NT names two more administrators for 2025-26 school year

New Trier approves contracts for new director of curriculum and instruction and assistant principal for the Class of 2029

Isabella Castro, Lorelei Hansen, and William Karr
May 2, 2025

News

Maine South and New Trier

Incoming Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Melissa Dudic (left) and incoming Assistant Principal for the Class of 2029 Matt Koulentes

The New Trier High School Board of Education approved two administrative contracts for the 2025-2026 school year in April, completing next year’s administrative shake-up that already includes three promotions and one outside hire.

The board named Outplacement Coordinator Matt Koulentes as the next assistant principal for the Class of 2029, a role that opened up following Assistant Principal for Class of 2027 Dan Paustian’s promotion to Northfield Campus associate principal and outgoing Assistant Principal for the Class of 2025 Sarah Struebing subsequently being chosen to succeed Paustian.

Additionally, Dr. Melissa Dudic, the associate principal for teaching and learning at Maine South High School, was named director of curriculum and instruction and will be succeeding Dr. Chimille Tillery, who was promoted to assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

Read below to learn more about who these new leaders are and what they bring to the table.

Director of Curriculum and Instruction

(Maine South)

Dr. Melissa Dudic

She has been the associate principal for teaching and learning at Maine South since 2017. Before that, she was the mathematics department chair at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and a mathematics teacher at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois.
Education

Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC); master’s degree in mathematics education from DePaul University and principal preparation program from Concordia University Chicago; doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction from Northern Illinois University.
Responsibilities

Dudic’s future responsibilities include overseeing the four-year teacher induction and mentoring program, standardized and college admissions testing, and curriculum processes (new course proposals and textbook adoptions).
Goals

She hopes to make the Characteristics of a New Trier Graduate a part of New Trier’s culture so that students know what it is and how to embody it. Also, with many teachers retiring in the next five to ten years, at New Trier and other nearby school districts, she wants to support newer teachers.

“I want to make sure that we’re doing well in New Trier, giving them the best possible support to launch their careers that will hopefully be very long and [that they] remain in the district,” Dudic said.
Transition period plans

She is meeting with Tillery to plan the transition, and will lean on her next school year for assistance. She also plans to meet with the larger leadership team before July 1 and, hopefully, visit the New Trier campus to meet people.
Path to job in education

Always knowing she wanted to be a teacher, she went to UIUC to study math education. Right before she was to be a student teacher, there was a moment when she thought about staying in school to earn a Ph.D. in educational psychology. She had a minor in psychology.

“All my friends were about to start their student teaching experience and I thought I might really regret it if they’re all out doing student teaching and I’m still in school,” Dudic said. “So, I continued on the path that I had started and did my student teaching and have not looked back since.”

She ultimately earned a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction from Northern Illinois University in 2023.
From educator to administrator

A supervisor encouraged her to get her administrative license in case an opportunity arose in the future. Over time, she worked her way up from teacher and department chair to associate principal.

“I had done teacher leadership roles, and I was excited to do a more formal leadership role,” Dudic said.

She also said that many people are involved in making schools run, and everyone has their own specialty. Her specialty revolves around curriculum and instruction.

“I consider myself very lucky that [in] all of the roles I’ve ever held, I’ve been able to really focus on my passion,” Dudic said, including her new position at New Trier.
Connection to New Trier

She finds New Trier to be an interesting place with its own culture and context, and how community members recognize New Trier’s excellence.

As she interviewed to be director of curriculum and instruction, and got to know New Trier better, she found everyone to be welcoming and kind.

“I really got truly a good vibe throughout the entire process, and I had multiple touch points with people, so I felt like I understood what I was getting myself into,” Dudic said. “The more I got into it and met more people, I was just even more excited.”

Assistant Principal of the Class of 2029

(New Trier)

Matt Koulentes

He has worked at New Trier since 2006, most recently as outplacement coordinator since 2018. Before that, he was a special education teacher.
Education

Bachelor’s degree in history, political science, American Sign Language, and secondary social studies education from the University of Iowa; master’s degree in special education and teaching from National Louis University.
Responsibilities

Koulentes’ future responsibilities include supervising and evaluating adviser chairs, summer school staff, and any faculty member the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction requests, overseeing student services leadership and student attendance, and leading discipline and restorative practices.

He believes his current responsibilities translate well into his new job.

“When I saw the job description, I was like, ‘Those are all things that I already do, but I do it in a smaller space, but it’s successfully,’” Koulentes said. “I think that I’d be able to bring that to a larger school community and have a larger impact on the entire New Trier community.”
Goals

In his current job as outplacement coordinator, Koulentes works to temporarily send students to different schools to receive more specialized support, and when a student returns, one of his focuses is to ensure that they feel that they belong at New Trier. In his new role, he hopes to do the same for the Class of 2029.

“It’s my job to help [students] feel welcome back and just a sense of belonging, and that’s what all freshmen need when they come to New Trier,” Koulentes said.

He also aims to support students by identifying their needs and helping them accordingly.

“It’s a needs-based service that I’m in, so wherever we identify the students’ need support or extra attention, that’s what I hope to be able to give them,” Koulentes said.
Transition period plans

Koulentes has been busy since his promotion, balancing his full-time job and attending multiple meetings with his soon-to-be Northfield Campus colleagues to better understand his new responsibilities.

“I’m attending meetings for the assistant principals of the graduating class team, and so I’m trying to get to know what work they’ve been doing, what their goals are,” Koulentes said.
Path to job in education

Koulentes initially was pursuing a career in law, yet ultimately decided not to, as he did not enjoy the “all-for-me” mentality of it. He later pivoted towards a career in education, as connecting with students and learning their stories was something he enjoyed doing.

“That’s why I show up everyday,” Koulentes said. “It’s really what fills me with satisfaction and gratification about this job.”

Almost immediately after completing his master’s degree in education, Koulentes applied for a special education teaching job at New Trier, where he has reinforced his love for teaching and working with students.

“While I was a teacher, I was also a wrestling coach and girls lacrosse coach since I’ve been here and so I’ve really enjoyed working with students,” Koulentes said.
From educator to administrator

Koulentes began his journey at New Trier in 2006, pivoting to his role as outplacement coordinator in 2018, where he has combined his love for working with students and different parts of the school.

“I’ve been able to work with all different aspects of the school because my students are connected in different ways through the Theatre Department, through athletics, through clubs, through different interests and academics,” Koulentes said.”

In his new role, he plans to branch out even further, working with the district and wider school population.
Connection to New Trier

As a Maine West High School alum, Koulentes has known about New Trier since his childhood. As part of the staff, however, he has had the time to appreciate it and its quality of education through its close-knit community of teachers and students.

“My favorite part of [New Trier] is the commitment to giving people what they need,” Koulentes said. “We’re fortunate to work in a district that has [these] resources and I feel that we don’t just use those resources because we can, [but because] they’re very targeted and they are meant to really support students.”

After 19 years of teaching at New Trier, Koulentes is proud to continue to grow his career at a high school that has since become an integral part of him.

“I’m honored that New Trier has given me this opportunity to be a leader in the district,” Koulentes said.

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