The Education Foundation

Supporting the Students of Niles Township

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You are here: Home / About Us / Board of Directors

Board of Directors

The Education Foundation provides food assistance, including snack bars, which our students love! Ken Clinkman, board member and treasurer of The Education Foundation, and Rachel Clinkman (North ’11) sort and take inventory of snack bars before distribution to students.

We are a dedicated group of volunteers who believe in the talent, creativity and energy of our students and the contributions they make in our local communities.  We embrace the power of collaboration with people of all backgrounds.

Click board members’ names to view their profiles

Officers

David Putrus, Chair (Niles West, 1997)

Mr. Putrus is Vice President at First Bank & Trust in Skokie.

Mr. Putrus serves on the board of directors of the Skokie Lions Club, the Coalition of Asian American Communities in Skokie, the Skokie Chamber of Commerce, The Douglas Center, the North Suburban Business Development Foundation, and the Skokie North Shore Sculpture Park. He serves as Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Skokie Theatre Music Foundation.

He is involved with the Old Orchard Chapter of LeTip Commission, the Village of Skokie Temporary Zoning Commission, the Village of Skokie Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, the Skokie Caucus Party, and the Membership and Advisory Committees of the Skokie Chamber of Commerce. He also is a Member of the Skokie Festival of Cultures, the Evanston Chamber of Commerce and I.M.O.D. (Independent Merchants of Downtown Skokie).

Mr. Putrus earned a degree from Triton College and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He brings strategic planning, finance, customer service, banking, credit, commercial and small business lending skills to the board.

Matthew Robins, Vice Chair (Niles North, 1998)

Matthew Robins works for Lakeshore Recycling Systems of Morton Grove as a Municipal Coordinator, focusing his efforts on residential and commercial hauling services for various Midwest communities, including implementation periods for LRS when new services are introduced in a city, township or village. He is a 1998 Niles North graduate and earned his B. S. in Finance from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Matthew also serves on the board of the University of Colorado Alumni Association of Chicago.

Aside from enjoying public speaking and presentations, Matthew is happy to add his skills in social media marketing, alumni relations, blogging, event planning, relationship building and bookkeeping for the board.

Ken Clinkman, CIT, CECP, LSSGB, Treasurer & Secretary

Mr. Clinkman has spent over 30 years of his career in the field of telecommunications concentrating on operations and training.

He is a board member of the North American Data Communications Museum, and serves as Executive Vice President of Finance for Congregation Bene Shalom in Skokie. He served for many years on the board of the Skokie Theatre Music Foundation and continues to devote time to various community efforts.  He is also a member of the board of directors of the Klezmer Music Foundation, home of the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band.

Mr. Clinkman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Eastern Illinois University and continues to achieve industry certifications.

He brings to the board skills in strategic planning, team building and telecommunications.

Members

Jeff Burman (Niles East, 1974)


Jeff Burman, a 45-year resident of Skokie, is Vice President of Business Development for Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company (GTL) and President of VantageAmerica Solutions, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of GTL.

Mr. Burman has more than 40 years of experience in the insurance industry. During that time he has served in various roles within industry associations, including past President and Board Member of the Council for Affordable Health Insurance and the Policy Coordinating Committee of America’s Health Insurance Plan.

He is the former President of the community-based organization Neighbors United. He is currently a Commissioner on the Skokie Plan Commission and a Board Member for the Skokie Caucus Party.

He graduated from Niles East High School and the University of Illinois Chicago Circle. He holds an MBA from Loyola University with a concentration in Marketing. He brings skills in strategic planning, executive management, team building, marketing, insurance, health and life insurance and sales to his role on the Education Foundation board.

Mark Collins

Mark Collins is a professional actor, corporate narrator and spokesperson.

He is an active community organizer and spokesperson for many causes. He is a Niles Township Trustee, serves on the Community Advisory Board of Skokie Hospital, and is involved with the Niles Township Food Pantry Board as Event Emcee. He also has served on the Skokie Human Services Advisory Board.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Theater from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Ron Dornseif, Niles North Teacher

Ron Dornseif teaches at Niles North High School in the Special Education Department.

The Special Education Department provides a full continuum of placements to students who have been found eligible to receive special education services. The Department provides a supportive environment in which students with special education needs can develop academic, social, emotional, vocational and life skills. Mr. Dornsief and his fellow teachers assist each student to access a variety of learning opportunities by offering modified academic classes, support for general education classes and related services. The staff assists students in their efforts to become self-aware, self-advocating and self-directed learners.

Michael Graham, Niles West Teacher

Michael Graham has been an English Teacher in District 219 for 23 years, the first fourteen at Niles North and the last nine at Niles West. During his time in the district, Michael has served on a wide range of building-based, district-wide and community-based committees, and has been involved in a number of district initiatives aimed at improving teaching and learning in D219.

Michael is currently the Chair of Partnership Financial Credit Union (PfCU) Board of Directors; he has served on the PfCU board and its predecessor board, the Niles Township Schools Credit Union (NTSCU), for 18 years. Michael has also served on the board of Progress219 and SkoMor Soccer Club, including time on the executive boards of both organizations.

Michael received a BA in Journalism from Temple University, an MEd from The University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MA from Northeastern Illinois University.

Michael and his wife, Sally, who has also worked in D219 for more than two decades, have lived in Skokie for 13 years. Their four children will attend Niles North.

Gail Paskind, Consultant

Student Directors

Batool Salman, Niles North
Eva Shawver, Niles North
Alishba Yousaf, Niles West

Staff Liaisons

Joe Bruzzino, Niles Central Principal

April Stallworth, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Relations

April Stallworth serves as the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Relations.  She joined the District in 2021.

Samina Hussain, Staff Liaison, Community Relations Assistant

Samina Hussain is actively involved in the Niles Township Community.  She is on the Board of Education of District 67.  She is an integral part of several community collaborations, including Coming Together in Skokie & Niles Township and the Niles Township Youth Coalition.  Samina serves as the main administrative support for The Education Foundation, and is also responsible for D219 alumni relations.

ABOUT US


WHOM WE SERVE


HISTORY AND MISSION


LETTER FROM THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION CHAIR


BOARD OF DIRECTORS


 

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The Education
Foundation

7700 Gross Point Rd.
Skokie, IL 60077
847-626-3957

 

 

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