District 88 Board of Education hosts swearing-in ceremony and names officers

On May 4, the District 88 Board of Education members who were elected during the April 7 election were officially sworn in as members of the Board. They are Jan Donovan, Tim Gillen, Sharon Kucik and Lisa Lullo, who will each serve a four-year term. They join Board members Donna Craft Cain, Jay Irvin and Thomas Edmier.

Gillen has served on the Board since 2011. He has been on several Board committees, and his two sons graduated from Willowbrook. Kucik has served on the Board since 2007. She has been on several Board committees and is President of the District 88 Foundation. Her three children are Willowbrook graduates. Lullo has served on the Board since 2011. She is an Addison Trail alumna, and her four children graduated from Addison Trail as well. She also has served on several Board committees.

District 88 would like to introduce you to Donovan, who is new to the Board.

Meet Jan Donovan
Donovan, a new member to the District 88 Board of Education, has worked with a variety of school districts as an education consultant for almost eight years. He has been in education for 17 years, including five years as Principal of two alternative schools, as well as serving as a teacher. He received his doctoral degree in educational studies.

Donovan has lived in Villa Park for 21 years, and his daughter is a graduate of Willowbrook. His grandson will become a Willowbrook Warrior next year.

“I want to continue the great things happening in District 88 and ensure all students are prepared to be successful in a 21st-century economy,” Donovan said. “I’m impressed that despite a challenging tax base, Addison Trail and Willowbrook have been named as ‘Best Public High Schools in the Chicago Metro Area’ in the 2015 Niche Rankings, and District 88 is ranked 47th in Illinois.”

Donovan said one of District 88’s greatest strengths is the diversity within the district’s student population, and he wants to make sure students’ thirst to learn is always quenched. He also plans to reach out to community members and encourage them to get more involved.

“I want community members to realize that just because you don’t have children in District 88 doesn’t mean you’re not part of the district,” Donovan said.

Also during the May 4 Board of Education meeting, the election of officers took place. Cain was voted in as President, Irvin was voted in as Vice President and Kucik was voted in as Secretary. Each position is a two-year term.