21
Getting to know your IASARegion Presidents
MarkCross
StarvedRockRegion
President
School district:
Peru
ElementarySchool District
124
One thingyouwould like
people to know about
your school district:
Our
faculty, staff, administration andBoard of
Education are100 percent child-centered, andwe
are completing the final step of having completely
newor updated facilities across our district.
Years as educator:
22
Highschool:
Hartsburg-EmdenHighSchool
Collegesor Universities:
IllinoisStateUniversity
–B.S., M.S. CSBO andSuperintendent
Endorsements
Family:
WifeRonda (Principal at PutnamCounty
PrimarySchool), Children: Andrew (Account
Director atWalker SandsCommunications) and
Hailey (Freshman at Northern IllinoisUniversity)
Favoritehobby:
Traveling towarm climates
Favoritemovie:
Forrest Gump
Favoritebook:
Anything from JohnGrisham
Favoritemusical artist:
LynyrdSkynyrd
One thingpeopleprobablywouldbe surprised
to know about you:
I’ve run sevenmarathons,
none of them very fast!
Biggest concern about publiceducation:
My
biggest concern is themisguidedmovement
towardsmore andmorehigh stakes testing, while
we completely overlook the value of art,music and
other non-testedareas that foster creativity and
growth.
Most encouraging thing about public
education:
The very dedicated peoplewho are
committed todoingwhat is best for childreneach
day despite theobstacles put before us.
Dr. DanBertrand
KishwaukeeRegionPresident
School District:
MarengoCommunityHigh
School District 154
One thingyouwould likepeople toknow about
your school district:
We area diamondhidden
inwesternMcHenryCounty amidst horse stables,
nurseries and rolling hills. Please don’t tell the
suburbs about us.
Years asEducator:
33
HighSchool:
CatholicBoysH.S. (nowNotre
Dame) inQuincy
Colleges / Universities:
QuincyCollege,
Northeast Missouri State, IllinoisState, Northern
IllinoisUniversity
Family:
Wife, Kelly-M.S. inSportsManagement,
NIU; Brock-13, Bailey-12, Brooke-10 andBeau- 1
(yes, 1 yr old inNovember,2013)
FavoriteHobby:
Attending sporting events at
school andmy children
FavoriteMovie:
Toomany tomention. Besides I
can’t remember thenames
afterwards. I rely onmywife
for that information. Bourne
series is great!
FavoriteBook:
Lincolnon
Leadership
FavoriteMusical Artist:
Boston
One thingpeopleprobably
wouldbe surprised to
know about you:
I coached college football for
six years at QuincyUniversity and IllinoisState
University.
Biggest concern about publiceducation:
The
ever-increasing demandswe are putting on
teachers andnot giving themmore time todo it.
School and pension reform and its long term
impact onquality peopleentering the field of
education.
Most encouraging thing about public
education:
Our teachers aredoing the best job they have ever
done inmy career.
