21
Getting to know your IASA Board Members
Dr. Jo R. Campbell
Western
School district:
La Harpe
Community School District 347
and Dallas Elementary School
District 327
One thing you would like
people to know about your
school district:
Both districts were part of the only
Unit District Conversion to occur in Illinois, creating a
new high school district and three elementary districts
from three dissolved unit school districts. This
reorganization option expanded the capacity required
to support a high performing high school, while
maintaining local control at the elementary school level
to support quality educational programs in the local
communities.
Years on IASA Board:
3
Years as educator:
33
High school:
Pinckneyville Community High School
Colleges or Universities:
Bachelors’ degrees earned
at Greenville College 1970, Masters 1992 and PhD
2008 at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Family:
Married to Becky for 42 years, daughter
Elizabeth Erinn with granddaughters Alyssa and Lily,
sons Benjamin and wife Veronica with grandson
Isaiah, Samuel, Joseph and wife Rowena.
Favorite hobby:
Camping and Grilling
Favorite movie:
Captain Ron
Favorite book:
The Bible
Favorite musical artist:
Carol King
One thing people probably would be surprised to
know about you:
Worked as a maintenance welder
for 10 years at the largest surface coal mine east of
the Mississippi River.
Biggest concern about public education:
School
districts follow and are a reflection of their
communities. Local economic concerns in many
regions of Illinois and increasing pressures from
government entities and reform groups that are far
removed from school communities make it increasingly
difficult to provide high quality programs for all Illinois’
students.
Most encouraging thing about public education:
On a regular basis I continue to observe teachers,
support personnel, principals, superintendents, school
board members, and professional organizations that
believe in the importance and power of public
education. During these difficult times, folks in public
education are providing some of their finest work.
Dr. Catherine Finger
Lake
School district:
Grayslake Community High School
District 127
One thing you would like people to know about
your school district:
We have an amazing school
community full of high-quality teachers, talented
students, and supportive parents and community
members. Our staff members get to know our students
as individuals AND prepare them for success in life
after high school. I feel lucky every day!
Years on IASA Board:
1
Years as educator:
29 1/2
High school:
Baraboo High School, Baraboo,
Wisconsin
Colleges or Universities:
Doctoral degree in
Instructional Leadership awarded in 1994, from
National-Louis University (Illinois). Master’s degree in
Spanish Literature awarded in 1988, from University of
Northern Iowa. Bachelor of Arts degree awarded in
1983, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Family
: In addition to happily living with Miss Christie,
my YorkiePoo and having Scooter, my quarter horse
gelding, just 10 minutes away, I am blessed with lots
of great friends and family
members.
Favorite hobby:
Horseback
riding, writing, entertaining, travel
and piano
Favorite movie:
JAWS!
Favorite book:
The Bible
Favorite musical artist:
Kenny
Loggins, Heather Hedley, Britt
Nicole
One thing people probably would be surprised to
know about you:
I work with the “twenty-somethings”
in my church and am also a strong supporter of our
new Teen Moms ministry.
Biggest concern about public education:
My dual
concerns would be:
1) the increased tendency to
scapegoat public education/educators, and the push
for “reform” from uninformed external advocates, 2)
the increasing gap between the haves and have-nots
in every area of society that education is not
addressing quickly enough.
Most encouraging thing about public education:
The passion and the joy inherent in working with
young people (students and teachers!) and
experiencing the joy of discovery with them daily.
