Board of Education Members:
Louise Dechovitz (Vice President)
I have been a resident of Wilmette since 2010. I grew up in the area and am a graduate of New Trier. I then attended Lawrence University and have a BA in Slavic Linguistics and Literature. Following graduation, I spent the next 9 years living and working abroad, in Russia, France and England. I pursued a career in Expatriate Tax and worked for Deloitte Tax LLP in Paris, London and Chicago. I have two children in the Avoca School District. I have volunteered in many capacities in District 37 including PTC Director of Volunteers, PTC committee chairperson for spirit wear, member of numerous PTC committees and co-founder of the Avoca Different Learners group which serves as a forum for parents of children with special needs and other learning differences to connect with each other. I strongly believe that you cannot educate a child’s mind without also educating the heart.
Term: 2019-2023
E-mail: dechovitzl@avoca37.org
Dr. Sumit Dhar (Member)
Along with my wife, Julia and two daughters (’06 and ’10), we have been residents in the school district since 2012. I am a scientist by training and an educator by profession. Currently, I am the Hugh Knowles Professor of Hearing Science at Northwestern University and the Chair of the Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Over the years, I have had various fiscal and organizational responsibilities at the university as well. I hope to bring these experiences to serve the D37 School Board and the Avoca Community in general.
Term: 2019-2023
E-mail: dhars@avoca37.org
Dan E. Garbis (Member)
My family and I have lived in the Avoca District for the past fourteen years. With four children in the school district ranging from second to ninth grade, I have experienced the entire span of District 37. I received my bachelors from DePaul in accounting and passed the CPA exam. I then proceeded to go to DePaul Law School and graduated with highest honors. After graduating law school, I have worked as an accountant for a then big-six accounting firm, before moving on to corporate restructuring law at a top international law firm. I am currently a co-owner of the Garbis Law Firm and specialize in civil and criminal litigation. I also volunteer in the community. I am an usher at my church, and often coach various church and park district sports teams.
Term: 2017-2021
E-mail: garbisd@avoca37.org
Gil Gibori (Member)
Profile available upon request.
Term: 2017-2021
E-mail: giborig@avoca37.org
Dr. Gretchen Witte Glader (Member)
I have lived in the Avoca School District for 9 years. I have one son who is 30 who attended New Trier.. I am a psychotherapist and a retired school social worker. My Ph.D. is from Loyola University. I work with couples, adults, teens, families, and children and my clinical interests include children who have difficulty because of their "giftedness”.
In my career I have also been interested and active in education, I’ve taught at the pre-school level and at the university level, tutored for elementary and middle school gifted kids, and have worked as a social worker in schools at levels from pre-primary through high school.
I am thrilled to be on the school board because I feel it’s a responsibility of community members to be useful to that community in the best way they can, using the skill sets they have.
Term: 2019-2023
E-Mail: gladerg@avoca37.org
Jamie Taylor (Member)
My husband, Rob, and I have lived in Winnetka with our three children for the past 11 years. I am currently a stay-at-home mom and dedicated volunteer. I have achieved meaningful relationships with administration, teachers and parents due to my nine years of volunteer service to District 37. I also serve as Vice President of the Woodley Road Garden Club and previously served on the Board of the Chicago Dancing Festival and as Treasurer of Northfield Community Nursery School.
I graduated with a degree in Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley (1992 – 1995) and then returned to graduate school to earn an MBA from the University of Chicago (2000 – 2002). I started my career at LaSalle Bank where I worked for its loan syndications group. I was responsible for structuring the bank’s largest loans and selling off segments to other financial institutions (1995 – 2001). Later I joined Pekin Singer Strauss Asset Management as an equity analyst and portfolio manager (2001 – 2007).
My priority is to sustain the District’s reputation for academic excellence while safeguarding its financial security. I will work with other Board members and district administration to carry out the Mission, Vision and Values identified within the 2016 Strategic Plan. I believe my educational background and finance skills provide me with the tools to address the District’s aging facilities and navigate expected budgetary shortfalls and financing issues.
Term: 2017-2021
E-Mail: taylorj@avoca37.org
Rick Zelinsky (President)
My wife, Faith, and I are Northfield residents for the past eighteen years and are parents of two boys, whom both attended Avoca from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. I am a technology professional by trade and, for the past three decades, have been fascinated by the unprecedented growth in availability, adoption and advancement of technology. I have been on the Avoca District 37 School Board for the past eight years, currently as the Board President and as Board Vice President from 2015-2017. I have had the pleasure to serve the Board as both a parent and, more recently, a general community member. My initial involvement with District 37 began in 2003 as a parent representative for the District Technology Committee. As a cross-functional team, we established the original long-term technology plan for the district, involving one of the most progressive initiatives (1:1 student-to-laptop) in district history. My three priorities for the board are: providing oversight and support of the recently created strategic plan, enhancing communication and “connectedness” with both parent and non-parent communities, and maintaining fiscal discipline including addressing the long-term plan for Avoca Center. It has been an honor to give back to the Avoca community through my Board work, and I look forward to continuing to share my passion for technology and focus on students while ensuring the best use of our taxpayers’ resources.
Term: 2017-2021
E-mail: zelinskr@avoca37.org