Yannick Koger for D89 School Board

04/18/2023

Happy to have found our new superintendent, Doug Eccarius!

A veteran educator with experience at both elementary and middle school will be the next superintendent of Community Consolidated School District 89. Board members unanimously approved Doug Eccarius as superintendent during Monday’s regular board meeting.

Eccarius is currently the deputy superintendent for Indian Prairie School District 204. During his 26 years in education, he has also been a middle school math teacher, middle school assistant principal, elementary school principal, and assistant superintendent for human resources.

“I’m really excited and honored to be selected as superintendent of District 89,” Eccarius said. “I can’t wait to get to know all of the students, staff, and families in the district. I look forward to being part of the team.”

Eccarius will officially begin his role with CCSD 89 on July 1, although he plans to visit the district several times before then. You can learn more about Eccarius in this introduction video: https://youtu.be/fgioVBA7fD0

The community is invited to meet Eccarius during an open house at 6 p.m. April 25, in the district office, 22W600 Butterfield Road, Glen Ellyn.

CCSD 89 Board President Haydee Núñez said that during the interview process, Eccarius stood out for his many years of experience leading teams at both elementary and middle school levels.

“His clear strength was his ability to build good relationships with students, with parents, and with teachers,” Núñez said. “We know that is something our community will value.”

Eccarius spent six years as Indian Prairie’s Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources before being promoted to deputy superintendent in April 2020. As deputy superintendent, he oversees curriculum and instruction for all grade levels; innovation; research and assessment; professional learning; online learning; STEM integration; and English-language learner support.

Even while working as deputy superintendent, he always looks for opportunities to visit classrooms.

“I love watching teachers use their passion and their expertise to connect with kids. I love what we can be for students,” he said. “I want District 89 to continue to be a place where all kids are cared for, they’re safe, and they can take risks to grow and learn so they can be what they want to be in this world.”

Learn more about the district’s next leader: https://bit.ly/3onUSKO

04/08/2023

What a week. First and foremost, thank you to my wife Katy and my family for supporting me. I’ve spent numerous hours as a current school board member finding our next superintendent. Then layer on top of that candidate forums, a newspaper interview, meet and greets, and knocking doors throughout the entire district for the campaign. It was a lot, but it was all worth it – I couldn’t have done it without your unwavering support.

Also, I want to thank the individuals who helped get us to this result. All the community members who signed up to volunteer did so, not because you had to, but because you wanted to. Making a positive difference in any community takes action. Your actions over the past several months have spoken volumes on how much this election means to you – Jessica, Scott, and myself have nothing but gratitude for all your support.

Mail-in ballots continue to slowly roll-in, so we’ll have to wait a bit for final tallies. Data from next week will show what kind of history the community made on election night. I believe they’ll be things everyone can celebrate, so stay tuned!

04/05/2023

Thank you to everyone who supported this campaign! I’m humbled and proud of what we’ve accomplished.

On behalf of the D89ForAll team, we would like to thank the voters for electing Yannick Koger, Jessica McGee and Scott Pope to the CCSD89 Board of Education!

They will be a voice for ALL students.

Yannick Koger for D89 School Board
Jessica McGee for D89 School Board
Scott Pope for D89 School Board

D89ForAll.com

04/05/2023

Thank you to everyone in the community that showed up to vote! I‘m thrilled to serve on the board for another term. It was an honor to run alongside and now serve with Jessica McGee for D89 School Board and Scott Pope for D89 School Board!

04/04/2023

We’ve made it to Election Day! It’s been an exciting journey running for school board, but we are not finished. We are not done. Get out to vote and make your voices heard. Bring a friend or neighbor if you can!

Vote Koger - McGee - Pope at any polling place in DuPage County

Jessica McGee for D89 School Board
Scott Pope for D89 School Board
D89ForAll

04/04/2023

Good morning everyone! 🌞

Polling places are open from now until 7:00pm.

Remember, you can vote at any location in DuPage county!

Vote for Integrity. Vote for Education. Vote for Experience.

VOTE KOGER - MCGEE - POPE

Vote early and stay dry!

Yannick Koger for D89 School Board
Jessica McGee for D89 School Board
Scott Pope for D89 School Board

https://go.d89forall.com/3lWKitK

04/03/2023

Every vote will count tomorrow! Try to get it done early in case there is bad weather.

Local elections matter.
Traditionally, turn out for consolidated elections is poor. In the last two elections, voter turnout was ONLY 14.84% (2019) & 16.57% (2021)! Precincts were won with only 9 votes.

The quality of our schools and children's education is on the ballot this year, and with that, property values. It is in everyone's best interest to keep our School District 89 strong.

D89ForAll is a movement set forth to ensure that every student is represented, curriculum is determined by educators, and partisan politics is kept out of the school board.

Yannick Koger, Jessica McGee, and Scott Pope have pledged to do just that, and keep common sense, data driven decision making in the district.

Please remember, your vote matters because you matter.

Vote tomorrow and make a difference in the lives of children.

Thank you,
The D89ForAll Team ❤️

Yannick Koger for D89 School Board
Jessica McGee for D89 School Board
Scott Pope for D89 School Board

04/01/2023

One more day of expanded early voting, with polling open 9-5pm today! Election Day is Tuesday Apr. 4th. Please make sure your voice is heard and vote.

Today is the last day for early voting in many locations from 9am to 5pm. Several are still open on Monday.

Check here for details:
https://tinyurl.com/D89EarlyVote

Every vote counts!

D89ForAll.com

03/31/2023

I hope everyone is staying safe this evening. Earlier today I had the chance to early vote at College of DuPage. Doing my part for these three! Vote local.

03/31/2023

Our latest topic on how the school board and superintendent align on values. Polls are open today until 7pm!

We asked community members what they would like to know from our candidates. These are the responses.

Q: With a new superintendent in place how can you work to align on values for the whole district?

Answers:
KOGER: There is a five year strategic plan in place until 2026 that was a comprehensive, community-wide effort to represent the values of the district. I don’t believe the new superintendent has enough context to make wholesale changes to the plan. The school board sets the mission and vision of the district and the new superintendent should focus on listening and learning from all stakeholders how to make that mission and vision come to life in their own unique way.

MCGEE: The current strategic plan is in place until 2026 and includes the vision, core values and goals which guide school and district improvement. Since it was created with student, family, staff and resident feedback, a new superintendent should be using the strategic plan as a guide for understanding the current work of our district. Through communications with these same stakeholders, the board and superintendent will need to review current progress with goals and make changes if data supports. Aligning on values can only be accomplished through clear communication with stakeholders within the whole district. I will work with fellow board members to ensure creating a detailed plan for communication with various stakeholders is created and monitored for fidelity of implementation.

POPE: The board is always looking to align with values of the district as a whole. Many times, the loudest voice is not the most prominent voice in the community. The board has to take a broad look at the community and provide ways to listen to all voices to determine the direction of the district. Much of what the new superintendent will be tasked with in the first year is learning the district and the needs and wants of the community.

Read answers at: https://go.d89forall.com/3G2OJK4