About

Dear Onahan Families,

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! Whether you are returning to Onahan or joining us for the first time, we are so glad you’re here. I’m confident this will be a year full of growth, connection, and joyful learning for your children.

Since 2018, I’ve had the true honor of serving as principal at Onahan. This school is more than just a place of work for me. It’s home. Every day, I walk to school with purpose, ready to roll up my sleeves and partner with our incredible students, staff, and families to make Onahan the best it can be. There is no greater joy than helping build a school community where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired to do their best.

Before becoming principal, I spent many years at Onahan as both a teacher and assistant principal. Though I’m originally from Ohio, I came to Chicago by way of the University of Chicago, where I earned a degree in French Literature. Soon afterward, I followed my heart and returned to school to become something I always knew I was meant to be, a teacher.

My husband and I raised our two sons (a special education teacher and a chef) right here in Norwood Park. Today, we’re proud grandparents to a lively two and a half year-old granddaughter who lives just a block away, and we’re also foster parents to an almost four-year-old. This neighborhood, and this school, are at the very center of our lives. As both an educator and a parent, I am deeply invested in the quality of education at Onahan—this is our school, and we’re all in.

Thank you for your partnership and for trusting us with your children. Let’s make it a great year together.

Go Lions!

Warmly,
Marianne Patten
Principal