District 88 installs new Board of Education members, thanks outgoing Board members for years of service
District 88 Board of Education Vice President James (Jay) Irvin (left) administers the Oath of Office to (from left) Donna Craft Cain, Daniel Olson, Lisa Knauf and Amy Finnegan. Craft Cain, Olson, Knauf and Finnegan were elected during the April 2 Consolidated Election and were installed during the April 29 District 88 Board meeting.
During its April 29 meeting, the District 88 Board of Education installed Amy Finnegan, Lisa Knauf and Daniel Olson, who were newly elected during the April 2 Consolidated Election, as well as Donna Craft Cain, who was re-elected to the Board. District 88 Board of Education Vice President James (Jay) Irvin administered the Oath of Office. To watch the installation, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/9925 and click on “Oath of Office.”
The following Officers were then elected for a two-year term:
- Donna Craft Cain: President
- James (Jay) Irvin: Vice President
- Blanca Jessen: Secretary
Donna Craft Cain
What is your connection to District 88?
I graduated from Willowbrook in 1981, and my three children attended District 88.
How long have you lived in District 88?
I have lived in Lombard since 1995, and I grew up in Villa Park from 1968. I also have been an attorney in Villa Park for 31 years.
What made you want to serve on the District 88 Board?
I have been a Board member since 2004, and I applied for a vacancy on the Board because I wanted to get more involved and active in the district and in the community. I served as Board Secretary from 2009 to 2011 and have been Board President since 2011. Through those years, I have been a part of a variety of District 88 Board of Education committees, including Behavioral Interventions, Business Partnerships, Buildings and Grounds/Construction/Safety and Security, Curriculum Council, Finance, Technology Planning, community intergovernmental groups and more. I also am President of the Partnership For Inspired Education (PIE) Foundation, which raises funds to benefit students in school districts 4, 45, 48 and 88.
What do you hope to accomplish as a District 88 Board member?
We are the second-most diverse school district in Illinois, and I believe it’s important we are always reviewing what we are doing to make sure we are meeting the needs of all of our students. I want every student to be able to dream and achieve those dreams.
What is your education background?
I earned my bachelor’s degree in accounting from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1985, and I also passed the CPA Exam that year. I earned a Joint Degree in law review from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1988.
What is your career background?
I began working at my father’s law practice in 1988 and became a solo practitioner at my own law practice in 2000.
Amy Finnegan
What is your connection to District 88?
I have had family members attend schools in District 88, and my daughter will attend Willowbrook in the future.
How long have you lived in District 88?
I have lived in Lombard for 24 years.
What made you want to serve on the District 88 Board?
I have seen wonderful improvements in District 88 since I have lived here, and I want to contribute to the success of the schools.
What do you hope to accomplish as a District 88 Board member?
I hope to continue offering opportunities to all the students, meeting and exceeding the unique needs of each student.
What is your education background?
I earned my bachelor’s degree from Columbia College in 1995.
What is your career background?
I have been a Realtor with JW Reedy Realty for 20 years.
Lisa Knauf
What is your connection to District 88?
I am the proud parent of two District 88 graduates.
How long have you lived in District 88?
I have been a District 88 resident most of my life.
What made you want to serve on the District 88 Board?
I want to continue to provide high-quality learning opportunities to all students and do it in a fiscally responsible manner. All students need a solid foundation, no matter if their future path takes them to college or to the workplace.
What do you hope to accomplish as a District 88 Board member?
I hope to work to grow the district’s relationships with businesses and unions to provide additional training and mentoring opportunities. The next Board will search for a new superintendent, a decision that will shape District 88’s future, and I feel I can positively impact that process.
What is your education background?
I received my bachelor’s degree from Marquette University and my JD degree from Northern Illinois University.
What is your career background?
I’m an attorney, and I serve our community as a volunteer attorney for Administer Justice, a legal aid organization, and Wills for Heroes, providing free wills to police and firefighters. My legal practice is my second career – after a successful business and sales career, I returned to school for a law degree.
Dan Olson
What is your connection to District 88?
My three sons and my stepson graduated from Willowbrook, and my stepdaughter is a sophomore at the school. I also have served as a Board Member on the Willowbrook Athletic Booster Club.
How long have you lived in District 88?
I have lived in Villa Park since 1992.
What made you want to serve on the District 88 Board?
I felt it would be a step up in serving District 88 after being a Willowbrook parent and Athletic Booster Club member.
What do you hope to accomplish as a District 88 Board member?
I hope to continue with the advancements the current Board has been making toward preparing District 88 students for the future.
What is your education background?
I earned my bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University in 1986 and my Master of Business Administration degree from Aurora University in 1992.
What is your career background?
I have worked in Information Technology (IT) since 1990. I also served in the Illinois Army National Guard from 1980 to 1992.
Craft Cain, Finnegan, Knauf and Olson will join Board members James (Jay) Irvin (Vice President), Thomas Edmier and Blanca Jessen.
The District 88 Board of Education and administration thanked outgoing Board members (from left) Tina Haralambopoulos, Mark Turk and Sharon Kucik for their years of service during the April 29 District 88 Board meeting.
The District 88 Board and administration also thanked outgoing Board members Tina Haralambopoulos, Mark Turk and Sharon Kucik for their years of service.
Tina Haralambopoulos
Haralambopoulos was appointed to the Board to fill a vacancy in 2018. She graduated from Addison Trail in 2002, where she was a member of the Varsity Girls Swim Team, the Blazettes and the Art Staff. Many of her family members are alumni of Addison Trail as well. Haralambopoulos has served on the Behavioral Interventions, Citizens Advisory Councils, Curriculum and Employee Recognition committees.
Mark Turk
Turk was appointed to the Board to fill a vacancy in 2017 and is the parent of two Addison Trail alumni. He has lived in Addison for more than three decades with his family and has served on several committees that benefit Addison Trail students. Turk also has served on the Behavioral Interventions, Citizens Advisory Councils, District Finance, District 88 Foundation, Koch/Rook/Foster Scholarships, Policy and Technology committees.
Sharon Kucik
Kucik has been a Board member since 2007 and has served as Board Secretary since 2011. Throughout those years, she has been on the Behavioral Interventions, Citizens Advisory Councils, Curriculum Council, District 88 Art Scholarship, District 88 Foundation, Employee Recognition, Evaluation/Compensation, IASB Governing Board, Negotiations, Summer Purchases and Technology committees. Her three children are graduates of Willowbrook. Kucik said the most rewarding part of being a Board member has been seeing all the accomplishments students bring to Addison Trail and Willowbrook – whether it’s through academics, athletics or other programs and clubs.
Haralambopoulos, Turk and Kucik were presented with a personalized glass sculpture created by former Willowbrook Art Department Head Bob Fritz. To watch the presentation, go to https://www.dupage88.net/site/page/9928.