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Taxing body Orion Community Unit School District 223
Position Member, school board; vice chair, Blackhawk Division, Illinois Association of School Boards
Who and what inspired you to enter public service?
Jim DeBaillie inspired me; seems he’s always been behind me. A lot of soccer people, too many to list. I guess to be honest, when my position as assistant soccer coach was cut at the high school, that was the starting point.
Why did you seek this position?
I thought I could make a difference. I had been through the schools and coached for 13 years, and some things at least in my mind needed changed.
What are your biggest challenges as a public servant? How do you handle them?
At first, the biggest challenge for me was, “How do I get this board to think like me?” Now, after being on the board for almost eight years, it’s, “How as a group of individuals can we do what’s best for the kids with what we have to work with?”
What moments have been the most memorable in your public service?
1. When we decided to co-op with Sherrard in soccer, I was totally against it, and now, while I am still not a fan of the co-op, I believe it was the best move for our kids.
2. The last contract (teachers) was hard, but working with the Orion Education Association, administration and board, I think everyone understands the times were not good, i.e., state money, etc., and we were able to sit and talk, and hash out a contract we could all live with for the times we all had to deal with. I think the administration, board and teachers all collaborated to do what was best for the kids, school district and community.
PERSONNEL FILE
Age 57
Residence Orion
Education Orion schools, 2 1/2 years Illinois State University
Experience School board member since 2005
Hobbies Soccer, all aspects; karate, second-degree black belt from George Smith’s Military Arts Institute; football
Family Wife, Shelley, a teacher, married 36 years; son, Nathan, 32 years old; daughter, Erin, 30; son, Seth, 25.
NOMINATE A PUBLIC SERVANT
Do you know a public servant who deserves to be profiled? We’re looking for someone with an Orion area connection—someone who is (1) employed here, (2) lives here, employed elsewhere, or (3) graduated from Orion or used to live here.
websIte: http://www.oriongazette.com/ submit-news. mail: Orion Gazette, P.O. Box 400, Orion IL 61273. office: 1018 Fourth Street, Orion. e-mail: oriongazette1@frontiernet.net. phone: (309) 526-8085. fax: (309) 526-3065.
Taxing body Orion Community Unit School District 223
Position Member, school board; vice chair, Blackhawk Division, Illinois Association of School Boards
Who and what inspired you to enter public service?
Jim DeBaillie inspired me; seems he’s always been behind me. A lot of soccer people, too many to list. I guess to be honest, when my position as assistant soccer coach was cut at the high school, that was the starting point.
Why did you seek this position?
I thought I could make a difference. I had been through the schools and coached for 13 years, and some things at least in my mind needed changed.
What are your biggest challenges as a public servant? How do you handle them?
At first, the biggest challenge for me was, “How do I get this board to think like me?” Now, after being on the board for almost eight years, it’s, “How as a group of individuals can we do what’s best for the kids with what we have to work with?”
What moments have been the most memorable in your public service?
1. When we decided to co-op with Sherrard in soccer, I was totally against it, and now, while I am still not a fan of the co-op, I believe it was the best move for our kids.
2. The last contract (teachers) was hard, but working with the Orion Education Association, administration and board, I think everyone understands the times were not good, i.e., state money, etc., and we were able to sit and talk, and hash out a contract we could all live with for the times we all had to deal with. I think the administration, board and teachers all collaborated to do what was best for the kids, school district and community.
PERSONNEL FILE
Age 57
Residence Orion
Education Orion schools, 2 1/2 years Illinois State University
Experience School board member since 2005
Hobbies Soccer, all aspects; karate, second-degree black belt from George Smith’s Military Arts Institute; football
Family Wife, Shelley, a teacher, married 36 years; son, Nathan, 32 years old; daughter, Erin, 30; son, Seth, 25.
NOMINATE A PUBLIC SERVANT
Do you know a public servant who deserves to be profiled? We’re looking for someone with an Orion area connection—someone who is (1) employed here, (2) lives here, employed elsewhere, or (3) graduated from Orion or used to live here.
websIte: http://www.oriongazette.com/ submit-news. mail: Orion Gazette, P.O. Box 400, Orion IL 61273. office: 1018 Fourth Street, Orion. e-mail: oriongazette1@frontiernet.net. phone: (309) 526-8085. fax: (309) 526-3065.
