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Getting to know your Governmental Relations &
Advocacy Committee members
Leigh A. Lewis
Southwestern Region
School district:
Triad
Community School District 2
One thing you would like
people to know about your
school district:
In March,
the district passed a 50-cent
educational tax referendum,
which hadn’t been done since 1963.
Years as educator:
28
High school:
Triad High School
Colleges or Universities:
Southern Illinois
University-Carbondale, Southern Illinois
University- Edwardsville and St. Louis University
Family:
Husband and three children
Favorite hobby:
Running
Favorite movie:
Good Will Hunting
Favorite book:
Lots – most recent one
The Girl
with the Dragon Tattoo (series)
Favorite musical artist
: Maroon 5
One thing people probably would be
surprised to know about you:
I grew up in a
funeral home where I lived above the funeral
home and we answered all the emergency calls
for fire and ambulance.
Biggest concern about public education:
Adequate and equitable funding for all public
school districts
Most encouraging thing about public
education:
Public schools are safe, nurturing
environments where students K-12 develop their
talents, have access to traditional and unique
learning experiences and cultivate long-lasting
friendships.
Dr. Kerry Cox
Two Rivers Region
School district:
Carrollton CUSD1
One thing you would like people to know
about your school district:
The collaboration
that is demonstrated every day in our district is
simply outstanding – we are a team vested in
Hawk Pride for the betterment of each and every
student.
Years as educator:
29
High school:
Winchester High School
Colleges or Universities:
Illinois College (BA),
Western Illinois University (MS), University of
Illinois-Springfield (Post-Master’s Certificate)
Illinois State University (Ed.D.)
Family:
Husband (Steve – educator in Ball-
Chatham CUSD), twin sons (Caleb – teacher/
coach in Ball-Chatham CUSD and Carter –
pharmaceutical sales rep)
Favorite hobby:
Running, biking, fishing,
swimming
Favorite movie:
I don’t really have a favorite
movie but I love watching
the series
Vikings and The
Walking Dead
on TV.
Favorite book:
Right
now… Gillian Flynn is one of
my favorite authors
Favorite musical artist:
Rolling Stones and
Aerosmith
One thing people probably would be
surprised to know about you:
My twin boys weighed more than 7 lbs. 4 oz. and
7 lbs. 2.5 oz. when they were born – 14 lbs. 6.5
oz. of babies!!!
Biggest concern about public education:
My biggest concern in education today revolves
around the challenge to continue to do more with
less. As society, both locally and globally,
continues to change at a rapid pace, the
challenge to create 21
st
Century Learners is
difficult with 20
th
century systems and resources.
Most encouraging thing about public
education:
Watching our kids learn and grow by
thinking, problem solving and creating.