Courtney Simek
President
First Elected/Term: 2013

Personal Statement:
I want to work with parents, teachers and students to educate the “whole child” in order to achieve personal excellence. The more we work effectively and efficiently together, the greater chance we have at long-term success for our children. I want to represent the current Lombard school community. You have my guarantee that I will be present at any and all important community events. I’m a great listener, a reputable voice in the community and open to all educational opportunities for students. I’m fully prepared to have great discussions on a variety of topics and I want to see our district continue to run with the highest quality professionals.

Basic Beliefs Aligned with the D44 Mission Statement:
I believe the strengths of the district include a set of short-term goals that are measurable and attainable. It is important to improve upon the percentage of students in each school meeting or exceeding expectations in the areas of reading and math. I also support the social-emotional component of our children’s education being assessed, with the hope that all children will perform in the strength or typical range. I view the needs of our district as remaining current with changes to curriculum, standardized testing, response to intervention, competitive wages, and general educational enhancements. It is these factors that bring essential learning to our children. By participating in advocacy groups at the state level, we will be sure to have the most up-to-date facts, therefore bringing reputable information back to the board table for discussion. We must also continue working with law enforcement officials to ensure the safety of our school climate on a daily basis.

General Comment:
I’m excited to work alongside a group of staff, administrators and board members who are able to effectively collaborate in efforts for the overall benefit of our children. This is a team effort.  I bring no personal agenda or mission to the table, but instead, hope to enhance and support our school district with my background and knowledge.

Contact Information:  Please feel free to e-mail me your ideas, questions, concerns or other input at csimek@sd44.org

Tony del Alcazar
Member
First Elected/Term: 2015

Personal Statement:  
I love living in Lombard and look forward to the opportunity and experience of serving students and families of District 44.

Basic Beliefs Aligned with the D44 Mission Statement:  
I truly believe the District's philosophy of educating the "whole child".  Children grow fast and are different academically, physically, and emotionally.  It makes me happy to know that I will be working with others that believe and support this mantra.  

Education/Occupation/Family:  
M.S, Ed. Curriculum & Instruction; B.S. Biology
1994-currently - Reavis High School science teacher (Biology/chemistry)

I have been married to my wife Heather for 17 years, and we have 3 sons;  in 7th grade at Glenn Westlake Middle School and a freshman and sophomore at Glenbard South High School.

Contact Information:  Please feel free to e-mail me your ideas, questions, concerns or other input at: tdelalcazar@sd44.org.

Stephen Flint
Member
First Elected /Term: 2011

Personal Statement:  
As I said in my campaign, I promise to….

• Continue to look at the School District’s budget and look for ways to maximize the available funding.
• Continue to look at the School District’s facilities and make sure they are utilized to their fullest extent and well maintained.
• Continue to look at student test scores to ensure students are getting services early on in their education.
• Continue to look at improving communication between the Lombard SD 44 teachers and administration, as well as parents and members of the community at large.
  
  

Basic Beliefs Aligned with the D44 Mission Statement:  
I had the opportunity to have my children go through the SD 44 school system.  I believe the teachers are dedicated to ensuring our children have the building blocks necessary to be successful in high school and in college as well as in their adult life.  I want all children in SD 44 to achieve their fullest potential.

Education/Occupation/Family:  
I received my Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an Associate of Applied Science in Architectural Technology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
I am the Owner of Flint Architects LLC, a full-service architectural design firm located in Lombard.
I have lived in the Hammerschmidt School area for over 25 years.  Married since 1980, I have two children: one that attends Eastern University and the other enrolled at Glenbard East High School.

General Comment:
I bring a wide variety of experience to the table through my life’s work as an architect and through my past community service to such entities as the Lombard Plan Commission, Chamber, Historical Society and Rotary.  I know the importance of working together as a team to ensure that SD 44 will be fiscally sound while maintaining a high quality of education.

Sarah Novey
Member

Personal Statement:
I value the community that I live in and believe that when citizens are engaged in their government, the system works better for everyone.  As a former high school science teacher, I value strong public schools.  As a school board member, my goal is to make decisions that ensure an exceptional education of all our students.  Service to community is very important to me, and I look forward to serving our students and families. 

