I worked with Dr. Dignam as a North Suburban Township District 113 board member. Dr. Dignam was brought in to be a change agent – to implement a strategic plan for the District, to develop dynamic and relevant curriculum and instruction leadership, to bring intellectual honesty to teacher evaluations, to complete a $ 115m facilities renovation plan on time and on budget, and to manage senior leadership transition in several importance areas including finance, communications, and high school/central administration leadership, among others.

I found Dr. Dignam to be thoughtful, intellectual, introspective, collaborative, visionary, inclusive and pragmatic. He leads through quiet yet assertive intellect, experience and collaboration. Dr. Dignam is the “full package.”

I worked with Dr. Dignam as a North Suburban Township District 113 board member. Dr. Dignam was brought in to be a change agent – to implement a strategic plan for the District, to develop dynamic and relevant curriculum and instruction leadership, to bring intellectual honesty to teacher evaluations, to complete a $ 115m facilities renovation plan on time and on budget, and to manage senior leadership transition in several importance areas including finance, communications, and high school/central administration leadership, among others.

I found Dr. Dignam to be thoughtful, intellectual, introspective, collaborative, visionary, inclusive and pragmatic. He leads through quiet yet assertive intellect, experience and collaboration. Dr. Dignam is the “full package.”

Dr. Dignam was actually my biology teacher years before he became an assistant principal and then principal at Lane Tech. In the near 20 years I’ve known him he has been and continues to be one of the most positive influences and mentors I’ve been lucky to know. Dr. Dignam will change your life for the better no matter what capacity you work with him in.

Dr. Dignam was actually my biology teacher years before he became an assistant principal and then principal at Lane Tech. In the near 20 years I’ve known him he has been and continues to be one of the most positive influences and mentors I’ve been lucky to know. Dr. Dignam will change your life for the better no matter what capacity you work with him in.

Working with Dr. Chris Dignam has been a wonderful experience. Chris has been instrumental during my doctoral program through his mentorship. With his encouragement, I have been able to meet several professional goals. As a leader and professor, Chris is well organized, forward-thinking, gives concrete expectations and provides meaningful feedback. Chris brings a level of skill and knowledge to the profession of education that is refreshing. I highly recommend working with or partnering with Chris. His talent and expertise are unmatched.

Working with Dr. Chris Dignam has been a wonderful experience. Chris has been instrumental during my doctoral program through his mentorship. With his encouragement, I have been able to meet several professional goals. As a leader and professor, Chris is well organized, forward-thinking, gives concrete expectations and provides meaningful feedback. Chris brings a level of skill and knowledge to the profession of education that is refreshing. I highly recommend working with or partnering with Chris. His talent and expertise are unmatched.

As a class of ’86 Lane Tech grad, I could not be more proud of the tech programs Dr. Dignam created and reintroduced for my alma mater. When I was a student, we had shop and tech programs that were all but eliminated by the late 1990s and early 2000s. The work he did to put the “tech” back in Lane “Tech” is incredible. Thank you Dr. Dignam!

As a class of ’86 Lane Tech grad, I could not be more proud of the tech programs Dr. Dignam created and reintroduced for my alma mater. When I was a student, we had shop and tech programs that were all but eliminated by the late 1990s and early 2000s. The work he did to put the “tech” back in Lane “Tech” is incredible. Thank you Dr. Dignam!

It was my great fortune to have Dr. Dignam as a professor and as my Dissertation Committee Chairperson. His leadership not only helped me navigate the process successfully but inspired me to reach further and dive deeper into Educational Leadership than I ever imagined I would have. My experiences with Dr. Dignam were simultaneously thorough and engaging as well as relaxed and comfortable. This allowed me to fully realize my natural curiosity about education and to look at my topic in an inspired and innovative way.

It was my great fortune to have Dr. Dignam as a professor and as my Dissertation Committee Chairperson. His leadership not only helped me navigate the process successfully but inspired me to reach further and dive deeper into Educational Leadership than I ever imagined I would have. My experiences with Dr. Dignam were simultaneously thorough and engaging as well as relaxed and comfortable. This allowed me to fully realize my natural curiosity about education and to look at my topic in an inspired and innovative way.

