Staff Biographies

Dr. Michael J. Bakalis

is founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Quality Schools. He also served on the faculty of the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University, where he taught in the field of public and not-for-profit management and educational entrepreneurship. Bakalis' administrative experience has been in government and higher education. He has served as Illinois State Superintendent of Education and as Illinois State Comptroller. President Carter appointed him Deputy Undersecretary of Education in the U.S. Department of Education where he administered ten regional offices of the department across the United States. He has also held positions as Dean of the School of Education at Loyola University and President of Triton College. He received his Ph.D. from Northwestern University.

Thomas W. Aubin

, CPA, MBA is Vice President of Finance and Administration. Tom has over 26 years experience at the executive finance level, having served as CFO/Controller for companies both public and private including startup, turnaround, established and high growth organizations. Tom earned his B.S. in Accounting from Northern Illinois University and his M.B.A in Finance from DePaul University. Tom is a Certified Public Accountant, and he is a member of both the American and Illinois Institutes of Certified Public Accounting.

Leo J. Athas

is General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for American Quality Schools. Mr. Athas is a recognized authority in education law with more than 30 years of experience in the field. He consults to more than 350 independent schools nationwide. He represents educational entities in all aspects of their daily operations and long range planning. He is the only person to have ever served as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer to both the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Illinois State Board of Education. Mr. Athas is past Chairman of the School Law section of the Illinois State Bar Association and has co-authored a Special Education Chapter of the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education Handbook for Lawyers. He is often called upon to lecture and consult to and with educational professionals and associations at national and international annual meetings. He has taught legal writing and contract law to paralegals at Southwest community College in South Holland, Illinois. Mr. Athas has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer® in the category of School Law. In addition, he holds the AV® Peer Review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability.

Patricia Yadgir

is Executive Director of Student Services. In her position she oversees all student service employees including counselors, social workers, nurses, deans and disciplinarians. She is responsible for the implementation and oversight of career, character and health education as well as service learning at each of our schools. Ms Yadgir has over 20 years experience as a school counselor, at the elementary and higher education levels. She has also taught in early childhood and higher education. Mrs. Yadgir holds her M.S.ed in counseling from Northern Illinois University. She is certified at the graduate level as an Eating Disorders and Obesity Specialist.