As stated in my campaign, my priorities include good stewardship of the district’s budget by working to find the best value for our students.  This equitable distribution of our resources.  I also value programs that provide great education to the diverse student population. I will continue to support current programs and to monitor their effectiveness through data analysis.  Finally, I support developing sustainable practices in our schools and in our district energy plan

Education/Occupation/Family:
I moved to Lombard in 2008 with my husband Cory.  We have two daughters, in Kindergarten and 3rd grade, at Madison Elementary.  I have a B.S. in Chemistry from Iowa State University and an M.S. in Natural Science from Eastern Illinois University.  My first profession was as a high school science teacher. For the last ten years, I have been working as a Senior Data Team Lead managing databases and data for clinical trials.

General Comment:
I am honored to be chosen by our community to serve the needs of our students.  We have a great school district with a school board known for working together collaboratively and productively.  I look forward to listening to the students, teachers and families and to make decisions that benefit all our students.

Contact Information: Please feel free to e-mail me your ideas, questions, concerns or other input at snovey@sd44.org. 

Gayln Piper
Member
First Elected/Term: 2018

Personal Statement:  
It is the obligation of the community to ensure that the school district provides an education full of opportunities for all students.  I believe it the citizen's responsibility to take part in the community and its various governing bodies. Furthermore, from an early age, volunteerism has been instilled in me.  The positive impact that Lombard School District 44 has and will continue to make on all children within the community is inspiring. To have an influence on the advancement of upwards of 3000 children's lives is a profound responsibility.

Basic Beliefs Aligned with the D44 Mission Statement:  
By offering a supportive environment conducive for earning, with a collaboration between the educators and parents, the students of District 44 will develop into productive adults  All children within the boundaries of the district will be offered equitable opportunities to achieve success. 

Education/Occupation/Family:
I share my home with my husband, Matt, our three girls (Cora age 6, Georgia 4, and Susan 2) and our dog, Gibson.  I attended Glenbard East High School then Augustana College in Rock Island, IL completing a double major in History and Art History.  In the spring of 2015, my husband and I purchased a home in the Manor Hill Elementary School boundaries. I am the director of programs and education at the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton.

General Comment:
The School District has proven itself to be a successful team guiding 8 schools and 200+ educators towards national awards and high marks in testing and student achievement standards.  While there are numerous opportunities for advancement for the district, the board must be mission-driven to guide the district towards student achievement outcomes and thoughtful programs.  Given the successful and competitive county in which Lombard is surrounded, the direction of the district should be true to course and fiscally minded.

Member

Personal Statement:  
I believe in communication between the school district and the community to make the educational experiences for all students the best it can be.  Working collaboratively with the students, staff and families will allow the district to be open to different ideas, viewpoints and culturally relevant experiences to guide D44 into the future and make quality education equitably available for all students.  I will do everything possible to be at any and all special events to represent D44 to the best of my ability.   I bring experience as an educational leader that will make the conversations about educational change richer and add a different level of complexity to help make better educational decisions for all. My goal is to serve the students, staff and community in D44 with the intent to help educate all within our boundaries.

Basic Beliefs Aligned with the D44 Mission Statement:  
My basic belief is that all students can and will learn to the best of their abilities.  It is our responsibility (as a district team) to make sure that this is happening on a day-to-day basis for all students.  I am very impressed with how D44 is currently making this happen and am looking forward to being part of the never-ending challenge to continue making this a priority and making it successful. 

Education/Occupation/Family:

• Northeastern Illinois University, Illinois, May 2009, B.S. Education

• Concordia University, Illinois, December 2011, M.A. Curriculum and Instruction with ESL endorsement
• Northeastern Illinois University, Illinois, August 2012, M.A. Educational Leadership
• Northern Illinois University, Illinois, Educational Specialist Certificate, July 2019
• Aurora University, Illinois, Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Anticipated May 2021

General Comment:
My children have loved being part of D44 and it has been a pleasure seeing them grow into who they are now.  It has been a wonderful experience being part of D44.  I am very excited to once again serve D44 and am looking forward to working with everybody.  

Contact Information: Please feel free to e-mail me your ideas, questions, concerns or other input at jrobinette@sd44.org.