Neal Ormond, President

First Elected:  Appointed 1995; Elected 1997

Current Term Expires:  2013

Number of terms served and when:  Five ; 1996 – 1997, 1997 – 2001, 2001 – 2005, 2005 – 2009, 2009 - 2013.

Profession:   Retired business executive.   Vice President of the Quaker Oats Company and for nearly 20 years Vice President, Human Resources of  W.W. Grainger, Inc. 

Degrees/life experience/volunteer activities:  West Aurora High School, class of 1958.  Bachelor of Science degree, Yale University, 1962.  Master of Business Administration degree, Stanford University, 1964.  John Marshall Law School.  Radio and television sportscasting for more than 40 years.  Since 1964 have served as "Voice of the Blackhawks" on local stations, broadcasting more than 1500 of West's football and basketball games. Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley - Vice Chairman, member of Executive Committee and Scholarship Committee chairman; West Aurora Sports Boosters - Co-founder and board member since the group's inception in 1970; A+ Foundation for West Aurora Schools - Co-founder and board member; Volunteer coach at West High since 1995 in five varsity girls and boys' sports over a span of 39 different seasons.

Parent of District 129 students:  Three West Aurora High School graduates: Neal Alan - class of 1997; Laurel - class of 2000; Chrissy - class of 2002.

Allyson Herget, Vice President

First Elected:  April, 1999

Current Term Expires:  2011

Number of terms served and when:  Three; 1999-2003, 2003-2007, 2007-2011.  Chairman, Academic Support & Human Resources Committee, 2003-2005.  Current Vice-President of the School Board.

Profession:  Student Teacher Supervisor – Illinois State University, Dept. of Languages, Literatures and Cultures.

Degrees/life experience/volunteer activities:  West Aurora High School, class of 1968. B.A., elementary education and Spanish, Bradley University.  M.A.T., Aurora University. Additional course work taken at I.T.E.S.O. (Instituto Technológico de Guadalajara, México). Seventeen years classroom teaching – elementary/secondary/ community college.  Charter member of the Foundation for West Aurora Schools. Past President, West Aurora P.T.A. Council.  Best in the West Award recipient.  Active member of the Child Welfare Society of Aurora.

Parent of District 129 students:  Two West Aurora High School graduates:  Robert B. – class of 2000 and Theresa - class of 2002. Husband, Tom Herget, class of 1968.

Mark Bradford

First Elected:  April, 2009

Current Term Expires:  2013

Number of terms served and when:  First Term; 2009 - 2013.

Profession:  Client Relationship Manager at Investortools, Inc.

Degrees/life experience/volunteer activities:  AMT from Lewis University.  Ten years building and strengthening client relationships with Fortune 500 companies in the municipal and public finance sector.  Coordinated local Katrina relief efforts with multiple organizations in Illinois and Louisiana. Supporter / fund-raiser for Cornerstone Mentoring program, Life Water International and The Well.  Six years coaching youth soccer for Fox Valley Park District.  Member of Freeman PTA since 2004.   

Parent of District 129 students:  A son at Washington Middle School and three sons at Freeman Elementary School.

Maricela Perez

First Elected:  Appointed 2009

Current Term Expires: 2011

Number of terms served and when:  First Term; 2009 – 2011.

Profession:  A family nurse practitioner at Aunt Martha’s Healthcare Network in Aurora.

Degrees/life experience/volunteer activities:  Master’s degree in Nursing; Family Nurse Practitioner from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Aurora University. Kane County Health Department’s Hidden Hero Award in 2007. Nominated for YWCA Distinguished Women of the Year and selected as employee of the month at Edward Hospital. Our Lady of Good Counsel Church Health Ministry volunteer and volunteer of Network of Strength (previously known as Y-Me) as a breast cancer support group facilitator at Rush Copley Medical Center.

Parent of District 129 students:  A son at West Aurora High School and a son at Washington Middle School.

Angie Smith

First Elected:  April, 2007

Current Term Expires: 2011

Number of terms served and when:  First Term; 2007 – 2011.

Profession:   Finance Manager, Oswego School District 308.

