Born and raised in Barrington (Hills), Katie Karam is a mother-of-three who has devoted her time in recent years to volunteering for the Barrington 220 School District. Leadership roles on the PTO have given her valuable insight into what it takes to keep our district running at the schools level daily. With three children who will be attending three different Barrington schools this year, Katie has a vested interest in the future of our district. That’s why she has stepped up to become one on a crowded list of candidates running for four open seats on Barrington 220’s Board of Education (BOE).
The BOA has big decisions on the horizon with a brand new Superintendent of Schools, lessons to digest from the COVID-19 pandemic and management of the $147 Million voters approved to spend on school improvements, district-wide. Barry Altshuler, Leah Collister-Lazzari and Angela Wilcox will remain in their positions. Board President, Penny Kazmier and Gavin Newman are not seeking reelection. Incumbents, Sandra Ficke-Bradford and Mike Shackleton are among those who will be on the April 6th, 2021 ballot.
“My parents, Marimarie and Frank Konicek, are the best role models I could ask for. They taught by example and raised us with a love of family, community, running, and philanthropy. One of my Dad’s favorite mottos is, “No pain, no gain” and I have applied this to so many aspects of my life.
Katie says she’s running with serious concerns about learning loss and the state of our students’ mental health due to the Barrington 220’s approach to education during COVID-19. She also wants to ensure fiscal discipline and transparency about how district tax dollars are spent, among other goals. Here’s more about Katie’s background and her reasons for running.
Read the full 365 Barringtom profile here.