Dupage Policy Journal

The Maercker School District 60 has three positions open and four candidates.

Lisa Bishop 

Lisa Bishop is a candidate for Maercker School District 60.

She was previously a board member for 17 years during which time she served as Board President and vice president and oversaw the hiring of three superintendents. She is a business owner and youth leader.

“I have lived in District 60 nearly all my life. I grew up in Golfview Hills and have lived on Western Avenue for over 25 years," Bishop stated on her campaign website. "I attended Holmes, Maercker, and Westview and am a proud graduate of both D60 and D86, as are both my children." 

BishopI obtained her degree in Food Science/Food & Nutrition from Iowa State University and has established her own business. She still makes herself productive even outside work.

"I am an entrepreneur, running a successful food styling business for over 34 years and more recently a real estate investment company," she said. "My father served on the D60 board for 13 years, so the apple doesn't fall too far... When not working or volunteering, you might find me traveling, taking a jog through the neighborhood or fixing, painting, or chainsawing something!”

 

Michael A. Jones, Jr. 

Michael A. Jones, Jr. is an incumbent running on a slate with Priya V. Linson and Robert Schaefer.

“Michael A. Jones is a highly skilled engineer with over 16 years of experience in nuclear reactor inspection and event response for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission," the slate campaign website reads. 

"He is also a dedicated public servant, currently serving as a Maercker School District 60 school board member, and serves on the policy committee," the website noted of Jones, Jr. "In his role on the school board, Michael has been instrumental in the progress of the district and in improving educational equity in the district. He has worked to create foundational policies that will better the future of the district for all students.” 

He looks forward to continuing working with the board and the administration "to build on the progress that has been made, and ensure that the district meets and serves all students where they are, helping them to become the best learners they can be."

“Since joining the school board, the district has made great strides in improving the educational experience for all students," the website further reads. "Alongside his public service, he is also the Chief Operating Officer of Ava's Pet Palace, a business created by his 15-year-old daughter, a graduate from the Maercker School District.”

Priya V. Linson 

Priya V. Linson, also an incumbent, works with a non-profit with Chicago Public Schools.

Linson holds a bachelor’s degree in Child Development from Tufts University and a master’s degree in Teaching from Teachers College at Columbia University and a Master;’s of Public Policy from Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University.  

"Priya is the Executive Director of OneGoal-Chicago – a coalition of teachers, students, school leaders, and education advocates working to close the degree divide and ensure all young people can achieve their post-secondary dreams," her bio states on the slate’s website. 

She lives in Willowbrook, IL with her husband, Josh, and her two children, Navin and Anya. 

As the Executive Director of OneGoal-Chicago, Linson is responsible for the overall operations of its largest region serving students from Chicago Public Schools. She leads the Chicago Leadership Team, generating revenues for the operations of the region, and where she also "ensures strong communication between the regional office and the organization broadly.  

"She moved into this role after serving 7 years in leadership roles with OneGoal,” the website noted.

“Prior to joining OneGoal in 2013, Priya started her career as a New York City Public School teacher, teaching high school at The Bronx Guild in the South Bronx," the website further stated. 

"She then spent several years in Pittsburgh, where she served as the principal of South Hills Academy, an alternative-learning school that is part of the Communities In Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County affiliate. During this time, Priya also taught as an adjunct professor of quantitative analysis at Carnegie Mellon Heinz College."  

After her time in Pittsburgh, Linson moved to Boston, MA, where "she served in program leadership positions at both Stand for Children-Massachusetts and Education Pioneers-Boston, during a time of great growth for both organizations.”

Robert Schaefer 

Robert Schaefer is a candidate for the District 60 school board.

He is leveraging "knowledge and experience along with his passion for ensuring open communication and collaboration between the district and the community." 

Schaefer is currently an employee benefits consultant at USI Insurance company. 

"As a proud alumnus of Purdue University, he served as the secretary and treasurer of the Chicago chapter of the Purdue Alumni Association," the slate’s website reads. "In this position, he organized and operated a variety of charity events to give back to the community and brought Boilermakers throughout the greater Chicago area together in the name of philanthropy and service. He holds a B.S. in Consumer and Family Sciences along with a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.” 

Schaefer, together with his wife and four young children, resides in Westmont. 

"With two children already attending school in the Maercker district and two more not far behind, he is committed to ensuring our district provides quality education to all of the students in our community," the website further reads. "In his position as an employee benefits consultant over the past decade, Robert has provided broker services to multiple school districts across the region. He is intimately experienced working with the district business offices and school administrators.