Meet Our Leadership Team
Rev. Wayne Watts
Pastor 847-251-0771 | Email Father Wayne F. Watts has been a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago since 1990. He is the sixth of nine children and hails from Oak Park and River Forest. A product of 21 years of Catholic education, and a member of Fenwick’s class of 1982, Father Watts graduated from Marquette University and then attended Mundelein Seminary. From 1990-1996, he served as Associate Pastor at Saint Francis Xavier in Wilmette. Since 1995, he has been leading youth and adult service pilgrimages to Lourdes, France. From 1996-2002, Father Watts served as a member of Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary’s faculty. Since July, 2002, Father Watts has been the Associate Administrator of Catholic Charities. At Charities, Father Watts helps to lead the initiative of the Junior Board, involving people in their 20’s, 30’s and early 40’s in the work of Catholic Charities. He also works with the communications and parish outreach committees of Catholic Charities, hoping to make more and more people aware of the services Charities provides and to invite many to join the mission of Catholic Charities. In addition, he assists the development staff as it seeks major gifts and underwriting to help finance the important mission of charity. In January, 2006, Francis Cardinal George assigned Father Watts to the pastorate of Saint John Berchmans Church in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. There he implemented many initiatives to strengthen parish membership and participation as well as increase enrollment at St. John Berchmans School. Father Watts serves on the Board of Trustees of La Lumiere High School in La Porte Indiana, and Josephinum Academy. He has led parish missions, presented at the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Parish Leadership Day and for the Office of Catholic School’s leadership program. Our united Saints Joseph and Francis Xavier Parish was grateful to welcome Father Watts back to Wilmette, where he assumed leadership duties as Pastor in 2019. Father Watts leads parish and school ministries across both Wilmette campuses and is a highly engaged and energized presence in our learning community. 
Joseph D'Arco
Director of Operations 847-251-0771 | Email Growing up in Glen Ellyn, Joe attended St. Petronille School and attended Catholic youth group in high school. After leading a mission trip to Appalachia, a life changing experience, he graduated from Purdue University where he majored in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, Joe joined the St. Vincent de Paul Center in Lincoln Park where he found his calling in finance, working there for two years before accepting Father Wayne’s invitation to join him at St. John Berchmans in the business office. With his attention to detail and talent for financial fundamentals, Joe re-engineered parish finances during his 13-year tenure. Joe lends great talents to our school as our dedicated Saints JFX Director of Operations. Joe oversees facilities, budgets and operations and works closely with the Pastor on all aspects of Parish leadership. Joe’s expertise and counsel are invaluable as we work together to ensure the longevity and effective stewardship of our campus spaces. 
Christine Elliott
Interim Principal 847-256-0644 | Email Christine Elliott serves as Principal overseeing both the St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier Campuses. Over nearly a decade, Mrs. Elliott has been instrumental in the refinement and focusing of curriculum, particularly in the area of Humanities and Grammar Convention in the Middle School. Her keen understanding of pre-adolescent students preparing for the rigors of high school informs how she leads, teaches and motivates students to realize their full potential and to develop their many gifts. She is widely known for her quiet and graceful leadership, her fierce love for her students, and her depth and breadth of knowledge as a Catholic educator. Christine holds an advanced degree in Elementary Education and draws upon many years of expertise as a teacher and administrator; including as Head of Middle School at the Schools of the Sacred Heart in Chicago. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Woodlands Academy in Lake Forest, IL. 
Mia Montemurro
Assistant Principal 847-256-0644 | Email Mia Montemurro draws on over two decades of teaching and leadership in Catholic schools through the Archdiocese of Chicago. She is a graduate of the prestigious Leadership Academy organized by the Archdiocese of Chicago, and served as Assistant Principal at St. Hilary School where she first grew and developed as an elementary school teacher. During her first two years with Saints JFX, she served as Director of Student Life and lent special focus to supporting the Early Childhood Campus.Today, Mia Montemurro works tirelessly to provide students with quality educational experiences and staff with guidance and support as our Assistant Principal. She collaborates with parents to build community and connections through meaningful engagement with events both in and out of the classroom. Mia also lends significant support to the day-to-day operations of the school, shares her classroom expertise with collaboration around professional and curriculum development, devotes abundant time and attention to the success of each and every student. 
Amy Zimberg
Director of Early Childhood 847-256-7871 | Email Amy Zimberg is hard at work leveraging all she learned through the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Early Childhood Leadership Academy to promote stimulating, joy-filled learning experiences for Preschool students. Our Saints JFX community is grateful to her for her leadership as Director of Early Childhood where her talents and expertise have been critical to the growth and innovation around preschool programming. Amy transitioned into this role on the St. Joseph Campus following a number of years as a lead teacher in Jr Kindergarten classrooms and leading Early Childhood summer programming on the SFX Campus as Crusader Camp Director. Amy leads and supports students and parents through well developed programming and personalized admissions, and advises faculty in curriculum and educational development. She oversees all aspects of leadership in Early Childhood and draws on relationships with peer organizations including the Alliance for Early Childhood to offer a best-in-class preschool experience for her students. Most importantly, families are welcomed in by Amy as part of a large and vibrant community where parents and children feel grounded and connected as they begin their educational journey. |
2023-2024 School BoardChantal Petherbridge
Chair Mike Kelliher
Vice-Chair Lori Crosson-Tieché
Secretary Jennifer Bransfield
Katie Byrne Amy DeVore Meghan Murphy Dooley Matt Johnson Ann Knauth Gretchen Lyons Dave Majewski Lauren Nisbet Kate Shanahan Lynne Sterrett Melanie Thomas Mark Zienkiewicz Questions? Email the School Board. 2023-2024 HSO BoardKate Hottovy
Co-President Ashley Scanlan
Co-President Betsy Nielsen
Secretary Katie Hayes
Treasurer Shelley Taylor
Vice-President Melissa Bradford
Vice-President Questions? Email the HSO Board. |