Degrees/life experience/volunteer activities:  Bachelor of Science Degree from Northern Illinois University in Finance.  Past president of Prestbury Citizens Association; Best in the West Award Recipient; Past Vice President of Fearn PTA; Brownies Leader; Member of Fearn PTA since 2000 and Herget PTO since 2005.

Parent of District 129 students:  A daughter at West Aurora High School, a daughter at Herget Middle School and a son at Fearn Elementary School.

Jim Toynton

First Elected:  April, 2007

Current Term Expires:  2011

Number of terms served and when:  First Term; 2007 – 2011.

Profession:  Retired in 1994 from position of Elementary School Principal in Aurora West School District #129; also taught (Elementary School) for a combined total of 34 years.

Degrees/life experience/volunteer activities:  Bachelor of Science Degree University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse – 1960; Master of Education Degree University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana – 1968.  Co-owner GERT’S CUSTOM BLIND AND SHADE established in 1994.  Sold the business in 2005.  Active member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church since 1962; former Charter Board Member involved in the planning/implementation of People for Child Care; Active Charter Member of Aurora Evening Lions Club since 1978.

Parent of District 129 students:   Two West Aurora High School graduates: Kim -  class  of 1983  and  Jennifer  – class of 1988.

Jonathan Wood

First Elected:  April, 2005

Current Term Expires:  2013

Number of terms served and when:  Two; 2005 – 2009, 2009 - 2013.

Profession:   Sales and Marketing at Comcast Cable Western Division.

Relevant degrees/life experience/previous volunteer activities: Business Administration Degree from Fort Steilacoom Community College – 1978; Associate in Arts and Science Degree - 1979; Bachelor of Arts Degree from University of Washington - 1981; Board of Directors for Rockford Illinois Chamber of Commerce 2001 - 2005; Board of Directors for Hunger Connection 2001 - 2005; member Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity since 1996; member of the Logan Street Baptist Church, Batavia, Illinois since 2002; associate member of Main Street Baptist Church, Aurora since 1996.

Parent of District 129 students:  A daughter at West Aurora High School, a daughter at Herget Middle School and a daughter at Fearn Elementary School.

Jazzlyn Luckett, Student Board Member

Appointed:  June, 2009

The state legislature, in 2005, passed Public Act 094-0231 allowing School Boards to appoint a student to the Board to serve in an advisory capacity.  

Luckett is the fourth student appointed to this position in School District 129. Jazzlyn has been a member of the National Honor Society, the French Honor Society, Student Council, the Principal’s Advisory Committee and Student Ambassadors.

At West Luckett also participates in drama, band, Step Team, African American Heritage Club and peer mediation.

In addition, Luckett is a Bible School volunteer and participates in her church youth ministry

Student Appointment to the School Board

Dr. James Rydland, Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Rydland began his career in 1975 as a special education teacher in North Thurston schools in Washington. He has served as an assistant principal of a middle school, principal of an elementary school, Director of Curriculum/Secondary Education, and Assistant Superintendent of the district in North Thurston.

He and his wife Jo have raised two children.

Cindi Hamilton, Secretary

Mrs. Hamilton was first appointed the secretary to the School Board in June 2008. As the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, Cindi is responsible for assisting the superintendent, cabinet and school board members. She has been employed by the district since 1997.

Cindi is married to Keith and has two daughters. One daughter is attending West Aurora High School and a daughter in college.

George Malina, Treasurer

Mr. Malina was appointed the treasurer of the School Board in May 2009.

Profession: Small Business Accountant in the Fox Valley area since 1986. Acquired a small business accounting practice in Geneva in January 1990. In July 1998 merged the Geneva practice with the Aurora headquartered professional services firm Sikich LLP. Currently the Partner-in-Charge of Small Business Accounting Services for the Firm. Past member of the Sikich LLP Executive Board. Current member of the Sikich LLP Technical Steering Committee.

Degrees/life experience/volunteer activities: West Aurora High School class of 1981 (South Campus). Philanthropy Chairman Sigma Chi Fraternity, Alpha Gamma Chapter 1983. Secretary Sigma Chi Fraternity, Alpha Gamma Chapter 1985. Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University (Columbus) 1986. Certification in Strategic Performance Management 2008.

Parent of District 129 students: Two sons at West Aurora High School.