Board Of Education Biographies

Jackie Romberg, President

Current committee assignments: Discipline/Co-Curricular Committee, Finance Advisory Committee

Adopt-A-School assignments: Naperville Central High School, Meadow Glens Elementary School, Kingsley Elementary School, and Ann Reid Early Childhood Center

First appointed: 2007

First elected: 2009

Current term expires: 2017

Number of terms served and when: appointed in 2007 to fill 2-year vacancy; currently serving second elected term

Relevant degrees/life experience/previous volunteer activities: B.S. Accounting, DePaul University; Certified Public Accountant; Naperville Education Foundation Trustee; Loaves and Fishes Community Advisory Council; President Washington Junior High Home & School; Home & School Boards at Prairie Elementary, Washington Junior High and Naperville North High School; SFCP District Core Team; Washington and Prairie SFCP chairperson; Recipient of SFCP Best Practices for Washington; Washington Building Improvement Team; Superintendent Advisory Board; Community Partnership for Education; Committee for the 21st Century; Park District Swim Conference judge; Park District Liaison for Soccer; Volunteer Independence Village; Century Hill Homeowners' Board; Woods of Bailey Hobson Homeowners' Board; District 203's Those Who Excel award recipient.

Parent of District 203 students: Two graduates of Naperville North High School who had been in the district since kindergarten attending Prairie and Washington Junior High School.

Educational philosophy: Each student should have an opportunity to develop their own unique potential, through access to a quality educational program and a supportive learning environment. Technology has significantly impacted the world's body of knowledge, which is growing at an exponential rate.  I want to ensure that our students remain competitive and thus prepared for the rigors of our global society. I believe this can be accomplished through appropriate funding, combined with fiscal responsibility, excellent teachers and administration, adequate infrastructure, and strong community support.

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Terry Fielden, Vice President

Current committee assignments: Chamber of Commerce Liaison, Business/Education/Community Partnership  

Adopt-A-School assignments: Naperville North High School, Maplebrook Elementary School, Scott Elementary School

First elected: 2007

Current term expires: 2015

Number of terms served and when: second term

Profession/day job: Director of K - 12 Education, International Contractors, Inc., LEED® AP BD+C 

Relevant Degrees/Experience/Volunteer Activities:  Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Purdue University: Immense amount of experience with school construction as well as working with School Boards; Understanding of budgets, expenditures, and risks; Sunday School Teacher for four years; Treasurer for Cub Scout Den; Chair Facilities Committee District 203; past Associate Member Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO), Naperville Soccer Coach for three seasons; Farmstead Pool Board Member for two years.

Parent of District 203 students: Yes, one elementary, one junior high school, one high school.

Educational Philosophy: Reading and math are the basic fundamentals that need to be mastered for success in any career choice. Encourage your children to read and apply math to everyday life activities.  Reading skills will enable your child to excel in District 203 and in their lives.  They will then learn to be seekers of knowledge and grow to care for the education of others.

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Susan Crotty

Current committee assignments: Naperville Education Foundation

Adopt-A-School assignments: Washington Junior High School, Beebe Elementary School, and Naper Elementary School

First elected: 2005 

Current term expires: 2017

Number of terms served and when: currently in third term; first term 2005-2009 (Serving as Vice President 2007-2009); second term 2009-2013.

Profession/day job: Senior Account Executive, Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce

Relevant degrees/experience:  Michigan State University with a B.A. in Advertising and Marketing; Master Board of Education/Open Meetings Act Certification Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB); Winner of 2012 Daily Herald Business Ledger’s “Influential Women In Business” award; Dedicated member of Representative Darlene Senger’s Educational Advisory Committee; Contributor to The DuPage Regional Office Education’s Bullying Task Force; Delegate at Illinois Associations of School Boards Convention; Executive Member of the Business Partnership Executive Council creating sustainable business/ community partnerships; Serving actively on Board’s Facilities Committee ($114.9 million dollars in upgrades to our schools) – LEED Certification on Ann Reid Early Childhood Center; Diversity Committee Inaugural Commission; “Born to Read” dedicated to early literacy – grant writing and facilitated writing long term strategic plans, goals and updated mission statement and expanded program to include Spanish; Winner of “Those Who Excel” Jeanine Nicarico Memorial Fund for Literacy; Scott Home & School Board 2000-07; Naperville Jaycees Holiday Food Basket Volunteer 1998-2007; Cub Scout/Boy Scout volunteer 2002-07; Loretto Convent Volunteer for fundraising activities 1993-2007; Swim Team Social Co-Chair 2004-2006; Chicago Advertising Federation Volunteer for the Off the Street Club 1990-94

Parent of District 203 students: Yes, two in high school and one now in college.

Educational philosophy: My goal is to focus on continued student achievement and implementing policies ensuring success for all students by being an advocate at the local, state and national levels for our public schools.

