District 88 installs new Board of Education members, thanks outgoing Board members for years of service

During a District 88 Board of Education Special Meeting on April 29, the district installed new Board members Christine Poirier (pictured above, right), Jean Taylor (pictured above, center) and Diana Stout (pictured above, left), who were elected during the April 6 Consolidated Election. District 88 Board of Education President Donna Craft Cain administered the Oaths of Office. To listen to the installation, click on the video above.

The following Officers were then elected for a two-year term:

  • President: Donna Craft Cain

  • Vice President: Daniel Olson

  • Secretary: Amy Finnegan

Christine Poirier is the mother of an alumna and a current student at Willowbrook. She has been active on many school committees, including the Citizens Advisory Council, the Parent Transition/Reopening Committee, the Willowbrook Music Booster Club and the Willowbrook Parent Organization. Her goals include supporting the district’s efforts to maximize opportunities made available to all students and to support diversity, equity and inclusion in District 88.

Jean Taylor is the parent of two Willowbrook graduates and also is an alumna herself. She has served on the Willowbrook Parent Organization, the Willowbrook Athletic Booster Club and the Willowbrook Citizens Advisory Council. She also has volunteered to help coordinate the Young Hearts for Life cardiac screenings at the district, as well as the Dennis Doyle 3-on-3 Classic District 88 Foundation Basketball Tournament. Her focus is to ensure the district keeps its academic standards at a high level through growing and strengthening community partnerships and mentor programs and working with local institutions of higher learning to offer more instruction that will benefit students after graduation.

Diana Stout is the parent of a Willowbrook graduate and two current Willowbrook students and has served as a member of the District 45 Board of Education for the past eight years. She participates in the Willowbrook Athletic Booster Club and the Willowbrook Parent Organization. Last year, she directed the school’s Talent Show and mentored District 88 students in a lunch group called Empower Hour. She looks forward to working with fellow Board members to hear the needs of students, parents, teachers and community members and as one voice developing an action plan that could and should change based on new, relevant information, as well as offering solutions that come from thoughtful consideration, sound research and empathy for all involved.

Poirier, Taylor and Stout will join Board members Donna Craft Cain, Amy Finnegan, Lisa Knauf and Dan Olson. They also were recognized during the Addison Community Inauguration Ceremony on April 29 (see the image below). To watch the inauguration, click on the video below.

Left: District 88 Board of Education President Donna Craft Cain gives a speech about the district during the Village of Addison Community Inauguration Ceremony on April 29. Right: The Honorable Liam Brennan (Appellate Court Judge for the Second District of the State of Illinois) administers the Oaths of Office to new District 88 Board of Education members Christine Poirier (center), Jean Taylor (left) and Diana Stout (right) during the Village of Addison Community Inauguration Ceremony on April 29.

The District 88 Board and administration also thanked outgoing Board members Jay Irvin, Tommy Edmier and Blanca Jessen for their years of service. They each received a personalized glass sculpture created by former Willowbrook Art Department Head Bob Fritz to commemorate and honor their significant contributions to the District 88 learning community. To listen to the presentation, click on the video at the top of the page.

Jay Irvin

Left: Pictured is Jay Irvin. Right: District 88 Board of Education President Donna Craft Cain thanks Irvin for his years of service on the Board and presents him with a personalized glass sculpture. Pictured at right are members of Irvin's family.

Irvin has served on the District 88 Board of Education since 2005 and has been Vice President since 2009. During that time, Irvin has been part of more than 80 Board of Education committees.

Irvin's family has attended District 88 schools for three generations.

  • Jay Irvin: Addison Trail alumnus, class of 1970
  • His wife, Lori: Addison Trail alumna, class of 1974
  • His daughter, Melissa: Addison Trail alumna, class of 1996
  • His son, Matthew: Addison Trail alumnus, class of 1999
  • His son, Timothy: Addison Trail alumnus, class of 2002
  • His grandson, Joseph: Addison Trail alumnus, class of 2023
  • His grandson, Michael: Addison Trail alumnus, class of 2024
  • His sister is an Addison Trail alumna
  • His brother is an alumnus of York Community High School
  • His nieces are alumnae of Willowbrook

Tommy Edmier

Edmier (pictured above) has served on the District 88 Board of Education since 2009. During that time, Edmier has been part of 70 Board of Education committees. Edmier is a graduate of Addison Trail, as are his wife and two children.

Blanca Jessen

Left: Pictured is Blanca Jessen. Right: District 88 Board of Education President Donna Craft Cain thanks Jessen for her years of service on the Board and presents her with a personalized glass sculpture.

Jessen has served on the District 88 Board of Education since 2015 and has been Board Secretary since 2019. During that time, Jessen has been part of 13 Board of Education committees. Jessen’s husband and two children graduated from Willowbrook.