Members

President

Term Expires 2027

Amber Wood and her husband have called Skokie home since 2008. They are proud parents to two children, one of whom attended Skokie 68 schools before the family relocated to the Skokie's District 69  in 2017. She is a dedicated individual who strongly believes in making a positive impact on her community. With a focus on operations, communications, and budgeting, she has invested her time and extensive skills in various endeavors.

Having worked extensively in the nonprofit sector, Amber possesses invaluable experience as a seasoned professional and empathetic leader. She dedicated her time to the Sisterhood Board of Temple Beth Israel from 2008 to 2012, and subsequently served on the Board of Temple Beth Israel from 2012 to 2022, holding various positions, including vice president roles. Amber's strengths lie in her meticulous attention to detail, adeptness at navigating complex systems, and active listening skills. She earned both her master's and bachelor's degrees from the University of Indiana Bloomington.

Amber's primary goal is to ensure that all high school students feel represented in their curriculum, teachers, and school environment. She understands the importance of creating an inclusive educational experience where every student has equal opportunities to attain self-defined success. Amber's childhood was characterized by frequent relocations due to her father's career service in the U.S. Navy. This experience instilled in her the significance of a strong and supportive community fostering optimal learning conditions for students.

Vice President

Term Expires 2027

Ken Durr and his family have been residents of Skokie since 2013. His son is a Niles West Class of 2026 student. As a devoted father he has been actively involved in his son’s educational journey in Niles Township all the way from Madison/Edison elementary schools to Lincoln Junior High, and now high school.

Ken is an Information Security Senior Manager for a Fortune 100 company based in Chicago. He is a passionate and innovative leader with almost three decades of IT and cybersecurity experience (past decade specifically focused on global security governance). As an enterprise level trusted advisor, he enables delivery and support of strategic initiatives that impact a family of companies. Ken has held numerous professional certifications including PCI ISA, CISSP, CISM, and SABSA Enterprise Security Architect.

With strong ties to the North Shore community, he has volunteered as a pastor for a small church in Evanston for over a decade and served on the Skokie/Morton Grove District 69 school board from 2020 to 2023. In serving on the D219 Board of Education, Ken looks forward to working together with school communities to promote strong academic achievement, life skill readiness, civic responsibility, financial stewardship, equity, diversity, and inclusion for the next generation. Ken believes we all have a responsibility to work towards a better world, and education is one of the most powerful weapons we can use to change the world.

Secretary

Term expires 2029

A longtime community member, Kandice Cooley grew up in Skokie, attended Lincoln Junior High and Niles West High School, and now lives in Morton Grove. She is the proud parent of two children, one attending Niles West High School, Class of 2028, and another in elementary school.

Kandice is a Senior Price Analyst for a manufacturing company and previously served as Vice President of the District 69 Board of Education. She has a strong connection to the district, bringing both personal and professional experience to the role.

In joining the D219 Board, she is focused on strengthening communication between the district and the community, adopting a community schools model that supports the whole child, whether through access to mental health resources, food, or medical care. She also brings expertise in budget management and contract negotiations and is committed to increasing diversity within district leadership.

Outside of her work and service, Kandice used to coach cheerleading at Niles West and is an avid fan of both sports and local restaurants.

Board member

Term expires 2029

A Morton Grove resident of 10 years, Dr. Nour Akhras brings decades of experience in pediatric healthcare and global humanitarian work to her new role. She is the mother of four children, including two future Niles North High School students, Classes of 2027 and 2031.

Dr. Akhras is a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Physician and has spent the last 20 years dedicated to the health and well-being of children, both in her local community and abroad. As a board member for medical Non-Governmental Organizations such as MedGlobal and the Syrian-American Medical Society, she has traveled the world providing care to displaced children.

Her motivation to serve on the D219 Board stems from her understanding of how a child’s social and emotional environment impacts their overall health. She is committed to fostering a culture of safety, equity, and support for every student in the district.

In addition to her work as a physician and advocate, Dr. Akhras is the author of Just One: A Journey of Perseverance and Conviction, a book that aims to humanize the refugee experience. She immigrated to the U.S. from Syria at the age of four and now enjoys swimming, writing, and spending time with her family.

Board Member

Term Expires 2027

Dr. David Y. Ko is a board certified licensed chiropractic physician and acupuncturist. He attended Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles, where he received his Doctorate of Chiropractic. He also received special recognition for his volunteer work while in clinic, where he treated patients in collaboration with medical facilities at University of Southern California and the Venice Beach Family Clinic.

Dr. Ko actively participates in giving back to the community. As a local resident who grew up in Skokie attending Lincoln Junior High and Niles North High School, he worked as a volunteer spending more than 5000 hours at St. Francis and Rush North Shore Hospitals combined. He also helped establish the volunteer group We Help Others (W.H.O) Club at Niles North. He has served as a volunteering team doctor for Niles North since 2009 and served as Commissioner of Human Relations at the Village of Skokie from 2012 to 2017.

Dr. Ko is also the Chair of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White's Annual Family and Senior Health Fair (since 2009) and Board Advisor for the International Asian And American Association of Chicago. He was awarded Distinguished Alumnus of the Year from Niles North High School in 2013, Secretary of State Jesse White’s Outstanding Award of Recognition in Medicine in 2017 and was awarded the Korean American of the Year in 2018. Dr. Ko is a Level 1 Master Board Member.

Board Member

Term Expires 2027

Celia Stennett moved to Skokie over 10 years ago from Chicago. Celia and her husband have three children who attend district schools.

Celia currently works at a district sender school as a Paraprofessional in the Special Education Department. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration from Roosevelt University. Prior to her formalized commitment into education over four years ago, she worked as a Member Relations Director for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago along with several years of non profit experience in healthcare.

In her free time, Celia enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering to help make her community a more equitable and inclusive place to live.

Board member

Term expires 2029

A long-time Morton Grove resident, Lindley Wisnewski brings a passion for education, equity, and community service to her role. She has lived in the district for 16 years and is a parent of a student in the Class of 2028. 

Professionally, Lindley is a dedicated Oncology Registered Nurse with a Master of Science in Nursing. She also owns and operates My Gym Children's Fitness Centers in Skokie and River Forest, earning Franchisee of the Year for the Midwest Region in 2018. 

Her commitment to children and families extends beyond her professional work. From 2021 to 2025, Lindley served on the Skokie-Morton Grove School District 69 Board of Education. She has also held positions on the Franchisee Advisory Board for My Gym, the Evanston Youth Hockey Board, and the Ethiopian American Kids Community Board. 

Lindley’s motivation to serve on the D219 Board is rooted in her belief in equal opportunity and access for all students. She is a strong advocate for every child’s right to feel safe, seen, and supported at school. 

Outside of her Professional and volunteer commitments, Lindley enjoys running, reading, and spending time on her boat in Wisconsin. A passionate animal lover, she has two cats, two dogs, a guinea pig, and a fish.