At their meeting on June 19, the Board of Education warmly welcomed and seated a newly appointed member–Kildeer Countryside Community Consolidated School District 96 parent Dina Manka. Ms. Manka takes the seat of Board Member Elizabeth Dietz, who resigned in May after more than seven years serving KCSD96 students, teachers, and the community.
Ms. Manka will complete Ms. Dietz’s elected term and her Board seat will be up for election in April 2019.
In her new role, Ms. Manka brings significant relevant professional skills, as well as a parent’s lens. A resident of Buffalo Grove and Kildeer for almost 30 years, she holds a BS in accounting from Northern Illinois University and in 2001 earned her MBA from DePaul University.
Both professionally and in her community, she is committed to building and supporting young and adult leaders. Consistent with those objectives, she has volunteered through Junior Achievement and District 96 school PTOs and is active in her church.
Likewise, Ms. Manka’s personal background gives her a valued perspective as she serves our increasingly diverse school community. An immigrant from the former Soviet Union, she and her family arrived in the United States in 1980. She became a citizen in 1985. Last spring, she eagerly accepted her KCSD96 principal’s invitation to participate in the Community Focus evening discussion of District values, examining how they are understood currently by different cultures comprising today’s District demographics. She sees welcoming diversity and promoting opportunities for meaningful connections as beneficial and important work.
Dina and her husband Mark have sons entering 9th grade and 7th grade; Matthew is enrolled at Stevenson High School and Luke at Woodlawn Middle School.
Board President Marc Tepper notes, “The District 96 Board is pleased, indeed, to welcome Dina to our table. She brings an informed, compassionate perspective of our District community today and inspiring commitment to equipping our students and staff to meet 21st-century challenges and embrace opportunities. We look forward to working together.”