Director of Special Education Renée Erickson coordinates the placement of students with a disability in appropriate educational facilities, develops criteria for special education placement decisions, and oversees placement policies and procedures for the district. She provides leadership in developing and evaluating programs and services for the education of students with a disability, as well as communicates information regarding special education programs and services to District faculty and staff. Ms. Erickson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in special education from Illinois State University in 2002. She received her master’s degree in teaching and leadership from Saint Xavier University in 2007. Ms. Erickson is currently pursuing her doctorate in teaching and learning, through Illinois State University. Ms. Erickson began her District 211 career as the assistant director of special education in 2009 and was named as the director of special education in 2014. Prior to working in District 211, Ms. Erickson served as the assistant director of special education for Consolidated School District 158, and as a special education teacher in Consolidated School District 158 and Cary Community Consolidated School District 26.

Mary Pat Krones was named assistant director of special education in August 2009. Dr. Krones earned her doctorate of education in teaching and learning from Illinois State University in 2016. She earned a master’s degree in psychology, a specialist in school psychology degree, from Eastern Illinois University, and a second master’s degree in Educational Administration from Northeastern Illinois University. Dr. Krones received her bachelor’s degree in special education from Eastern Illinois University. Prior to coming to High School District 211, she was a program supervisor for the North Suburban Special Education District (NSSED) in Highland Park, a position she held since July, 2001. Previously, Dr. Krones served as a school psychologist and intervention specialist for NSSED, and prior to that, she was a school psychologist for Waukegan School District 60 for four years.

Assistant Director of Special Education Lindsay Tiritilli provides support and guidance in the development, implementation, and evaluation of District special education programming and services. Mrs. Tiritilli also provides guidance and support to IEP teams as they work to meet the unique educational needs of individual students with special needs, as well as coordinates the placements of students with disabilities in appropriate educational programming within and outside of District 211. Mrs. Tiritilli began her service with District 211 during the summer of 2019 but began her career in special education in 2006 as a special education teacher at Antioch Community High School. In 2008, she joined Barrington High School first as a special education teacher and later as assistant department head of special services. In 2012, she took over the position of Section 504 coordinator, a position she held until 2017 when she was appointed director of student services, secondary level for District 220. Mrs. Tiritilli earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from Lewis University in 2006, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Northeastern Illinois University in 2010. She secured an endorsement as a director of special education through graduate work at the University of Saint Francis (Joliet, Ill.).