About the Authors
Though this is the Sesko’s first venture into children’s literature, Frank, a retired high school teacher and administrator, is a published author for the National Association of Secondary School Principals on the topic of behavior management. Mary Ann, a former elementary school teacher and principal, helped guide Santa and Sam’s Big Secret in a direction that could easily be understood by pre-school and elementary school children.
Frank P. Sesko Ed. D. is a retired teacher/administrator. Frank received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Northeastern Illinois University, a Master of Science Degree in the Teaching of Reading from Northern Illinois University and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from Roosevelt University. His career began at Lafayette Elementary School in Chicago. He then taught English/Reading and served as Assistant Principal/Activity Director in Township High School District 211 in Palatine/Schaumburg, Illinois. After retiring from District 211, Frank served as School Superintendent in Watersmeet, Michigan.
While an undergrad at Northeastern Illinois University, Frank took a creative writing class taught by Illinois poet laureate, Gwendolyn Brooks. He believes that this is where his interest in writing began.
Frank still teaches in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Webster University in Elgin, Illinois.
Mary Ann Sesko, a graduate of Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in elementary education and a Master of Science Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Northern Illinois University.
Mary Ann has taught at Mary Seat of Wisdom School in Park Ridge and at Aldrin School in Schaumburg, Illinois, where she was also Assistant to the Principal. While at Aldrin, she was named teacher of the year by the Schaumburg Jaycees.
Mary Ann also served as Principal of St. Theresa School in Palatine, Illinois. Currently, Mary Ann is staff manager in Human Relations at Allstate Insurance in Northbrook, Illinois.
The Sesko’s have been married for 41 years. Their daughter, Peggy Jo, is married to Andy Dyckman and she is a language arts intervention teacher at an East Aurora, Illinois, school. Their son, Peter, married Jamie Kerin in April 2009, and works for the Winnebago County Animal Shelter in Winnebago, IL..
Illustrator Ryan Fisher is a graphic designer and graduate of Hoffman Estates High School in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, one of the schools where Frank has worked as Assistant Principal.