Standing Row – left to right — Mike Conway, Darla Vanderwall, Joe Dunne and Kurt Hansen
Sitting Row – left to right — Nancy Schell, Peggy Kuzmanovich and Joanne Osmond
Darla Vanderwall, President: Mrs. Vanderwall joined the School Board in April 2003. An office administrator, Mrs. Vanderwall has been involved in the fields of finance, insurance and human resources for 17 years. One of her four children currently attends Lake Villa Schools. Mrs. Vanderwall is a lifelong resident of the area.
Michael Conway, Vice President: Mr. Conway joined the school board in April 2007. He and his wife have lived in Lake Villa since 1995. They have two daughters currently attending school in District 41. Mr. Conway has a very long term interest in seeing that District 41 schools maintain a path in a positive direction in every regard.
Mr. Conway is an Attorney licensed to practice law in Illinois since 1992 and he has had his own law office since 1999 with experience in many areas of law, including Juvenile Law, Family Law and DCFS cases, among other criminal and civil areas. Mr. Conway received his Law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. He graduated from the University of Illinois – Champaign with a Bachelor of Arts degree and graduated from the College of Lake County with an Associate of Science degree. He grew up in Waukegan and Graduated from Waukegan East High School.
Mr. Conway is also a part-time faculty member of the College of Lake County in tne Social Sciences Division. He is currently the Treasurer for the Lake County Bar Association, and he is a member of the Board of Trustees for his church. He has sponsored the Lake County Adopt-a-Highway cleanup of Monaville Road since 1999 with the help of many of his friends and neighbors.
In his spare time, Mr. Conway enjoys volunteer coaching for Lake Villa Township Baseball/Softball and Girls Iceless Hockey with his daughters’ teams, going on bike rides, golfing or otherwise spending time with his family.
Peggy Kuzmanovich, Board Member: Mrs. Kuzmanovich was recently elected to the School Board in April 2009. She has lived in Lake Villa for sixteen years. Mrs. Kuzmanovich has been an active District volunteer, including her time spent on The Accountability Task Force, Finance Committee, Wellness Committee and as a past Board Member for the PTO. She and her husband have three children (one attending Lake Villa schools). Mrs. Kuzmanovich is an active community member and enjoys working for a local business.
Joe Dunne, Board Member: Joe Dunne joined the School Board in July 2010. He is employed by a local business and is the CFO. He is responsible for all financial aspects of the business. Prior to his current position Joe had worked in the insurance industry.
Joe has lived in Lake Villa since 1998 and has two children that attend Lake Villa schools. Joe has been an active volunteer including serving on the referendum committee, curriculum committee and the grading committee. Joe attended Illinois State University and graduated from Northeastern Illinois University.
Kurt Hansen, Board Member: Kurt Hansen was elected to the Board of Education in 2009 and is serving a four year term. He has been employed by Sallie Mae for the past 20 years and manages a sales and operations staff that is responsible for the company’s bank and school customers
Mr. Hansen and his wife Terry have lived in Lake Villa for nineteen years and have been active volunteers in the PTO, schools, past referendum committees and youth sports teams. They have five children all of which attended District #41 schools since kindergarten. Their oldest three children are now at Lakes High School and the remaining children attend Martin School. Mr. Hansen attended the University of Missouri Business School and graduated in 1985 with a BS/BA Finance with an emphasis in Economics.
Joanne Osmond, Board Member: Joanne Osmond is a reformer and change agent. She has been recognized over the years for transforming both individuals and organizations. While at Abbott Laboratories, Joanne received an international award, the 2000 Help Desk Institute’s Team Excellence Award for operational excellence by developing the right organization, processes, and technology to provide consistent delivery of end-to-end customer support. In 2003, she received the ATHENA Award for assisting women in reaching their full leadership potential while demonstrating excellence, creativity, and initiative in her profession. She is the recipient of the Boy Scout’s coveted Silver Beaver Award and serves on the Council’s Executive Board as the Vice President of Membership.
Joanne has served on the Lake Villa Elementary School Board for 20 years and was elected to serve her eighteenth year on Lake’s Division of the IASB (Illinois Association of School Boards) as the Director representing the Lake County public schools on the state association board. She serves on the IASB’s Executive Board and On the SEDOL (Special Education District of Lake County) Executive and Governing Boards.
As the owner and President of The Vision Tree, she works with the Small Business Development Center to assisting entrepreneurs in moving to the next level and develops in-person and on-line training for small business owners. Working with small businesses and not-for-profit organizations, Joanne’s Market Drifters provides search engine optimization, web hosting and design.
Nancy Schell, Board Member: Nancy Schell joined the school board in April 2009. She is a physician specializing in psychiatry. After graduating with honors fromPecsUniversityMedicalSchool inHungary, she completed her residency at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’sMedicalCenter inChicago,Illinois as chief resident. An eight-year resident of Lake Villa, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, both of whom attend District #41 schools
January 31, 2012
