Board Member Barb Hengels announced her resignation, effective Jan. 7, 2026, at the December Board meeting.
Barb was first appointed to the District 54 School Board on June 4, 1997. She ran for a two-year term in November 1997, and has been re-elected by the District 54 communities seven more times.
During her 28 years on the School Board, Barb worked with three superintendents and 18 other board members. She served as board president for three years, vice president for three years and board secretary for one year.
“I am proud to have been part of this board since June 4, 1997 as a champion for students,” Barb wrote in a letter, read by Board President Nick Scipione. “I have served with many distinguished board members, all who have put students first.”
In 2003, Barb received master board member status from the Illinois Association of School Boards. She also was selected as an advocate for learning for District 54 from The Education Commission of the States National Center for Learning and Citizenship.
Under her leadership, District 54 and its School Board has received numerous awards.
- District 54 received a Magna Award from the American School Board Journal in March 2000 for outstanding programs that advance student learning for offering Lincoln Prairie as a school of choice.
- The School Board received the Honorary Award for Service to Persons with Disabilities in March 2001 from the NSBA and the National Organization on Disability for the creation of the Developmental Sign Language Program at Blackwell School.
- The School Board was nominated by the Illinois Alliance for Arts Education for the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network/National School Boards Association Award for its commitment to high-quality arts education.
- District 54 has received eight Blue Ribbon Awards from the U.S. Department of Education.
- Six District 54 schools were named Special Olympic Unified Banner Schools.
- District 54 was named a national District of Distinction for our Targeted Assistance Program by District Administration Magazine.
- The Illinois Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) Network recognized 15 District 54 schools for their success in implementing a schoolwide approach to proactively addressing student behaviors.
- District 54’s English-Spanish dual language schools were named International Spanish Academies, as part of an international cooperative educational project involving public schools in the United States and the Ministry of Education and Science of Spain. Hanover Highlands School in Hanover Park is one of our dual language schools.
- Stanford researchers found District 54 to be in the top 2% of all schools in America in student growth – the highest public school in the area. An article published in the New York Times showed that District 54 students achieved six years of growth in five years.
However, Barb never wanted the recognition. Instead, she advocated for recognizing others in the school community. The Board launched the Above and Beyond and Ambassador for Excellence recognition, with Barb serving on the committee that developed this program.
On January 7, the School Board will begin seeking applicants to fill Barb’s position. The person appointed would serve until the next consolidated general election on April 6, 2027. If you are interested, please check our website on that date.
For more information regarding board service, visit the Illinois Association of School Board’s website and review District 54 Policy 2:20 – Powers and Duties of the School Board; Indemnification.
