Who is Ian?
A father of two with a passion for education
With two decades managing businesses of various sizes, I have come to appreciate the value of a strong education system, that prepares our children for an ever-changing future. Our schools need to to prepare our children socially, emotionally, and intellectually, to compete in a global economy. Period.
My children are the 4th generation of my family to live in Roselle, and the 2nd generation to attend Medinah Schools. When my wife and I were looking for a home, we knew District 11 would provide a solid foundation for our kids’ development, but it was during the Transwestern annexation battles in 2022 that I realized how easily Medinah could be overrun by special interests.
I am the only member of my family who works outside of education. My mother is a school nurse. My father works at Loyola University Medical Center. Both of my siblings are teachers. My grandma was a secretary at Lake Park High School for 25 years. I am running to serve our children and our community.
In addition to District 11 responsibilities, I represent The District on the board of the Northern Dupage Special Education Cooperative, a band of 8 school districts who pool resources for students with special needs. Beyond my “day job”, I also give time to entrepreneurs and college students in the food industry.
About Medinah School District #11
Our district is truly best in class, and it’s important to keep it that way
Our schools are performing well above state standards
In the 2024 Illinois State School Report Card, Medinah Middle School ranked #1 in Dupage County middle schools, and in the top 3% of Illinois. All three of our schools have received the state’s highest “exemplary” rating in the last 5 years, and in this year’s report card, no student groups are underperforming.
Our finances are healthy and our tax rate is lower than our neighbors
We carry a responsible amount of debt, with reserves for capital projects, even with the newly-instituted full-day kindergarten, and a best-in-class Preschool For All program, both of which help working parents and our children. Our district’s financial health has been recognized by the Illinois Association of School Boards, and we came to an agreement with our teacher’s union ahead of our contract expiration to make our district’s pay more competitive at a time of unprecedented teacher shortages.
We are approaching record enrollment
The above factors have attracted new families, and we have seen an influx of diverse student needs, including over 25 different languages. We are privileged to have a small, tight-knit, community-driven school district.