Music Staff
Mrs. Stacy Williams-Jackson – Orchestra Director (LWC Music Department Chair)
Contact: [email protected]; 815-462-2301
Teaching Responsibilities: String/Symphony Orchestras
About Mrs. Jackson:
A native of Decatur, Illinois, Mrs. Jackson received her Bachelor in Instrumental Music Education/Jazz Emphasis from Millikin University in 1997, and completed a masters degree in Educational Leadership through Northern Illinois University in 2002. She has been a music instructor for Lincoln-Way Community High School District #210 since 1997, where her duties have included orchestra, jazz band, beginning and intermediate strings, electronic music, guitar, and individualized music for special needs students.
Mrs. Jackson has been the music department chair at Lincoln-Way Central High School since 2002, where her greatest joy comes from working with her wonderful students and her ever-outstanding colleagues at West and Central.
Mrs. Jackson was the director of Lincoln-Way Youth Strings from 1997-2007, which offered hundreds of Lincoln-Way area students an orchestral experience in grades K-8.
Mrs. Jackson has served as jazz representative for the IMEA District I from 2004-2007, and has twice presented jazz bass clinics at the Illinois Music Education Conference. Mrs, Jackson has been a past guest jazz director for ILMEA festivals in District I, District VIII, and District V.
In addition to teaching, Mrs. Jackson performs as a jazz bassist throughout the Midwest. She lives in New Lenox with her husband Nate Jackson, their two children, and a neurotic dog.
Contact: [email protected]; 815-462-2301
Teaching Responsibilities: String/Symphony Orchestras
About Mrs. Jackson:
A native of Decatur, Illinois, Mrs. Jackson received her Bachelor in Instrumental Music Education/Jazz Emphasis from Millikin University in 1997, and completed a masters degree in Educational Leadership through Northern Illinois University in 2002. She has been a music instructor for Lincoln-Way Community High School District #210 since 1997, where her duties have included orchestra, jazz band, beginning and intermediate strings, electronic music, guitar, and individualized music for special needs students.
Mrs. Jackson has been the music department chair at Lincoln-Way Central High School since 2002, where her greatest joy comes from working with her wonderful students and her ever-outstanding colleagues at West and Central.
Mrs. Jackson was the director of Lincoln-Way Youth Strings from 1997-2007, which offered hundreds of Lincoln-Way area students an orchestral experience in grades K-8.
Mrs. Jackson has served as jazz representative for the IMEA District I from 2004-2007, and has twice presented jazz bass clinics at the Illinois Music Education Conference. Mrs, Jackson has been a past guest jazz director for ILMEA festivals in District I, District VIII, and District V.
In addition to teaching, Mrs. Jackson performs as a jazz bassist throughout the Midwest. She lives in New Lenox with her husband Nate Jackson, their two children, and a neurotic dog.
Mr. Nate Jackson – Guitar
Contact: [email protected]
Teaching Responsibilities:Guitar Studio
About Mr. Jackson:
A native of Martinsville, Illinois, Mr. Jackson has been a member of the Lincoln-Way District #210 music faculty since 2001, where he teaches all levels of guitar at Lincoln-Way Central and Guitar Studio at Lincoln-Way West. Mr. Jackson earned degrees in guitar performance from Millikin University and Northern Illinois University, as well as obtaining education certification through NIU. Mr. Jackson's Guitar Studio classes have been featured performers at the Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival, a primarily collegiate festival. The Guitar Studio has also performed at the Illinois Music Education Conference, where Mr. Jackson has twice presented. Mr. Jackson's guitar method book is used throughout the Lincoln-Way district.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Jackson is a sought-after professional guitarist who performs in various venues throughout the Chicagoland area. He resides in New Lenox with his family.
Contact: [email protected]
Teaching Responsibilities:Guitar Studio
About Mr. Jackson:
A native of Martinsville, Illinois, Mr. Jackson has been a member of the Lincoln-Way District #210 music faculty since 2001, where he teaches all levels of guitar at Lincoln-Way Central and Guitar Studio at Lincoln-Way West. Mr. Jackson earned degrees in guitar performance from Millikin University and Northern Illinois University, as well as obtaining education certification through NIU. Mr. Jackson's Guitar Studio classes have been featured performers at the Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival, a primarily collegiate festival. The Guitar Studio has also performed at the Illinois Music Education Conference, where Mr. Jackson has twice presented. Mr. Jackson's guitar method book is used throughout the Lincoln-Way district.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Jackson is a sought-after professional guitarist who performs in various venues throughout the Chicagoland area. He resides in New Lenox with his family.
Mr. Cary Ruklic – Band Director and Department Chair
Contact: [email protected]; 815-717-3569
Teaching Responsibilities: Concert Bands, Percussion Classes, Courses in Piano and Music Production
About Mr. Ruklic:
Mr. Cary Ruklic is an instrumental music teacher at Lincoln-Way West and Lincoln-Way East High Schools. His curricular responsibilities include teaching band and percussion classes, class piano, audio production, and AP Music Theory. Extracurricularly, Mr. Ruklic serves as a director of the Lincoln-Way Marching Band (LWMB), the Warrior Football Band, the Lincoln-Way West Pep Band and pit orchestra. Additionally, Mr. Ruklic served as the Music Department Chair at Lincoln-Way West from 2012 until 2016.
