Galesburg
Public Schools
Foundation

Board of Directors

Tom Wallace:

President

Tom has been in the Galesburg area for over 26 years and joined the Board in 2002. He is currently serving his second term as President. Tom and his wife Sandy's three children all graduated from GHS and their grandchildren are currently attending district 205 schools. He is employed at Iowa Mold Tooling as Regional Sales Manager. Tom is a past-president of the IL Soybean Association and the Warren Henderson County Farm Bureau and has been active in Illinois Corn Growers and the GHS Booster Club. His support of the Foundation stems from his belief that the educational system in any community is key to the success of not only the community at large, but to the individual student too.

Connie Wessels:

Vice-President

Connie came to Galesburg in 1977 and is a graduate of Rockford Memorial School of Nursing and the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has been employed by OSF St. Mary Medical Center for nearly 30 years currently working as RN Director of Educational Resources. A member of the Board since 2000, Connie and her husband Chuck have two girls who graduated from GHS and she has always been active in their schools with the PTO's and Booster Clubs. Connie was named 2004 Progressive Women of the Year and is a Leadership Greater Galesburg graduate. She is active in her church and served as a past president of the Women's Issue Network.

Karen Z. Hawkinson:

Treasurer

One of the charter members of the Board of Directors, Karen knew it was important to raise money for schools but the need to have a body that would build good relations between the public and the school district was central thus helping education be valued the way it should be. A graduate of Knox College, Karen and her husband Carl (1966 GHS grad), have three children who have graduated from GHS. She is a Foundation past-President and Duck Chairman and currently serves as Treasurer. Karen works as the Coordinator of the Center for Global Studies Knox College and is member of the OSF St. Mary's Foundation Board. She has assisted the District in writing grants and coordinated the George Washington Gale Scholar Program for several years.

Kristi Perez:

Secretary

Kristi moved to Galesburg when she was four and has lived here most of her life. She is the oldest of six children, who along with her father and grandfather, all graduated from GHS. Graduating from Knox College she went on to teach one year at Steele Elementary School. She is currently working part-time at Mustain Lindstrom & Henson, a local law firm, which allows her the freedom to be involved in many community organizations. Kristi joined the Foundation board in 2004 and is currently serving as Secretary. She has run the Annual Duck Race telethon for several years along with helping sell ducks for her children's schools. Kristi's son attends Churchill Junior High and next year, her daughter will be attending Kindergarten at Silas Willard Elementary School. In addition to her Foundation work, she serves on the Community Preschool and Discovery Depot Children's Museum Boards. She is active in her PTO and is a member of the District #250 Strategic Planning Committee. Kristi feels giving back to the community is so very important and her foundation work lets her do just that.

Lynn Armstrong:

Lynn is an Iowa native who moved to Galesburg in 1988. She is married with two sons, one in elementary and one in middle school in District 205. Lynn joined the Board in 2005 and believes showing support and encouragement for schools, educators, and school activities is vital. As a former teacher in District 205, education is very important to her so she stays active at both schools her two children attend along with her Foundation work. Lynn has served on the PTO Board for four years and is also an active member of the Booster Club. She works as an Area Technician at the USDA, Rural Development office in Galesburg.

Nancy Berry:

Nancy was born and raised in Galesburg, graduating from GHS in 1978. She and her husband Bob, 1974 GHS grad, have two children who went through the district’s schools and graduated from GHS in 2001 and 2003. Nancy attended Carl Sandburg College and is currently employed as Mortgage Loan Officer at Midwest Bank of Western Illinois. Seeing an opportunity to help children in the community, Nancy joined the board in 2005. She also serves as a volunteer for the Elks lodge.

Denise Foote:

A charter member of the Board, joining in 1987, Denise and her husband Bruce have two children both of whom graduated from GHS. Denise is a 1973 graduate of GHS and past Treasurer of the Foundation. She joined the Foundation seeing the need in the community to raise funds for enhancements at the schools. Very active in the community, Denise is involved with various volunteer organizations such as OSF St. Mary Medical Center Auxiliary, YMCA Kid Care Station, YMCA Strong Kids Team Member, the GHS Booster Club and is a kindergarten buddy at Gale School. She is a past-president of Chapter HO PEO and a member of Mosaic Club.

Brenda Harrell:

Brenda is a GHS class of 1980 graduate and has served on the Board since 2002. She is a past Duck Race Co-Chair and works as a Pharmacy Technician at HyVee. Brenda and her husband Brad have three children currently attending District 205 schools and she has been very active in their PTO’s and Booster Clubs. Working hard on selling 'Ducks' for the Foundation's Annual Rubber Duck Race, Brenda came to realize just what the Foundation was all about and joined the Board so she could assists all students in the district get the best possible education.

