Background.
As an educator for Township High School District 214, I understand the necessity of sharing information.  In fact, I frequently write about education reform, standardized assessments, and legislation to help colleagues, friends, and neighbors. Several of my articles were highlighted by Diane Ravitch, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education serving both George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations, after being asked to write on the topic of standardized assessment and text complexity.  In my role as Education Chair for the District 214 Education Association, I worked to support the implementation of Civics Education as a graduation requirement as outlined by recent legislative mandates.

Currently, I serve as Legislative Chair for the District 214 EA and Legislative Director for the Northwest Suburban Local 1211 Teachers’ Union – IFT/AFT.   Experience in these roles helped me to advance new legislation.  I worked with Senator Julie Morrison to write SR982 Hazardous Material Near School, which was adopted by the Illinois Senate in February 2020.  I also worked with Senator Laura Murphy on a school visit in which a student presentation resulted in the Cards 4 Kids Act.  This legislation allows low-income students in unincorporated areas of Illinois access resources at their local library without having to pay nonresident fees.  I’m now working with on amendments to the Public Community College Act and the Illinois School Board Code that would facilitate teacher participation in shared governance by allowing a faculty member to participate as a non-voting member on a school board to serve in an advisory capacity.

Throughout my 30+ years teaching, I’ve helped support generations of students in their academic careers. I’m a life-long learner and have earned four degrees, including Educational Leadership and Administration, Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education, and English/Language Arts. I hold three certifications in Administration, Secondary Education, and Special Education.  I’ve also written and published an educational series, Learning By Lexile, an online collection of abridged reading passages from classic literature with interactive instructional materials and assessments.

Service extends to the community, too.  Citizen Advocacy Center recognized my efforts to communicate an issue concerning public health and safety with a Citizen’s Initiative Award.  I’ve traveled the state as a speaker on behalf of Sierra Club and worked as a volunteer on a local campaign.  Other areas of civic participation include youth ministry at St. Mary’s Church of Buffalo Grove and The Chapel in both Mundelein and Grayslake.

I’m an educator, administrator, volunteer, mom, and proud grandmother of my 7 and 4-year old grandsons.  I’m a longtime resident of Hawthorn Woods – my family has lived in Lake County for more than 30 years. As your College of Lake County Board Trustee, I will put my life and career experiences to work on behalf of our students and communities to uphold high educational standards during increasingly challenging economic times.

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CREDENTIALS

Education.
Concordia University – M.A., Curriculum and Instruction
National-Louis University – C.A.S., Educational Leadership
National-Louis University – M.A., Special Education: LBS I
Lake Forest College – B.A., English
(concentration on writing and additional courses in secondary education)