Mr. Ruklic grew up in the south suburbs and attended Marian Catholic High School. In college, Mr. Ruklic studied trumpet with Dr. Amy Gilreath at Illinois State University, and Carole Dawn Reinhart at the University for Music and Arts in Vienna, Austria. Mr. Ruklic spent a summer with the prestigious Blue Devil Drum and Bugle Corp from Concord, California, and also taught at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake Michigan. Mr. Ruklic is a director and long-time member of the New Lenox Community Band, a Village sponsored organization that presents a series of free concerts each summer.
Mr. Ruklic is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA). He holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Illinois State University, a Masters Degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music and has completed coursework in Teacher Leadership through Concordia University, Chicago. Mr. Ruklic resides in New Lenox, IL with his wife Christina, and two children.
Contact: [email protected]; 815-717-3569
Teaching Responsibilities: Concert Bands, Percussion Classes, Courses in Piano and Music Production
About Mr. Ruklic:
Mr. Cary Ruklic is an instrumental music teacher at Lincoln-Way West and Lincoln-Way East High Schools. His curricular responsibilities include teaching band and percussion classes, class piano, audio production, and AP Music Theory. Extracurricularly, Mr. Ruklic serves as a director of the Lincoln-Way Marching Band (LWMB), the Warrior Football Band, the Lincoln-Way West Pep Band and pit orchestra. Additionally, Mr. Ruklic served as the Music Department Chair at Lincoln-Way West from 2012 until 2016.
Mr. Ruklic grew up in the south suburbs and attended Marian Catholic High School. In college, Mr. Ruklic studied trumpet with Dr. Amy Gilreath at Illinois State University, and Carole Dawn Reinhart at the University for Music and Arts in Vienna, Austria. Mr. Ruklic spent a summer with the prestigious Blue Devil Drum and Bugle Corp from Concord, California, and also taught at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake Michigan. Mr. Ruklic is a director and long-time member of the New Lenox Community Band, a Village sponsored organization that presents a series of free concerts each summer.
Mr. Ruklic is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA). He holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Illinois State University, a Masters Degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music and has completed coursework in Teacher Leadership through Concordia University, Chicago. Mr. Ruklic resides in New Lenox, IL with his wife Christina, and two children.
Mr. Tom Venutolo – Choir Director
Contact: [email protected]; 815-717-3567
Teaching Responsibilities: Choral Ensembles, Courses in Piano and Music Production, AP Music Theory
About Mr. Venutolo:
Mr. Venutolo has been a member of the Lincoln-Way West music faculty since its opening in 2009. In addition to directing the Chorale, Concert Chorale, and Mixed Choir at West, he serves as director for the Madrigal Singers, Spring Musical, Jazz Choir, and the school's a cappella groups - Men of Note and BellaCappella. He also teaches Guitar 1 and 2, Piano, Music Technology, and AP Music Theory, Prior to teaching at Lincoln-Way West, Mr. Venutolo taught for 10 years between the Elizabeth (NJ) Public School District, Crete-Monee District #201U, and Thornton-Fractional District #215.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Mr. Venutolo graduated from DePauw University in 1999 with a degree in Piano Performance. During this time, he studied piano with Dr. R. Kent Cook, and voice with Dr. Stanley Irwin. In 2007, he completed his Masters of Music Education with Choral Emphasis at VanderCook College of Music. Mr. Venutolo has served as an adjudicator and clinician for numerous schools and choral festivals in the Chicagoland area. He has also served as music director/keyboardist for the Chicago Heights Drama Group in over a dozen musical productions dating back to 2002.
Mr. Venutolo is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA). He resides in Indiana with his family.
Contact: [email protected]; 815-717-3567
Teaching Responsibilities: Choral Ensembles, Courses in Piano and Music Production, AP Music Theory
About Mr. Venutolo:
Mr. Venutolo has been a member of the Lincoln-Way West music faculty since its opening in 2009. In addition to directing the Chorale, Concert Chorale, and Mixed Choir at West, he serves as director for the Madrigal Singers, Spring Musical, Jazz Choir, and the school's a cappella groups - Men of Note and BellaCappella. He also teaches Guitar 1 and 2, Piano, Music Technology, and AP Music Theory, Prior to teaching at Lincoln-Way West, Mr. Venutolo taught for 10 years between the Elizabeth (NJ) Public School District, Crete-Monee District #201U, and Thornton-Fractional District #215.
Born and raised in New Jersey, Mr. Venutolo graduated from DePauw University in 1999 with a degree in Piano Performance. During this time, he studied piano with Dr. R. Kent Cook, and voice with Dr. Stanley Irwin. In 2007, he completed his Masters of Music Education with Choral Emphasis at VanderCook College of Music. Mr. Venutolo has served as an adjudicator and clinician for numerous schools and choral festivals in the Chicagoland area. He has also served as music director/keyboardist for the Chicago Heights Drama Group in over a dozen musical productions dating back to 2002.
Mr. Venutolo is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the Illinois Music Educators Association (ILMEA). He resides in Indiana with his family.
