Decatur Public Schools Foundation

2020-2021 Board Trustees and Professional Affiliations

Our Trustees

The Decatur Public Schools Foundation owes its existence to the foresight of our original stakeholders. They recognized that public schools across the country were facing financial challenges that would only grow more daunting. They established the Foundation and defined its mission to organize private resources in support of District 61. Reviewing the list of past Trustees reveals why our organization has been so successful. The roster includes individuals who are fully devoted to this community and who remain active participants in charting its future. We’re proud to count such individuals as friends and continual advisors.

Decatur Public Schools Foundation

Board Trustees and Professional Affiliations

Members and Officers	Role	Affiliation
Regan Deering	Chair	Educator/Community Representative
Dr. Paul Fregeau	Trustee	Decatur Public Schools - Superintendent
Nikki Garry	Vice Chair	Your Money Matters – Program Educator
Evyonne Hawkins	Trustee	Richland Community College
Kim Hurm	Trustee	ADM – Dir. Of Innovation and Commercialization
Myung Kim	Trustee	Retired – Tate & Lyle
Regan Lewis	Trustee	Kehart, Peckert, Wise, Toth & Lewis
Shondra Lynch	Trustee	VP Private Wealth Advisor – Busey Wealth Management
Dan Oakes	Trustee	Board of Education
Sue Pilling Walker	Trustee	Retired Educator – Decatur Public Schools
Chelsea Sargeant	Trustee	Caterpillar - Supply Chain Management
Kathy Thompson	Secretary	Retired – Decatur Public Schools
John Weber	Treasurer	Wells Fargo Advisors
Zach Shields	Executive Director	Decatur Public Schools Foundation

New Trustees are nominated, evaluated and approved for admission by current Board members, with input from active prior members and founding directors. Trustees are elected to three-year terms which can be renewed once, for a total service tenure of six years.

New Trustees are nominated, evaluated and approved for admission by current Board members, with input from active prior members and founding directors. Trustees are elected to three-year terms, which can be renewed once, for a total service tenure of six years.

“The importance of a public school education cannot be overstated. I believe a public education provides our young citizens with a sound academic foundation, an exposure to diversity, lifelong friends, and perhaps most importantly in these times, the ability to think clearly and independently. It is for these reasons that I am pleased to serve on the Foundation board.” – Judge Tom Little

Past Foundation Trustees

In chronological order of service

Peggy Madden, Jeff Black, John Cobb, Adele Glenn, Jane Johnson, Kim Leftwich, Bill Oliver, Dr. Bill Requarth, Bob Smith, Tom Swartz, Dr. Ken Arndt, Jackie Goetter, Monica Hawkins, Pat Laegeler, Cindy Neff, Chris Olsen, John Hedges, Helen Miller, Mac McPherson, Keith Casteel, Craig Huss, Duane Noland, Marilyn Davis, Ruth Cortright, Gary Likins, Gary McElfresh, Richard Demirjian, Alida Graham, Wole Adeoye, John Funk, Mike Gibson, Jan Mandernach, Lisa Holder White, Gloria J. Davis, Janis Kirby, Dave Butts, Jason Small, Lucy Smith, Tom Binder, Jim Forrester, Wendy Morthland, Brian Byers, T.J. Jackson, Jan Kelsheimer, Ron Pulera, Dan Winter, Tiffany Lukis, Stephen Pyle, Val Talley, Shirley Kistler, Dave Weber, Larry Altenbaumer, Shelith Hansbro, Daetta Jones, Brian Hodges, Lisa Taylor, Ryan McCrady, Sherri Perkins, Dr. Todd Werpy, Amy Chronister Ridley, Judge Tom Little, Michael Allen