Administration

Ridgewood Superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Kelsall, has been at RHS for 20 years and 29 years in education total.

Jennifer Kelsall earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biological Sciences, Secondary Education and Athletic Training from Illinois State University, Masters of Arts Degree in Educational Administration from Governors State University and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Administration and Foundations from Illinois State University. 

During her time at Ridgewood High School, RHS has had many awards and accolades. In 2011, Ridgewood High School was named to the AP Achievement List by the College Board for significant gains in Advanced Placement Access and Student Performance. Additionally, in 2013 Ridgewood was honored by the Washington Post as one of America’s Most Challenging High Schools. Most recently, in 2015, Ridgewood was named by US News & World Report as one of America’s Best High Schools.

In 2018, Kelsall was inducted into Plainfield High School Alumni Hall of Fame.

In her spare time, Kelsall enjoys many activities such as, biking, hiking, kayaking and reading. You might even catch her building/doing projects for her house or helping her husband work on their cars. Her favorite thing about Ridgewood is being part of a family that does whatever it takes to serve their students!

Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations, Thomas Parrillo, has been in education since 1991. He’s served at both Steamboat Springs High School and Fort Collins High School in Colorado before coming to Ridgewood. He’s been at RHS for 22 years. 

Parrillo earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in English from Colorado State University, Master of Arts in Secondary English Education from Adams State University and a C.S.B.O. from Northern Illinois University.

During his time in education, Parrillo has won multiple awards. These awards include; the N.E.D. StuCo Sponsor of the Year and Fulbright Award, Fulbright Teacher Exchange, Ozel Isik Lisesi, Istanbul, Turkey.

He has volunteered his time to various sports and activities. He coached basketball for 16 years, baseball for two years and golf for seven; and served as a Student Council Sponsor for 23 years.

In his spare time, he enjoys camping and biking with my family. His favorite part of Ridgewood is the kindness and caring of the students who attend RHS.

Dr. Eric Lasky is a dedicated educator with 24 years of experience, always eager to learn and improve his skills to provide students with  the best possible education. His diverse educational background and extensive experience inform his role as a high school principal.

Dr. Lasky's journey began with a Bachelor's degree in Math Education, which laid the groundwork for his teaching career. He continued to pursue further academic growth, earning three master's degrees in Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, and Educational Business Administration. His commitment to educational leadership led him to obtain a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, and he is also a National Board Certified Teacher.

Throughout his career, Dr. Lasky has been actively involved in the school community beyond the classroom. In his first decade of teaching, he took on various roles, including coaching three sports, announcing home football games, and serving as the student council sponsor. These roles allowed him to connect with students more deeply and support their overall development.

Over the years, Dr. Lasky has coached Track and Field, Baseball, Golf, and Basketball. More recently, he has extended his coaching skills to his children's sports teams, fostering their growth and instilling values of teamwork and sportsmanship. His daughter, 12, excels in travel soccer and basketball, while his son, 15, is actively involved in travel basketball and tennis.

Dr. Lasky is consistently invited to present at conferences and is an adjunct faculty at Spalding University, teaching courses in competency education, personalized learning, and assessments for teachers earning their master's degrees. He is currently taking more courses at the University of Illinois Chicago to continue his learning and is an avid reader to ensure he stays up-to-date with the latest trends in education. In addition, he holds an advanced open-water scuba-diving certification, reflecting his love for exploration and seeking new challenges.

As a high school principal, Dr. Eric Lasky combines his extensive educational background, coaching experience, and passion for student success to create a positive and inclusive learning environment. He is committed to ensuring every student feels safe and valued and providing them with a high school experience where they can start a path to success after graduation.

Assistant Principal Agnes Stankiewicz has dedicated her career to education for the past 8 years which originated at Ridgewood High School where she began as an intern. Agnes has been a social worker, Dean of Students, and Assistant Principal before officially returning to Ridgewood for the 23-24 school year. Agnes has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, a Master’s in School Social Work and a Master’s in Education Leadership - Principal Preparation. It is important to Agnes that school is a safe place for students to learn and explore their passions and interests. It’s important for students to be connected with trusted adults at school which is something that Agnes strives to be. Agnes also enjoys collaborating with staff, working hand-in-hand with teachers to create the best educational experience possible for students.

Agnes encourages students to get involved in clubs and sports outside of the school day. Agnes loves being able to see students compete in athletics, showcase their art, sing or act on stage. A good high school experience can often be made great by involvement in an extracurricular activity. Agnes believes that when students are exposed to various robust experiences and opportunities in high school, they are able to proceed with their future in positive ways.

Outside of school, Agnes enjoys spending time with family and friends, bike riding, cooking and gardening. Agnes enjoys learning about different cultures and backgrounds. Agnes is a fluent Polish speaker and continues to work on her Spanish speaking skills.

David Hawk has been an educator for the past 15 years. Beginning as a K-8th grade physical education teacher, he found his calling in administration and has served as an Assistant Principal, Associate Dean of Students, and Dean of Students. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Arts in School Leadership from Concordia University in Chicago.

He believes that all students can learn at a high level through a combination of social and emotional development, academic instruction and accountability. 

Hawk has also been heavily involved in athletics throughout his life, focusing on soccer and wrestling. He has coached at the elementary, middle and high school level.

In his spare time, Hawk enjoys spending time with his wife and two young daughters.

Robert St. John has been at Ridgewood High School his entire career. He began teaching in the Social Studies Department for 13 years and has been the Athletic Director for the past twelve years.

 He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Masters of Science in Educational Administration Degree both from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.    

In 2010, St. John earned the National Soccer Coaches Association Coach Of the Year Award - Illinois Small School. As well as, the 2016-17 Illinois Athletic Director Association District 2 Athletic Director of The Year Award - 1A/2A.  

He coached the Girls Soccer Team at Ridgewood for 13 years and the Boys Soccer Team at Ridgewood for 17 years. In 2010, he was the head coach of the Boys Soccer Team that advanced to the IHSA State Championship. They lost the game, but brought home a State Runner-Up trophy. The students and staff were all part of an incredible showing of school spirit. Almost every student and facility member of the school was in attendance for the State Semifinal match. He is thrilled to be working with the outstanding coaches, athletes, faculty, staff and community members; who together create a sense of community pride and school spirit. 

In his free time, St. John loves spending time with his wife and daughter.