Welcome to the Waukegan High School Fine Arts

Faculty Biography page.   

Music Directors having fun on the music department's trip to Orlando, Florida!

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Ms. Gotz

Fine Arts Department Chair and College Studies Program Coordinator

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Waukegan High School Music Department

Mr. Glassel

Band Director - Waukegan High School NGC

Marching Band Director - Waukegan High School

Band Director - Jefferson Middle School

Orchestra Director - Philharmonic Orchestra Waukegan High School UGC

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Mr. Maag

Director of Bands - Waukegan High School

Bulldog Big Band Director - Waukegan High School

Pep Band Director - Waukegan High School

Assistant Marching Band Director - Waukegan High School

Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter 111 Sponsor

     This is my fifth year at Waukegan High School, and I couldn't have asked for a better place to be.  Since joining the staff at WHS, I have been amazed at the exceptional students of Waukegan.  The Music Department at Waukegan High School is an extremely friendly place with excellent staff and support.  I have recieved nothing but support and encouragement from Judy Gotz, the Fine Arts Department Chair, and  especially Jennifer Wagner, Bart Medlicott and Don Glassel, my wonderful department members. 

     I am happily married to my lovely wife Jessica and we have a beautiful daughter Ella Marie born in April of 2005. I have an older sister Kris, a twin brother Mike, a younger sister Megan, a step-brother Matthew, a step-sister Marisa and my dog Satchmo .  My Father John lives in Des Plaines, Illinois, with my stepmother Valerie and my Mother Patricia lives in Chicago, Illinois with my stepfather Rich.  I am a saxophonist having played in various ensembles from big band to wind ensemble, from marching band to salsa band.  I am a graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in Music Education.  I enjoy playing golf, tennis and bowling and I am a diehard Cubs and Bears fan. 

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Mr. Medlicott

Director of Orchestras - Waukegan High School

Elementary Instrumental Instructor

Avanti String Director - Waukegan High School

     I have been a music educator and orchestra director for 25 years, having taught instrumental music to students in all grades , K-12. I am also a Cellist, and have performed in ensembles ranging from symphony orchestras to a jazz string quartet. I have four sons - Nick, 21, Matt, 18, Ian, 13, and Ben, 11. I was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, where my sister and I were raised by parents who were very involved in local and regional theatre, so I was exposed to music at a very young age. I enjoy reading, playing cards and being outdoors. I feel fortunate to be teaching in Waukegan where our music program is strong and we have great support from our music parents and the administration.

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Ms. Wagner

Choir Director - Waukegan High School

Rendition Director - Waukegan High School

NHS sponsor - Waukegan High School

Music Director for Spring Musical - Waukegan High School

     From the day I was born, my mother said I would be a singer (She could hear me screaming all the way down the hall in the hospital and figured I had the lung power for it!) My love of singing and the wonderful music teachers I had in school led me to Millikin University and a degree in Music Education. After graduating from Millikin in 1997, I spent two years teaching elementary and middle school music before starting at Waukegan High School. I consider myself very lucky to be able to spend my day doing something that I love. Not only am I fortunate enough to get to teach choir all day, but I am part of a great music department with both a wonderful staff and a fantastic group of music parents. Besides teaching, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Aaron and our two cats, Neo and Orion. I also like acting in local theater, traveling, reading and of course singing!

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Waukegan High School Art Department

Mrs. Frankel
Bio not available

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Mrs. McArdle
Bio not available

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Ms. Much
Bio not available

Ms. Polowy
Bio not available

Mr. Texidor

My name is Patricio Texidor. I am one of four art teachers at the Upper Grade Center of Waukegan High School. I have been teaching in the district since 1992, but I started at the high school in 2000.

I have a B.S. ed. in Art Education and an M.F.A. in Painting from Northern Illinois University. I received the Cintas Fellowship in 1976. I have taught elementary through junior college level.

I am bilingual/bicultural in Spanish having been born and raised in Cuba until the age of ten. I have experience teaching in bilingual classrooms and have certification in both bilingual and ESL.

I am married and have three children. Besides making art, I love motorcycle riding, hunting, and goofing around with computers.

I believe life is more than just a collection of pragmatic concerns. A life truly worth living is enriched by aesthetic experiences. These include all forms of artistic expression such as the traditional forms of music, visual art, theatre and dance. But it may also involve other things that stretch the envelope of artistic endeavor. These things might involve technology, nature or social interaction. The underlying connection is creativity. A life that has no outlet for creativity is not a fulfilling life.

This is what makes teaching art meaningful for me. I see my teaching job as a way to open up young minds to the enriching and fulfilling effect of the arts in their lives. I am, in fact, fulfilled myself when I see students discover creative potential that they never knew they had. I enjoy seeing students grow confident in their abilities and feel good about something they have accomplished.

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Mrs. Welker

Hi! I enjoy this opportunity to let you know who I am. My name is Rita Welker and I have taught art in District #60 for eleven years. Some of my current students, I also had as students in elementary school and/or middle school. It is has been fun and rewarding to see their accomplishments as young adults.

My educational background includes a B.F.A. in art education from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and some graduate work in Visual Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology. I also have done graduate work in Gifted Education at Northeastern College in Chicago. My experience as a teacher includes work outside of District #60. For a number of years, I taught art in District #30 (Northbrook, IL) and I worked with severely learning disabled students, ages 5-21, at Miner School in Arlington Heights. I have also worked as a photographer and graphic artist.

My picture may not be too current........but, it is the one I used when I interviewed in District #60. Since my husband and I just recently moved closer to Waukegan, it was the only one that I could find! Oh yes, along with the move, we were busy seeing two of our daughters off to college! Luckily, our son is already off and on his own as a hockey referee and skating rink supervisor. I feel a real commitment to the students in District #60 and hope that my life and educational experiences will guide me as a teacher to enrich their lives. Hot off the press... the picture to the left is my current yearbook picture!

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Click on this link to see the 2007-2008 WHS Fine Arts Calendar

Last Update: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 4:13:42 PM
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