I worked for Dr. Dignam as his Executive Assistant while he was Superintendent. As soon as I started, Dr. Dignam made sure I was included in meetings and discussions and immediately made me feel like I had been part of the team for years. I will always be grateful for his guidance and leadership. His influence will continue to help me in my career for years to come.

I worked for Dr. Dignam as his Executive Assistant while he was Superintendent. As soon as I started, Dr. Dignam made sure I was included in meetings and discussions and immediately made me feel like I had been part of the team for years. I will always be grateful for his guidance and leadership. His influence will continue to help me in my career for years to come.

Dr. Dignam is an education visionary. While serving during my two terms as a Township High School District 113 Board Member and Board President, I observed initiatives he created and implemented in city and suburban schools in Illinois. Whether in the arts or science, he has a clear standard of excellence, which is student centric and forward thinking. Dr Dignam is inclusive in his planning and thorough in his implementation.

Dr. Dignam is an education visionary. While serving during my two terms as a Township High School District 113 Board Member and Board President, I observed initiatives he created and implemented in city and suburban schools in Illinois. Whether in the arts or science, he has a clear standard of excellence, which is student centric and forward thinking. Dr Dignam is inclusive in his planning and thorough in his implementation.

Chris was my principal when I was a newly hired teacher at Lane Tech High School. He was a great mentor, supervisor, and leader. He started the Arabic language program I was hired to teach (the school never had Arabic before him) and supported efforts to blend culture and the arts through calligraphy and music into the curriculum.

Chris was my principal when I was a newly hired teacher at Lane Tech High School. He was a great mentor, supervisor, and leader. He started the Arabic language program I was hired to teach (the school never had Arabic before him) and supported efforts to blend culture and the arts through calligraphy and music into the curriculum.

I first met Dr. Dignam in 2016 when we were both superintendents on the North Shore.  During his tenure, he partnered with Districts 112 and 109 for creating a Student Information System (ECRA) for articulation. He also led the implementation of District 113’s Strategic Plan, Communications Plan, Facilities Master Plan, Learning Management System (LMS), and introduced Skyward for unifying Human Resources, attendance, finance, and accounting systems. I always found Dr. Dignam to be very thoughtful and wanted to do what is best for the students in his district.

I also mentor a principal who has had Dr. Dignam as his teacher in his doctoral program. The principal shared that he thought Chris was a thoughtful and caring professor who was very honest and open in his communications to his class and he felt that a lot was learned from Dr. Dignam’s class.

I first met Dr. Dignam in 2016 when we were both superintendents on the North Shore.  During his tenure, he partnered with Districts 112 and 109 for creating a Student Information System (ECRA) for articulation. He also led the implementation of District 113’s Strategic Plan, Communications Plan, Facilities Master Plan, Learning Management System (LMS), and introduced Skyward for unifying Human Resources, attendance, finance, and accounting systems. I always found Dr. Dignam to be very thoughtful and wanted to do what is best for the students in his district.

I also mentor a principal who has had Dr. Dignam as his teacher in his doctoral program. The principal shared that he thought Chris was a thoughtful and caring professor who was very honest and open in his communications to his class and he felt that a lot was learned from Dr. Dignam’s class.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Dignam for over 20 years and worked with him at Lane Tech High School for 13 years. When I first started working at Lane, he had a reputation as being a superb biology teacher and later blossomed into an exceptional assistant principal, and finally, an extraordinary principal. His leadership was top notch and his love for the school and students was genuine and pure.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Dignam for over 20 years and worked with him at Lane Tech High School for 13 years. When I first started working at Lane, he had a reputation as being a superb biology teacher and later blossomed into an exceptional assistant principal, and finally, an extraordinary principal. His leadership was top notch and his love for the school and students was genuine and pure.

When I was a student at Lane Tech, Dr. Dignam was my principal. Even though there were over 4,000 students, he always made himself accessible and made time for each student. As an aspiring physician, I have been inspired by him and everything he did for the school.

When I was a student at Lane Tech, Dr. Dignam was my principal. Even though there were over 4,000 students, he always made himself accessible and made time for each student. As an aspiring physician, I have been inspired by him and everything he did for the school.

