Dr. VonSchnase has been leading Hilltop Elementary School for the last 10 school years. Dr. VonSchnase returned to School District U-46 after spending seven years away as a principal and district administrator, leading Central A & M CUD 21, a five-school district in Assumption, Illinois. Dr. VonSchnase worked as superintendent and middle school principal for three years, designing and implementing academic alignment in math, reading and other core subjects, budgeting to do more with less, large-scale school and district improvement and the district’s new performance-based evaluations highlighting professional practice and student growth measures for both teachers and principals.

Prior to working in Central A & M CUD 21, Dr. VonSchnase worked as superintendent in Lovington CUSD 303 where he was also a principal at Lovington Grade School, a Pre-K through 8 elementary with 250 students. As superintendent, Dr. VonSchnase led the district and community through a successful annexation with a neighboring district. His achievements include creating a plan to pay off the bonded debt before the annexation, relieving Lovington residents of a tax burden. He also led the district through many current professional development initiatives, from differentiated instruction to implementation of the MAP (Measuring Academic Progress) assessments.

Dr. VonSchnase worked at Clinton Elementary in School District U-46 where he worked for four years, from 2004 to 2008. At Clinton, he worked closely with other teachers to ensure coordinated instruction throughout the building, incorporated technology in the classroom and modeled differential instructional approach with his colleagues.  Dr. VonSchnase also worked as a teacher at Heritage Elementary for one year and worked for three years as an alternative education teacher at the LaVergne Education Center in South Berwyn School District 100.

Dr. VonSchnase earned his Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education, minor in psychology from National Louis University, his Master’s Degree in educational leadership from Concordia University and his doctorate in leadership education administration from Capella University. He holds two administrative certificates (Type 75) as well as an elementary certificate (Type 03).  He has served on a variety of community boards and organizations, from local hospitals to the Rotary.

Dr. VonSchnase offers the leadership skills, experience and knowledge to effectively promote the growth and development of our student population at Hilltop Elementary, a K-6 elementary in Elgin with more than 450 students.