Foundation Board of Trustees 2022-2023
Chair (2021-23)
Adriana Koenig
Continental Automotive Systems
Business: Adriana is a Sr. Purchasing Manager at Continental Automotive Systems, she’s
been working with strategic sourcing and purchasing in companies such as Motorola Inc and
Sears Holding. Adriana also has an Executive MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of
Management and speaks German, Spanish and Portuguese.
Volunteering: Adriana was part of the Motorola Women Business Council and part of the
board of Sears Holdings WILD (Women In Leadership Development) group. Most recently
Adriana helped to create and was part of the board of the Continental Deer Park Women
Forum. Besides volunteering in diversity network groups, Adriana is a supportive Room
Parent at Lincoln Elementary School.
Personal: Adriana has a son attending Lincoln Elementary and when she isn't chauffeuring
him to ice hockey practices and games, she enjoys reading, adventure traveling (skiing, ice
skating, hiking and biking) and spending time with family and friends.
Vice Chair (2021-23)
Joan Scovic
Northbrook Park District
(Board member since 2018)
Business: Joan Scovic has been the Director of Marketing & Communications for Northbrook Park District since 2019, following a combined twenty years with Palatine Park District and South Barrington Park District. Joan earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Loyola University Chicago.
Volunteering: Joan has been involved with PTA in a variety of roles, from local units to the Illinois PTA State Board, since 1998. She served as the Illinois PTA State Cultural Arts Chair from 2014-2017 and was named the Illinois PTA Volunteer of the Year in 2014. Joan also volunteered with the Palatine High School Pirate Boosters in a variety of chairperson roles from 2008-2018. In 2010-2011, Joan served as the community co-chair of the Navigate 15 engagement project for District 15 and was a member of the CCSD15 2021-2022 Citizen Task Force.
Personal: Joan has lived in Palatine most of her life and attended District 15 schools before moving on to Palatine High School. She and her husband Mike have five children, the oldest four have graduated college, and the youngest is currently attending Winston Campus Junior High School.
Treasurer (2022-2024)
Valeria Acquarone
Tate & Lyle
Business: Valeria is the Vice President of Research and Development at Tate & Lyle, in Hoffman Estates. Her background has primarily been in the food and ingredients industries, including Mars, Inc. and PepsiCo. She speaks Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
Volunteering: Over the years Valeria has served in many volunteer roles within the realm of technical education, diversity, and leadership development, such as with Toastmasters Club, the American Chemical Society, the Institute of Food Technologists, and Employee Resource Groups.
Personal: Valeria has been living in Palatine since 2007, and has a child attending Pleasant Hill Elementary. She enjoys backyard farming, world traveling, watching documentaries, and strolling through the Palatine Farmers Market on weekends.
Secretary (2020-23)
Denise Loiterstein
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
Business: Denise has been a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney for the past 15 years. She
has worked in numerous divisions of her office, including Appeals, Juvenile Justice, Preliminary
Hearings, Grand Jury, and Felony Trials. Currently, she is assigned to the Rolling Meadows
Courthouse and prosecutes all felony crimes committed in the Third District of Cook County.
Volunteering: Denise is a member of Beth Tikvah Congregation and serves as co-chair of the
religious school. She is a member of the PTA at Winston Campus Elementary School and has
participated in Career Day at the school. At the State’s Attorney’s Office, Denise has mentored
numerous legal interns and high school students interested in a career in criminal justice.
Personal: Denise and her husband, Paul, have three children. Her daughter and son attend
Winston and her youngest son is in preschool. Denise enjoys reading, spending time with her
family and friends, and meeting new people in the community
Immediate Past Chair
Mary Zarr
Illinois State University Professional Development School
Business: Mary retired from Community Consolidated School District 15 in 2014 after spending close to 40 years as a teacher and school administrator both in Palatine and Community Unit School District 95 in Lake Zurich. She now works as an Educational Consultant and Coordinator of the Illinois State University Professional Development School for Palatine.
Volunteering: Mary is a long time supporter of the Foundation and Palatine Opportunity Center. She voluntarily serves as a scholarship judge for various awarding organizations.
Personal: Mary has been married to John for 41 years and they have 4 children and two grandchildren. They enjoy traveling, fishing, boating, golfing and especially treasure any time spent with their grandchildren. Mary holds a BA, MA and Doctor of Education degree.
Trustees
Natalie DiCosola
Community Consolidated School District 15
Volunteer:
Natalie DiCosola has been an active member in the Pleasant Hill PTA for over 8 years and has served 4 of those years on the executive board as Corresponding Secretary. Natalie was the State and National representative for the Mother's of Multiples Organization for two years, she has been a Girl Scout leader, has coached her kids softball, and soccer teams, and is team parent for her son's PAFA football team.
Personal:
Natalie and her husband, Dan have three children that attend both Pleasant Hill Elementary School and Plum Grove Junior High. Natalie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, camping, fishing, boxing, crossfit, golfing, and watching her kids play sports. Natalie holds a BA degree from DePaul University and is currently working towards her MBA through DePaul's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.
Kerri Schlenker
Cottage Door Press
Business: Kerri is a Marketing Product Manager for Cottage Door Press, a children's book publisher in the Northwest Suburbs. Kerri has been marketing consumer products for 20+ years, 12 years being in publishing, and her passion is bringing new products to life. Kerri earned her bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Volunteering: Kerri is a member of the Pleasant Hill PTA currently serving on the yearbook committee. She also sits on the board of the Northwest Travelers travel baseball program and is team parent for one of the 11U boys travel baseball teams. She has previously managed summer internship programs and has been part of the inaugural Women's Committee at her previous employer.
Personal: Kerri and her husband, K.C., have two children. Their son is a 5th grader at Pleasant Hill and their 4-year-old daughter attends preschool at daycare. They have lived in Palatine for 9 years and love participating in community events and activities. They are big sports enthusiasts and enjoy watching their kids play sports and activities as well as spending time with their family and friends.
Sheri Settipani
Business: Sheri Settipani is a Sr. Human Resources Generalist at Kenneth Young Center. She has over 20 years of experience working in Human Resources at small and large corporations and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University.
Volunteering: Sheri is a Peer Mentor through the Acoustic Neuroma Association. In this role she has spent time on the phone sharing her AN experience in an effort to increase awareness, provide information and educate patients about an AN diagnosis and treatment. Sheri has volunteered writing campaign postcards and making phone calls for the last presidential election. Lastly, she has volunteered at work to raise money that go towards much needed behavioral health services in the community.
Personal: Sheri is married to Joe, and has one son who is currently a student at Plum Grove Junior High. During her free time she’s either at her son’s hockey or baseball game or just hanging out with friends and family. Sheri likes hiking, listening to audibles and travel.
Dr. Laurie Heinz
CCSD15 Superintendent
The superintendent of schools serves as the district's chief executive officer and is responsible for administering and supervising all district activities to achieve the goals established by the Board of Education. The superintendent is responsible for making recommendations to the Board concerning all functions of the school district and its daily operation, which include business and auxiliary services, instructional and special services, personnel and human services, and administrative services.
Board of Education Liaison
Foundation Coordinator
Clara Neff
Community Consolidated School District 15
* Non-Voting Liaison