While working with Chris, I found him to be kind, professional, and had a heart for equity and best practices for students.

While working with Chris, I found him to be kind, professional, and had a heart for equity and best practices for students.

Dr. Dignam was my principal at Lane Tech. He remembered me when I visited after graduating and he always made the time to see how I was doing as I studied to become a teacher. When I was a new teacher struggling with my job search, he continued to give me emotional support and helpful resources because he listened and understood what I was going through. Dr. Dignam is innovative and compassionate, and he will go out of his way to help any student or fellow educator that is lucky enough to know him!

Dr. Dignam was my principal at Lane Tech. He remembered me when I visited after graduating and he always made the time to see how I was doing as I studied to become a teacher. When I was a new teacher struggling with my job search, he continued to give me emotional support and helpful resources because he listened and understood what I was going through. Dr. Dignam is innovative and compassionate, and he will go out of his way to help any student or fellow educator that is lucky enough to know him!

I was very fortunate to have Chris as my university supervisor during my student teaching practicum. He was incredibly knowledgeable, experienced and helpful. I really appreciated his guidance since this made student teaching much easier to understand. He helped me identify areas for improvement while continuing to embrace my strengths! I could not have done such an amazing job without him!

I was very fortunate to have Chris as my university supervisor during my student teaching practicum. He was incredibly knowledgeable, experienced and helpful. I really appreciated his guidance since this made student teaching much easier to understand. He helped me identify areas for improvement while continuing to embrace my strengths! I could not have done such an amazing job without him!

It was a distinct pleasure being Dr. Dignam’s leadership coach during his first couple years as a school principal. In a short time he was able to make substantive changes, resulting in tremendous growth both culturally and academically as the principal of Lane Tech. He was a true leader that fostered a highly collaborative environment with his administrative team and other staff.  During my time working with Dr. Dignam I distinctly remember saying to him on numerous occasions, “Just keep doing what you are doing”.  Really great leaders are hard to find.  Dr. Dignam is one of those great leaders.

It was a distinct pleasure being Dr. Dignam’s leadership coach during his first couple years as a school principal. In a short time he was able to make substantive changes, resulting in tremendous growth both culturally and academically as the principal of Lane Tech. He was a true leader that fostered a highly collaborative environment with his administrative team and other staff.  During my time working with Dr. Dignam I distinctly remember saying to him on numerous occasions, “Just keep doing what you are doing”.  Really great leaders are hard to find.  Dr. Dignam is one of those great leaders.

I worked with Dr. Dignam while he was principal at Lane Tech and later moved on to become Superintendent of Schools. His work on deploying technologies and transitioning to an Apple platform, along with the introduction of innovative programs such as aquaponics, robotics, makerspace, and sound engineering and recording studio, transformed the school on a national scale.

I worked with Dr. Dignam while he was principal at Lane Tech and later moved on to become Superintendent of Schools. His work on deploying technologies and transitioning to an Apple platform, along with the introduction of innovative programs such as aquaponics, robotics, makerspace, and sound engineering and recording studio, transformed the school on a national scale.

Chris was my university professor supervisor for my student teaching experience. Chris offered wisdom and direction when difficult situations arose and coached me to do the right thing. He was fair when grading, always wanted me to succeed, and supported my success.

Chris was my university professor supervisor for my student teaching experience. Chris offered wisdom and direction when difficult situations arose and coached me to do the right thing. He was fair when grading, always wanted me to succeed, and supported my success.

During my long career in education, I have had the privilege of working with up to 20 different superintendents in a variety of capacities. These include as a teacher, department chair, assistant principal, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, educational consultant, and as a District 113 School Board member. While the superintendents have all been capable, dedicated, and knowledgeable individuals, only one can be described as a true visionary leader – that person is Dr. Christopher Dignam.

During my long career in education, I have had the privilege of working with up to 20 different superintendents in a variety of capacities. These include as a teacher, department chair, assistant principal, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, educational consultant, and as a District 113 School Board member. While the superintendents have all been capable, dedicated, and knowledgeable individuals, only one can be described as a true visionary leader – that person is Dr. Christopher Dignam.