School Leadership

Lisa Olsem - Principal

With over 25 years of experience in education—17 of those proudly spent in School District U-46—Mrs. Lisa Olsem is a dedicated and passionate leader committed to fostering environments built on respect, trust, and collaboration. Her philosophy centers on building a shared vision and setting purposeful goals that support meaningful student learning and growth.

Mrs. Olsem currently serves as the principal of Hawk Hollow Middle School in Bartlett, where she is excited to lead the school community in its inaugural year. Her leadership is focused on building a strong school culture, implementing high-impact instructional practices, and creating a welcoming environment where all students can thrive.

Prior to her current role, Mrs. Olsem served as principal of Kenyon Woods Middle School in South Elgin for eight years. There, she provided instructional leadership, implemented targeted professional development for staff, and strengthened relationships with students, families, and the broader community.

Ms. Olsem’s career began as a social studies and consumer education teacher in Schaumburg School District 54. She later spent nine years at South Elgin High School as a classroom teacher, instructional department chair, assistant principal, and associate principal. In these roles, she oversaw academic programming, student services, testing, budgeting, and school operations—all while ensuring that every decision prioritized student success.

Mrs. Olsem holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and social science from the University of Iowa and two master’s degrees: one in curriculum & instruction and one in educational leadership from Northern Illinois University.

She remains passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of students, staff, and the greater school community—and is energized by the opportunity to build something truly special at Hawk Hollow.

 

Michael Heine - Assistant Principal

Mr. Heine is proud to serve as the Assistant Principal of Hawk Hollow Middle School. With a decade of experience in education and 2 previous years as a Middle School Assistant Principal, Mr. Heine brings a deep passion for student success and community building. Before joining Hawk Hollow, he spent two impactful years at Marquardt Middle School in Glendale Heights, where he played a key leadership role in shaping school culture, instructional practices, and student support systems.

At Marquardt, Mr. Heine led the Tier 1 team in developing consistent, schoolwide expectations that fostered a safe, welcoming environment and promoted a strong sense of belonging for all students. He was also a dedicated instructional leader, partnering with academic departments to enhance classroom rigor through student collaboration and interdependent learning tasks. His prior roles include serving as a High School Dean and a Middle School Math Teacher, experiences that have shaped his holistic and student-centered approach to leadership.

As a proud graduate of U-46 schools—including Wayne Elementary, Kenyon Woods Middle School, and South Elgin High School, Mr. Heine is thrilled to return to the district that shaped him. He believes in the power of strong relationships, inclusive school communities, and high-quality instruction that challenges each student. Mr. Heine is excited to help build the foundation of Hawk Hollow Middle School and looks forward to an incredible year of growth, connection, and success.