Lake County Gazette

Lake Forest Community High School has announced new leadership for its Pom/Dance program. Meghan Winebrenner has been appointed as the Varsity Head Coach, while Ellie Saliba will take on the role of Junior Varsity Head Coach for the 2025–2026 fall and winter seasons.

According to Lake Forest Schools, Winebrenner, a 2015 alumna of Lake Forest High School (LFHS) and former dancer, brings "deep knowledge of the program’s tradition" and is committed to helping student-athletes excel. She says she is "most looking forward to working with the dancers to help them grow as athletes and as people" and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to assist them in achieving their "full potential" both in performances at games and competitive events.

Saliba will oversee the Junior Varsity Fall Sideline and Winter Competitive Poms teams. She draws from her experience as a former Universal Dance Association (UDA) Head Instructor, high school coach, and dance competitor. Currently a Special Education teacher at Lake Bluff Middle School, Saliba previously student-taught at LFHS in 2017. She says she is "honored to be joining the Lake Forest Pom/Dance Team coaching staff" with goals to mentor dancers, foster confidence and resilience, and maintain the program’s "tradition of excellence," creating a rewarding experience for all team members.

Lake Forest High School was established in 1935 as a public secondary school located in Lake Forest, Illinois. It serves grades 9–12 with approximately 95% of its students pursuing higher education. The school emphasizes personalized instruction within a collaborative environment that values mutual respect, high expectations, and a sense of belonging. It serves the communities of Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood under the motto "Pursuits become habits."

Lake Forest Community High School District 115 caters to about 1,500 students from these communities in grades 9–12. The district provides various academic programs including advanced placement courses, specialized electives, athletics, performing arts, and numerous clubs. Feeder schools include Deer Path Middle School, Lake Bluff Middle School, along with several private and parochial institutions.