About A Volunteer You Should Know
John is a life-long educator and has a doctorate in education. He has been a classroom teacher, dean of students, and assistant principal at York High School. He also served as a curriculum director for the Wheaton Warrenville school district, was on staff at the Regional Office of Education, and after “retiring” taught education classes at Elmhurst College where he continues to supervise student teachers.
John is a past board member and secretary of NAMI DuPage. He currently serves NAMI as a speaker at our Good Sam hospital programs, helps with fundraisers, and coordinated the time capsule for our 25th anniversary celebration.
Another significant impact John has had is with our school programs. John and Pat Doyle, our education director, began work about five years ago on bringing information about mental illness in school age children to professional educators around the county. In presenting Parents and Teachers as Allies (a NAMI National signature program) at school in-service presentations, PTA’s and college classes, John gains immediate credibility with his vast professional background. It is very common at these presentations to have John’s former students, now educators themselves, approach John from the audience and thank him for the positive difference he made in their lives.
John also is an In Our Own Voice presenter. Having been diagnosed with a mental illness as an adult, John shares his story so that as many people as possible can learn that treatment works! He tells others what a great family and career he has had and that there is hope of living well with mental illness.
John and his wife of over 43 years, Susan, live in Lombard where they are enjoying retirement, and, most importantly, spending time with their six-year old granddaughter Abbie – child of their son Michael. Other personal interests include walking and exercising, reading and continuing to learn!
Thank you John, for the contributions you have made to so many lives.