"The foundation of every state is the education of its youth." - Diogenes

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Kristin Fitzgerald

First elected: 2013

Current term expires: 2017

Number of terms served and when: first term

Profession/day job: Policy Consultant and Community Volunteer

Relevant degrees/life experience/previous volunteer activities: Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Taylor University; Education Policy Advisor to U.S. Representatives Harris Fawell and Judy Biggert in the U.S. Congress; Health and Pension Policy Specialist for the U.S. House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee; Awarded District 203's "Those Who Excel" Award; Committee Chair Mill Street Home and School Association, Co-Chair Mill Street School Family Community Partnership, Member Mill Street School Improvement Team, Co-Writer Family Literacy in Math Grant - Awarded Naperville Education Foundation and Jeanine Nicarico Grants; Classroom Volunteer; Room Parent; Naperville Park District Soccer Coach; St. Raphael Religious Education Teacher; Corporate Advisory Board Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer, Member of National Cancer Institute's Cancer Genome Atlas Stomach Disease Working Group

Parent of District 203 students: Yes, three elementary school students at Mill Street Elementary.

Educational philosophy: I believe the education of our children is one of the most important tasks we have as a community. We must work to ensure academic excellence and opportunity for all students in District 203, challenging each student to reach their full potential and working to close the academic achievement gap. As a community we must work collaboratively to set academic and financial priorities for our students and our school district to ensure our long-term academic and financial success.

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Mike Jaensch

Current committee assignments: Diversity Committee

Adopt-A-School assignments: Lincoln Junior High School, Jefferson Junior High School, and Steeple Run Elementary School

First elected: 2007

Current term expires: 2015

Number of terms served and when:  second term

Profession/day job: Airline Pilot, Adjunct Professor at Lewis University

Relevant degrees/life experience/volunteer activities:  BS Aeronautical Engineering, US Air Force Academy; Masters in Aviation Sciences, Embry-Riddle University; President Madison Home & School; Member District 203 SFCP Core Team; Member District 203 Finance and Facilities Committee; Member 203 Elementary Foreign Language Committee; Chairman of Madison SFCP; NCHS Swim Team Board; Park District swim conference representative; Park District Swim Conference judge; youth soccer coach and referee.

Parent of District 203 Students: A 2009 alumna and a 2010 alumnus of Naperville Central, both of whom attended Scott Elementary and Madison Junior High.

Educational philosophy: I believe the single most important thing we can do for our children and our society is provide our youth with the best education we can. Not only will that enable our younger generations to be successful in society, but by helping create an educated and responsible youth, we help ensure a thriving and successful society for everyone.

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Suzyn Price

Current committee assignments: School/Family/Community Partnership, Home and School Representative, Policy Committee

Adopt-A-School assignments: Mill Street Elementary School, River Woods Elementary School, and Elmwood Elementary School 

First elected: 2003

Current term expires: 2015

Number of terms served and when: currently in third term; first term 2003-2007

Relevant degrees/life experience/previous volunteer activities: B.A., English Literature, 1989; M.A. American History, 1990, Southern Illinois University. Member of: Naperville Education Foundation, Naperville League of Women Voters, Saybrook Garden Club (President), Community Partnership for Education

Parent of District 203 students: Yes, eldest Naperville North High School graduate in 2013, youngest is a sophomore at NNHS 2013 - 14. 

Educational philosophy: Quality schools are a hallmark of a quality community. What makes our schools excellent is the children, parents, teachers, volunteers and business partners who remain focused on one thing: helping our children reach their full potential.

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 Donna Wandke

First elected: 2013

Current term expires: 2017

Number of terms served and when: first term

Profession/day job: Youth Ministry Leader and Community Volunteer

Relevant degrees/life experience/volunteer activities: Master of Education with a concentration in administration and supervision from National-Louis University; Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Athletic Training from Elmhurst College; Mathematics Teacher at Naperville North High School, 1992-2000; Education Teacher at North Central College, 1999-2000, Instructor for Mathematics Methods for Elementary School Teachers; Distinguished Educator Nominations; Standard-Bearer School District Process Assessment Design Team Member; K-12 Mathematics Curriculum Committee; Staff Development Leader for technology; Statistical Analysis of IGAP scores; School Improvement Interdisciplinary Design Team; Transportation Cost Analysis for District 203; Curriculum and assessment development; “Those Who Excel” Community Award; Chaired and/or participated in eight Home & School Committees; Initiated and developed Chess Program at Scott School; Initiated and developed Curriculum Connections at Scott School; Committee Chair Boy Scout Troop; Silver Acorn Award in Scouting; Mathematics Tutor; Den Leader Cub Scout Pack and Hiking Club Chair; President of Preschool Parent Board and Advisory Board Member; Award for outstanding contributor to Preschool.

Parent of District 203 Students: Yes, I have three sons that attended Scott Elementary; they are currently attending Steeple Run Elementary, Madison Junior High and Naperville Central High School.

Educational philosophy: Every student is capable of learning and progressing to reach goals that enable  them to succeed as they become adults. Our goal as a district should be to provide students with the opportunities, experiences, resources, and support that are necessary for them to reach their goals. This is done in an environment that is caring and nurturing, meeting not only the academic needs of the student but providing opportunities for social and emotional growth. To prepare them to be life-long learners, we should encourage students to question the world around them and to seek answers. The most learning occurs when we are given a safe environment to step out of our box and expand our comfort zone to allow for growth. All of this is made possible through the responsible use of resources from our school district, highly-qualified professionals working with our students, and parents and community members contributing to the school system. A community that values education instills the value of learning in its youth. The education of our youth is our future.

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