Lisa Kane

Candidate for Glenbrook High School D225 School Board

Like you, I wear a lot of different hats: high school counselor and teacher, Ethan and Leo’s mom, Larry’s wife, Cub Scout and Boy Scout volunteer leader, and cheering squad at Glenbrook fencing tournaments, Attea choir and theater performances, flag football games, and more. Following the April 1 municipal election, I hope to wear one more hat: Glenbrook High School District 225 School Board member. 

Education and Work Experience

I grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and I knew at a very young age that I wanted to be a teacher. I earned my Bachelor's Degree in English and my Master's Degree in English Education from Rutgers University.  I graduated number one in my class and earned the NJ Commissioner's Distinguished Teacher Candidate Award for being one of the top 15 students teachers in the state of New Jersey.

I met my husband Larry and moved with him to Connecticut where I began my career as an English teacher at Norwich Free Academy. My teaching practice was grounded in my firm belief in the transformative power of education.

When Larry finished his time in the Navy we moved back to his home state of Illinois.  I thought I would try out a job that didn't involve the intensity of lesson planning and grading every night, and I took a position coordinating education programs for nurses at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. I very quickly realized that while I liked having my nights and weekends free, I liked working with students even more. I decided to shift from teaching to counseling, and I earned my Master's Degree in School Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University.

After staying home with our sons, Ethan and Leo, for several years, I began my career at CICS Northtown Academy as an English teacher and then as a school counselor.  

Counseling is, without a doubt, my dream job. There's simply nothing more gratifying than watching students learn, grow, and reach goals they never dreamed possible. When I meet with students for the first time, I tell them, "I'm your counselor. That means I am your go-to person. I am your advocate, your biggest fan, and your cheerleader. If you have questions, I have answers. From this moment forward your goals are now my goals, and we will work together for 4 years until we reach them." 

Throughout my career, I have served on numerous leadership committees to help write the Grading Policy, Attendance Policy, and Discipline Policy & Code of Conduct. I also served on the Restorative Justice Committee and Sanctuary Schools Team.

If asked, I often say: I have 2 biological children and 220 high school students that I look out for like they are my own. My school t-shirt says "Mama Kane" on the back, and I wear that with pride.

On April 1, I hope to earn your vote so I can look out for all 5,000 Glenbrook students.

Community Engagement

Much like my career, all of my volunteer work has been devoted to supporting students, families, and teachers.

Cub Scout Pack 59 assistant den leader 

• We are all in for scouts in the Kane house! During my husband Larry's term as Cub Master for Pack 59 and Den Leader I served as an assistant leader coordinating events, managing logistics, and running den meetings. 

Boy Scout Troop 156 merit badge counselor

• When our boys "graduated" to Boy Scouts, Larry soon after became the Scoutmaster for Troop 156 and I became an assistant leader helping to coordinate logistics of events and serving as a sounding board for how to increase scout participation and engagement.

• I am also a Merit Badge Counselor for Reading, Scholarship, Pets, and Family Life.

Union Activist

• I served on the Contract Bargaining Committee for CICS Northtown Academy during our last two negotiations. When management was looking to cut counselors and social workers in order to save money, I fought to make sure our students had the services they needed.

•  In this video (4:31-5:50) you can see me at a press conference on our strike lines in February 2019 demanding that the administration fund student services.

School Volunteer

• Glenbrook Fencing Club Fundraising 

• Attea Middle School Musicals