LTHS Board Selects New Board Member, Approves Facilities Director

LOCKPORT, IL — At its meeting on Monday, the Lockport Township High School District 205 Board of Education appointed Derek Patton to the Board. Patton was selected from a pool of four applicants to serve the remainder term vacated by Zyan Navarra, who resigned in December, according to a news release from the District.

Patton will serve on the Board until May 12, when new Board members are seated after the April 1 Consolidated Election.

Patton has been a resident of Lockport and Homer Glen for over 20 years, the District said. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and an Executive MBA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. A Marine Corps veteran, Patton participated in multiple deployments, including Iraq in 2003. Professionally, Patton has worked in the construction industry and served on several committees, including as a management trustee for one of Chicago’s largest health and welfare funds, where he represented union employees. He also spent many years on the board of two non-profits focused on community advocacy and veteran support.

Patton and his wife, Jamie, have four children, ages 8 to 17, who attend local public schools, according to the district. Patton and Jamie are active members of their church and regularly attend their children's sports events, which include swimming, water polo, soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball and cheerleading.

"As a parent of four in the district and long-time resident, I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve as interim Board Member and contribute to the continued success at LTHS," Patton said in a release.

“Mr. Patton has been an invaluable member of the Board's Facilities Master Planning Council since it began in February 2024. We deeply appreciate his experience and commitment to the district as we continue to prioritize our efforts to enhance and improve our facilities," Ann Lopez-Caneva, Board President, said in a release.

The Board also selected Brian Ahmer to replace Bill Thompson as the new Director of Facilities Management. Thompson will retire in June after 26 years of service to the district, and Ahmer will begin his role on July 1. Ahmer currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer at Township High School District 113 and brings experience in facilities management and construction, having worked in both the education sector and private industry, the District said.

Ahmer has extensive experience managing large-scale construction and operations projects, having previously worked as a construction manager consulting for institutions such as the University of Illinois, Northwestern University, Oakton Community College and the Cook County Department of Corrections.

Ahmer earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Bradley University and
is certified as a Certified Construction Manager (CCM) and a LEED Accredited Professional. His
professional training also includes OSHA 30-Hour Construction Training and ALICE Basic
Certification, the District said. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to school operations and facilities management, Ahmer was inducted into District 230’s Foundation Legacy Hall in 2024 for his work in education. Ahmer is married to Joan, a dedicated special education teacher at Homer District 33C, and they have two children.

"I am honored to have been selected as the Director of Facilities Management at Lockport
Township High School District 205,” Ahmer said in a release. “I look forward to getting started and contributing to the continued success of the district. Living within the District’s boundaries
provides me with a unique opportunity to not only manage and improve the facilities but also to
be an engaged member of the community I serve.”