19
Getting to know your IASA Board Members
Dr. Kevin O’Mara
Cook South
School district:
Argo
Community High School
One thing you would like
people to know about your
school district:
We’re celebrating our centennial
in two years!
Years on IASA Board:
1
Years as educator:
22
High school:
St. Ignatius College Prep
Colleges or Universities:
Loyola University,
Concordia University
Family:
Wife-Sharon (next year is our 25
th
anniversary…I’m not sure how I got so lucky)
Children-Amanda, 21, Jake, 17, Declan, 13
Favorite hobbies:
Golf (although I’m terrible),
Banjo, Poker
Favorite movie:
Shane
Favorite book: “
Confederacy of Dunces”
Favorite musical artist:
Earl Scruggs
One thing people probably would be surprised
to know about you:
I was actually never a model
Biggest concern about public education:
Lack
of public support…reform from business “leaders”
who know nothing about our profession
Most encouraging thing about public
education:
Our students…they continue to thrive
no matter what
Brad Hutchison
Corn Belt
School district:
Olympia CUSD 16
One thing you would like people to know about
your school district:
Olympia is a service
oriented district which is passionate about meeting
the needs of every child.
Years on IASA Board:
3
Years as educator:
33
High school:
Delavan Community Unit 703
Colleges or Universities:
Illinois State
University
Family:
Wife-Renee. Son-Adam. Daughter-
Brooke, daughter-Megan, and son-in-law David,
who are parents of granddaughter Grace.
Favorite hobby:
Riding Harley Davidson
motorcycle.
Favorite movie:
Field of
Dreams
Favorite book:
“Leadership is
an Art” by Max De Pree
Favorite musical artist:
Rolling Stones
One thing people probably would be surprised
to know about you:
Traveled over 90,000 miles
on a motorcycle, which included a Harley
Davidson trip to Canada.
Biggest concern about public education:
Reform movement which is limiting the local
control of PK-12 Public Education.
Most encouraging thing about public
education:
The high number of quality people
who are working tirelessly to meet the needs of
today’s student learners.