Cheryl Hauslein:

Cheryl joined the board in 2002 and has served as Foundation Secretary in the past. She and her husband Peter have four children who graduated from GHS the most recent in 2005. Early on as a stay at home mom, she always kept active in her children's schools as a room mother, PTO member and Booster Club member. Cheryl has coordinated Duck Radio-thon since its inception. She has been active in her church and OSF Auxiliary projects. Cheryl is employed as an RN in her husband's ENT office

John Hawkins:

Born and raised in Galesburg, John attended District 205 schools and graduated from GHS in 1993. A 1997 graduate of the University of Illinois, John and his wife Valerie have two children, one attending Gale Elementary and one not yet in school. John is employed as Marketing Manager for Kleine Equipment, Inc., a John Deere Dealership and his wife is a first grade teacher at King Elementary School in District 205. He joined the Foundation to help in giving back to the students and faculty of Galesburg the same quality educational benefits that he received while a student in the district.

Deborah Johnston:

The Johnston family came to Galesburg in 1987 when her husband, employed by JBS United, was transferred from Macomb. Since that time, all three children have graduated from Galesburg High School. Employed by District #205 as an Instructional Aide at Steele Elementary School, Debbie holds a degree from Western Illinois University. She saw joining the Foundation as an excellent opportunity to serve the needs of students and the community. A member since 1999, Debbie is a Foundation Past-President and Duck Chairman and currently serves on the Strategic Planning Committee for District 205.

Chris Kelley:

Chris came to Galesburg in 2005 and is the store manager at Verizon Wireless. New to board in 2007, he has 3 children who will be attending District 205 schools next year. Chris is eager to donate his time and efforts to the Foundation in hopes of making a positive impact for not only his children but all students in the district. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

Kim Lakis:

Born in Iowa, Kim was raised in Monmouth, Illinois and moved to Galesburg in 1989. She graduated from Monmouth College and then worked in management for The Limited. Kim received her Masters Degree from St. Xavier University and currently teaches second grade at Nielson Elementary School. Together with her husband Steve, they have four children, two who have graduated from GHS and two attending Churchill Junior High. Kim is active in many community groups including the Galesburg Youth Cal Ripken Baseball League and also serves as an advisor to the Kappa Kappa Gamma Chapter at Monmouth College. She joined the board in 2000 with the thought that being a teacher she would be a great liaison between the schools and the Foundation board….plus she loves selling our ‘ducks’!

Douglas D. Mustain:

Doug is a 1963 graduate of GHS. He is one of the original members of the Board of Directors serving since 1987 and was a past president. Doug practices law in Galesburg with Bob Lindstrom, GHS class of 1966, who is a member of the Board of Education for District 205. Doug and his wife Shari have raised six children who have all attended school in District 205 and are GHS graduates. Doug and Shari have two grandchildren who are attending schools in the district.

Sandy Wallace:

Sandy attended Galesburg schools and graduated from GHS in 1974. She went on to the University of Illinois, graduating in 1978 and is currently working on her Masters degree in Instructional Strategies from Rockford College. Sandy has worked for District #205 since 1990 beginning as a preschool teacher at Bright Futures and then at King Elementary School as secretary. She served as Community Information Coordinator for the district for five years and is currently teaching Family & Consumer Science at the high school. Sandy and her husband Tom's three children all graduated from GHS. Seeing first hand the impact that the Foundation has on the lives of so many children in Galesburg, she joined our board in 1999. Sandy is also active in Chapter MG PEO, the Coldbrook Christian Church and is currently the GHS Class of 2008 sponsor.

Candy Webb:

Candy moved from California back to Galesburg in 1999. The mother of 3 children, two who have graduated from GHS and one who is enrolled at Lombard Jr. High, Candy is employed by Verizon Wireless as a Data Sales Consultant and manages 18 retail locations. Seeing the need for volunteer help at the Foundation, she joined the board in 2002 and has been very active in supporting our Duck Race. Candy is also active in the Knox Galesburg Symphony, The Boys & Girls Club of Knox County and is a Steward & the Treasurer of Allen A.M.E. Chapel Church.

Mark Wilson:

Mark is a native of Galesburg and a 1974 GHS graduate. He joined the Board in 1999. Mark is married with one daughter who graduated from GHS in 1999. He is a graduate of Monmouth College and is currently employed as President & CEO of the Galesburg Community & Health Foundation. In addition to his work with the Foundation, he serves as Chairman of the Endowment Committee at First Presbyterian Church and is a member of the Western Illinois Estate and Financial Planners Forum; Central Illinois Planned Giving Council and the Estate Planning Council of Central Illinois.

Staff

Patti Bibo:

Administrator

Patti, a graduate of Central Washington University, came to Galesburg in 1978. She began working at the Foundation in early 1992 serving first as Assistant Campaign Director when work was being done to raise the nearly $2 million dollars for the gym and pool at the high school and later in 2000 was named Administrator. She and her husband Mike have 2 children who graduated from GHS and Patti was active in their school and sports throughout their education serving in their PTO’s and Booster Clubs. She is an active "Reading Buddy" at Nielson Elementary School. Patti has always felt education is the keystone to our children’s success and the work the Foundation does is geared towards that achievement. As Administrator, she manages the day to day operations and is responsible for coordinating the volunteers, fundraising and bookkeeping.