Administration

Dr. Robert Machak - Superintendent/ Principal

Dr. Machak attended grade school in Waukegan (St. Bartholomew) and high school in Mundelein (Carmel) before earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois in 1989.

Dr. Machak will celebrate his twentieth year in Education in 2009, having taught English in Des Plaines (Maryville Academy) and Mundelein (Mundelein High School), where he also spent four years as the Freshman Baseball coach and Director of Adult Education programs. During that time, Dr. Machak earned a Master’s Degree in school administration and in 1997 became a junior high school assistant principal in Hawthorn (Vernon Hills) District 73. Two years later, Machak was named principal of Field Middle School in Northbrook, IL. During his nine years at Field, his school was awarded the National Blue Ribbon Award for Academic Excellence, named a Service Learning Leader School by the non-profit Corporation for National Service, and designated a National School to Watch by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. Machak earned his doctoral degree from National-Louis University in 2005.

Dr. Machak, his wife Kathy, and their Yorkie (The Big Hurt), live in Mundelein. He serves on a number of community-related advisory boards, including the Executive Board of the Ann M. Kiley Center Parents’ Association and a State of Illinois Task Force to keep at-risk and pregnant teens in school. Machak has also served as past regional president and regional state director of the Illinois Principals Association.

Mrs. Cyndy Thielen - Student Services Coordinator

Mrs. Cyndy Thielen is the Student Services Coordinator for the school district. Her role includes servicing student needs for Special Education, Gifted and RTI.

Mrs. Thielen grew up in West Chicago and attended schools in the community. She earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Elmhurst College. She holds a Master Degree in Curriculum Instruction from National Louis University and Educational Leadership from Aurora University
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Mrs. Thielen is entering her 22nd year with Emmons Grade School. During her years at Emmons her roles have included a teacher’s assistant, middle school special education resource, 5th grade classroom teacher, differentiation coach, and gifted coordinator. Mrs. Thielen She has served on countless committees including technology, student services advisory.

Outside of school, Mrs. Thielen serves as the vice-president/secretary for the Red Rose Children’s Choir of Lake County and is also a member of the Warren High School Choral Boosters.

Mrs. Lisa Lawler - Director of Business Services

Mr. Erich Grauke - Director of Technology

A lifelong resident of the Chicago area, Erich Grauke brings twelve years of teaching experience. He began his career in 1997 as a sixth grade social studies teacher at Woodland Middle School in Gurnee, Illinois. Becoming interested in integrating technology into the classroom led him to accept a library media specialist/computer teacher at Lincoln Junior High School in Skokie, Illinois in 2001. Mr. Grauke returned to the Lake County area in 2003 to teach computer skills to elementary students at Washington School, a K-5 school in Mundelein. In 2005, Mr. Grauke became the Director of Technology at Fremont School District 79 in Mundelein, where he oversaw a major technology upgrade project and oversaw the technology portions of the Fremont Intermediate School building project in 2006.

Mr. Grauke is a 1997 graduate of Concordia University Chicago, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and English. His interest in educational technology led him to earn a Master of Education degree in technology in education from National Louis University in 2002. In August of 2009, Mr. Grauke earned a second Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Benedictine University.

Outside of the classroom, Mr. Grauke has many varied interests. Mr. Grauke is a supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, having earned Eagle Scout rank in 1990. He loves to travel and has been to many places throughout the United States and Europe, including Moscow’s Red Square. He also enjoys camping, fishing, photography, and is an avid fan of science fiction literature.