“I believe that my experience as a special education teacher, administrator, and parent will provide a unique perspective into the issues within a school setting,” Katie said.

In her previous job as a special education teacher and administrator in Chicago Public Schools, Katie fostered collaborative partnerships with parents to effectively develop and implement individual education programs for all students with disabilities. 

“A collaborative environment that engages and celebrates our staff will result in high-quality classrooms and improved learning outcomes for our children,” Katie said. 

During her first term as a school board member, Katie served on the NSSED Leadership Council as the representative for DPS 109. She voted against the withdrawal from NSSED and appreciates the fact that the district rescinded their letter of intent to withdraw and is now involved with a partnership with the cooperative. She also served on the Finance, Policy and Technology Committees. 

Katie continues to advocate for transparency throughout the district and collaboration between teachers and administrators.  She looks forward to the transition of two new administrators in the area of Curriculum and Student Services, which will come on board on July 1.  Many initiatives and changes have been implemented in the past four years and she looks forward to continued growth in the district over the next four years.

She received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in special education and her M.A. in educational leadership from Northeastern Illinois University.

Katie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, reading, baking, and actively participating in her church in Lincolnshire. Her daughter, Caitlin, is in eighth grade at Caruso Middle  School, and her son, Calvin, is a senior at Deerfield High School.