I have lived nearly my entire life in the northern suburbs of Chicago. I grew up in Northbrook, where I attended Glenbrook North High School and moved to Palatine 25 years ago after graduating from Illinois State University and working in the Normal area. I am proud to be a fourth generation Illinois State school teacher after my family exited the coal mining business. Partly because of my fascination with my family’s involvement in the military, I became an American History teacher. I have also taught Physical Education and Health while holding many other jobs in my near 30 year career in public education.
I live in this great town with my wife of over 20 years and my three children – two in high school and one in middle school. We also had a daughter who passed away of a rare disease and the lessons she taught us help guide who I am as a person. Over the years I have earned a Master’s degree from National Louis University in Administration and completed a Doctoral program in Leadership from Northern Illinois University. Coaching has been a passion of mine and while I have coached many seasons at the high school and middle school, I spent most of my time here in Palatine with youth baseball, basketball, soccer and football.
My amazingly strong wife who also teaches elementary school continues to battle metastatic breast cancer and her battles help shape us as a family as well. We value education, sport, health care and giving back whenever possible as we are incredibly grateful for the health we currently have and the help we have received over the years. Life is good. When not working you can usually find me outside somewhere, if not at a sporting event – on a bike path, pickleball court, or lake.
I sincerely look forward to working for and with the people of Palatine Township.