Lake County Gazette

The Lake Bluff School District 65 Board of Education has three positions open with four candidates running.

Laine Bennett

Laine Bennett is a challenger. She is running for a seat on the board to continue her active present interest in the district's two schools.

According to her, she is a Lake Bluff community member since 2011 with three children in the district.

"I would like to continue my role on the school board with a willingness to listen thoughtfully to others while respecting the entire community’s opinions and concerns,” Bennett’s Q&A on the Vote Lake Bluff website reads.

She stated that her passion for education started as a Chicago Public high school teacher in 2001.

"I had firsthand experience with high-risk students. I am grateful for having been given the opportunity to instruct a diverse group of students as it opened my eyes to the disparity among schools within Illinois," she further stated.

"Since moving to Lake Bluff in 2011, I have volunteered in numerous activities and events at LBES and LBMS including room parent, recycle/compost, book fair, field trip chaperon, LBMS play volunteer, LFD115/LB65 Portrait of a Graduate Design Team, Paws for Patrick (Mental Health Awareness non-profit) Lake Bluff liaison, Reading Power tutor at Oakdale Elementary School in Waukegan and most recently as an Election Judge for Lake County 2022.”

Anne Hill

Anne Hill is an incumbent member of the Lake Bluff School District 65 board. 

“I have held this seat since April 2019. I enjoy the work. I feel passionate about our schools & students and would like to continue to do my part to give back to our wonderful community by continuing to serve on the D65 Board of Ed. We are just about to go into Strategic Planning again and I would like to be around to see that through and help design the roadmap our District will take in the next 5 years (with a lot of input from the staff, administration & the community of course!)” Hill said in a candidate interview. “Since moving to Lake Bluff in 2013, I have been heavily involved in the schools. I held various positions on the Lake Bluff PTO culminating in my role as LB PTO President from 2017-2019. 

Hill said it led her to run for the Board of Education. She was elected in April 2019 and served on the BOE since. 

"I am a mom to 3 kids, 2 of whom are still in District 65 schools," Hill added "I also hold a JD from John Marshall Law School where I graduated cum laude in 2001.”

Laura Breakstone 

Laura Breakstone has lived in Lake Bluff for a decade where she lives with her husband and has two sons in the Lake Bluff schools.

"She was raised in Wilmette and attended the University of Michigan, where she received a BA in Industrial Psychology,” Breakstone’s bio on the Vote Lake Bluff website reads.

The bio also stated that Breakstone has spent nearly 25 years in human resources, recruiting, and administration and she believes her skills will be an additional strength to the board.

"She has served as an Election Day Judge and a Board Advisor. She is looking forward to working with the Board and administration to tackle critical issues facing the Lake Bluff schools.”

 

Andy Duran 

Andy Duran is the current board president.

According to him, "The number one qualification of being a productive member of the Board of Education is having already done it." 

He is proud to say that he has "done it in a very tumultuous time to do it." 

"Couple that experience with my unique background and skillset, and I am the person you want on this board for the next four years,” Duran said.

“I am a professional, organized, detailed, and polished leader who has been asked to facilitate meetings and events all over the country - from small groups in small towns, to large assemblies at the U.S. Capitol, and everything in between. I routinely speak in front of hundreds of people and am in my comfort zone in a room full of change-makers with an agenda in hand. I believe everyone has value, and I strive to build consensus as a compassionate listener and authentic collaborator,” he added.