University in PA, and graduated from Loyola University in Chicago. She also loves dogs and enjoys fostering them. 

Matthew Weinberg

Weinberg is a part of the CTE department. He teaches Personal Finance and Sports Marketing. He is going to be working with the DECA Business Club. His prior job was teaching at Glenbrook South High School and before that Lake Zurich High School. He loves spending his free time doing physical activities like running triathlons, playing sports like volleyball, baseball, softball and in basketball leagues.

Olivia Wang

Wang is a Sophomore English teacher. She teaches honors and college-prep level World Literature and Composition. Prior to coming to Rolling Meadows, she worked at Acero Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz K-12 Charter School, which was a very diverse school with 20+ languages spoken. She has a husband and one child, their baby boy Nolan.

“My husband is a big movie buff and one of his favorite directors is Cristopher Nolan (Dunkirk, Interstellar, Inception, etc.). I suggested the name Nolan, and we both love it. [We are] leaning towards adding ‘Cristopher’ as his middle name,” Wang said.

Samuel Baker

Baker is the new Head Football coach and the assistant track thrower coach. He also teaches Health and Physical Education. His prior job was the Grayslake North as a life fitness teacher and Head Football Coach. He loves the reputation and the great school pride at RMHS. He has been married to his wife Kate for seven years, and he has two kids, his son Sawyer who is 5 ½ and his daughter Palmer who is almost 2.

It may be difficult for the new staff to feel accustomed to the new remote learning environment, but they are still finding fun in the staff and students with the amazing welcoming atmosphere that Meadows has to offer. Make sure to give all of our new hard working staff a great big virtual hug for making the RMHS school community a great place to learn and thrive this 2020-2021 school year.