15
Getting to know your IASA Board Members
Daniel Marenda
Starved Rock
School district:
LaSalle
Elementary School District 122
One thing you would like
people to know about your
school district:
Despite our
80% low income students, LaSalle Elementary
School offers a first-rate education including a 1:1
iPad (24/7) program in our Junior High.
Years on IASA Board:
1
Years as educator:
35
High school:
St. Bede Academy
Colleges or Universities:
Illinois Valley
Community College, Illinois State University (B.S.,
M.S. Superintendent Endorsement) Western Illinois
University (ABD procrastinating. Hope to finish
someday…)
Family
: Married to my wife Donna for 39 years.
Son Daniel R. Marenda, Ph.D. and daughter-in law
Kirsten live in Philadelphia with their three sons;
Daughter Madonna and son-in-law Chris Duncan
live in LaSalle with their son and daughter.
Favorite hobby:
Music, Reading
Favorite movie:
The Godfather I & II
Favorite book:
Impossible to name a favorite book
although I really like
Ishmael
(Daniel Quinn)
Favorite musical artist:
Beatles
One thing people probably would be surprised
to know about you:
I dropped out of college after
my sophomore year to hitchhike through Europe.
Biggest concern about public education:
Public
education is in danger of becoming irrelevant as
more choices present themselves for people of
means to access education, leaving only the people
without means as our main constituency. This
erodes public support and in turn damages all of
society as we become even more of a state of
haves and have-nots. The recent trend of prorating
General State Aid, which has a disproportionate
impact on poor students, and the lack of public
outcry about this despicable practice, offends me
and causes me to worry about our future.
Most encouraging thing about public education:
We have some great people in leadership positions
(superintendents, principals, teachers, professional
organizations) fighting to restore education to the
prominence that it deserves.
Dr. Thomas Bertrand
Abe Lincoln
School district:
Rochester Community Unit 3A
One thing you would like people to know about
your school district:
We have nearly as many
students with Springfield zip codes as Rochester.
Years on IASA Board:
3
Years as educator:
28
High school:
Quincy Notre Dame
Colleges or Universities:
Quincy College,
Western Illinois University, Illinois State University
Family
: Celebrating my 27th wedding anniversary
this year with my wife, Michelle. Three children:
Nathan (25), Erica (21), and Connor (14)
Favorite hobby:
Reading, Bicycling
Favorite movie:
Forrest Gump
; I have seen it
dozens of times, but I can’t turn the channel
whenever it is on.
Favorite book:
Too many to pick one: most
recently,
18 Minutes: Finding your Focus
Favorite musical artist:
Michael Buble
One thing people probably
would be surprised to know
about you:
I became a high
school principal at age 26.
Biggest concern about public
education:
Where will the next
generation of educators and
school leaders come from? With changes in
certification and licensure, internships, new
evaluations linked to student outcomes, rogue
school board members, increasing mandates, and
the possibility of caps on salaries and credible
earnings and pensions, what incentive is there for
the best teachers and administrators to remain in
the profession?
Most encouraging thing about public education:
Public schools are a reflection of our society. Public
schools accept every child. I am amazed at the
number of talented educators who are working with
our children and accepting of them regardless of
ability and background.
