Welcome New Fine Arts Faculty and Staff!

The DGN Fine Arts Department is pleased to announce the appointment of five outstanding professionals who will begin their work in District 99 this coming August.

Ms. Megan Clark - Theatre Faculty

Ms. Megan Clark will be joining the DGN faculty, teaching Acting and Theatre Design (Fine Arts), a Dramatic Literature course (English and Communications) and also working as a permanent substitute on the North campus.

Ms. Clark received her Bachelor in Fine Arts in Musical Theater from Western Illinois University. Within that time, Ms. Clark performed in the college’s musicals and plays, as well as participating with set and costume construction. After graduating from Western, she worked professionally at theaters around the country, where she performed in shows, acted on Theatre Improv teams, and immersed herself within the theatre’s artistic camps. Some of her favorite productions she has performed in include Noises Off, Little Shops of Horrors, Oklahoma!, Xanadu, and I Hate Hamlet.

When Ms. Clark returned to the Chicagoland area she started working as a substitute teacher in Chicago and Naperville. During that time she completed her Masters of Arts in Teaching at Rockford University, specializing in Theater and English. She also holds a Professional Educators License for Theater Arts and English Language Arts.

During Ms. Clark’s free time she enjoys going on walks with her dog, Tulip, and planting in her garden.

Ms. Robbi Hicks - Music Faculty

Robbi Hicks joins the music faculty of District 99, teaching Band and Digital Music classes at both North and South High School. Her duties will include curricular concert bands and jazz bands as well as extracurricular performance groups.

Before joining D99 staff, Ms. Hicks served as Director of Bands and taught Music Industry and Technology at Morris Community High School for two years. At Morris she taught all Concert Bands, Jazz Bands, and Marching Bands. She also built the beginnings of an accessible and flourishing digital music curriculum. Prior to her position at Morris, she taught music in the Joliet Public School District. In her career, she has also served as Brass Technician for Victor J. Andrew High School Marching Band and Social-Emotional Learning Liaison in D86.

Ms. Hicks graduated from VanderCook College of Music with a B.M.Ed. in 2018, studying with Mr. Brian Logan, Dr. Charles Menghini, Mrs. Stacey Larson-Dolan, and Dr. Leah Schuman.

In her teaching, she prioritizes making music accessible, writing strong curriculums, and serving the whole-child. Ms. Hicks has experience writing comprehensive curriculums from start to finish at all levels of public education, and she holds certifications in yoga and mindfulness. In her free time, she loves to attend concerts, basketball games, and spend time with her pup named Irie.

Mr. Allen Hogg - Department Assistant

Mr. Allen Hogg joins DGN Fine Arts as the Department Assistant, working with faculty, staff and students in the Fine Arts Office.

Mr. Hogg joins the department following an extensive career working for marketing research companies, most recently M/A/R/C Research, where he wrote and analyzed data from surveys and presented findings to clients in a wide range of industries.

Before working in marketing research, Mr. Hogg was a journalist. He began his professional journalism career at the University of Iowa’s Daily Iowan newspaper, where he served as Arts/Entertainment Editor and conducted interviews with such musicians as Sting and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

At the University of Iowa, Mr. Hogg earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. After earning a master's degree in American Studies at the University of Maryland, Mr. Hogg returned to the University of Iowa to earn his M.B.A.

Mr. Hogg resides in Downers Grove with his wife and two sons, both of whom are students at Downers Grove North. In addition to cheering on his sons at their sporting events, he enjoys hiking and bike riding. 

Ms. Valerie Lorimer - Collaborative Pianist

Ms. Valerie Lorimer joins the Fine Arts Department as Collaborative Pianist. She earned a Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University and a Master of Music from Northwestern University. Valerie played professionally in the Chicagoland area primarily for choirs and vocalists, at Chicago Opera Theater, the Ravinia Festival Chorus, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus. She had the pleasure of playing one of Sir Georg Solti’s last rehearsals with the chorus on the CSO stage.

Ms. Lorimer taught piano privately for many years and is also a composer. Her compositions have been performed in the United States and Europe. When not tickling the ivories, Ms. Lorimer loves creating art, reading and traveling.

Ms. Janet Taylor - Visual Art Faculty

Ms. Janet Taylor will be joining the DGN faculty part-time, teaching Drawing & Painting and Jewelry and Metalwork classes. 

Ms. Taylor has been an art educator for twelve years teaching high school art in Chicago and suburbs as well as preservice art teachers at Northeastern Illinois University. Prior to teaching, Ms. Taylor spent ten years as a Charge Scenic Artist painting and sculpting for theatre, film, and other industries in NYC and Chicago. In 2009 she decided to focus on long-term career interests as an art educator, earning a Masters of Education in Art Education through DePaul University.

Shortly into her teaching career, Ms. Taylor began presenting at national and state conventions, focused on best teaching practices, innovative approaches to art education, and creating a balanced, culturally relevant curriculum. She has guided the work of several visual and fine arts PLCs around the creative process and strategies to support students' diverse learning needs and interests. Ms. Taylor is deeply passionate about creative thinking, equitable teaching practices, and empowering student voice.  Ms. Taylor also works for The Art of Education University serving as their K12 Content and Assessment Specialist, bringing relevant content and equitable and accessible assessment practices to art educators across the globe.

In her "free time," Ms. Taylor is also an artist and enjoys hiking, playing games, and spending time with her husband, two children, and two pet snails (Peanut Butter and Jelly).