Naperville resident and St. Charles North High School business teacher Andrew Bernard is joining Indian Prairie School District 204’s board, following the recent resignation of former member Justin Karubas.
Bernard’s appointment to the school board was officially approved by the board at its meeting on Monday, at which Karubas was recognized for his more than a decade spent serving on the board.
Karubas, a graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, said he was stepping down in May, citing health issues and the upcoming graduation of his youngest child from Neuqua Valley High School.
Following the announcement about his resignation, the board then began a search for his replacement.
In late May, school board president Laurie Donahue announced to the district community that Bernard had been appointed to fill the vacancy.
Bernard’s appointment was then officially approved by the board members at their meeting on Monday, during which they first recognized Karubas for his time serving the district.
Donahue pointed to Karubas’ “expertise and attention on policy” as a board member and his “historical perspective” as a district graduate himself.
“Through professional and personal challenging times, (Karubas) made a difference,” Donahue said.
“All the things that (he) wanted to accomplish when (he) first got on board and then some, (he has) all accomplished,” board member Mark Rising added.
Karubas, too, reflected on his time on the board and thanked its members, saying he’s learned that “when school boards stay collaborative, respectful and focused on good governance, it creates the kind of environment that attracts and retains strong leadership, both outstanding board members and superintendents.”
He recognized Donahue in particular for her “steadfast leadership and (her) ability to bring people together across different viewpoints and (her) clear focus on what’s best for (the district’s) students.” He also thanked district support staff, along with outgoing Superintendent Adrian Talley, who was also recognized at the meeting as he prepares to depart from the district.
Karubas also encouraged others to run for the school board, acknowledging that it’s “a demanding volunteer position that requires real time away from your family, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.”
“There’s nothing quite like the joy of handing out diplomas to our graduating seniors each year, knowing that we helped shape their education,” Karubas said.
“It’s been a privilege to serve,” he added.
Later in the meeting, the board voted to approve Bernard’s appointment to the vacant seat. He is set to serve until April 2027, when the seat will go up for election.
Bernard, 38, teaches business courses at St. Charles North High School, where he just finished his first year, he told The Beacon-News. He previously taught at Batavia High School, and also formerly served as the chief school business official and assistant director of business services and operations for District 806’s A.E.R.O. Special Education Cooperative in Burbank.
That administrative role entailed him overseeing a $54 million budget, he said, and was part of what led him to apply for the school board.
He also applied for the role because he wanted to “make a difference” in District 204, where his oldest child is starting kindergarten in the fall. He’s originally from Batavia, but currently lives in the Brookdale neighborhood in Naperville with his wife and two children.
“I have young kids coming into the school system,” he said. “I’m personally invested.”
Bernard said he had always been interested in business from a public service standpoint, but recently went back to teaching because he “missed the classroom.”
But now, as he joins Indian Prairie’s school board, he explained, he has an opportunity to keep teaching, while also putting some of the knowledge and skills he picked up in his administrative role at A.E.R.O to use.
“It just seemed like a really, really good fit based on my background, especially with all the capital projects going on and the referendum that was approved,” he told The Beacon-News.
Bernard’s financial and oversight background was part of the board’s rationale for selecting him, officials said.
He also has direct teaching experience he’ll bring to the job.
“Being there every day and understanding what works in the classroom and maybe (what) sounds like good theory, but, you know, when you put it to the practice, maybe it’s not … so effective,” he said.
One continued educational priority he has is “minimizing distractions” in the classroom, something that’s been important to him at St. Charles North.
“I want teachers to be able to teach effectively,” Bernard said, “and minimizing distractions is … very helpful.”
Nevertheless, he said he’s a “big believer in technology” and in “running towards AI and not running away from it because it’s here to stay.”
“I’m definitely not anti-technology,” he said. “I think it’s good for kids to learn it, but not have it as a crutch.”
Before he gets to work participating in major district decisions, however, the first thing he’s hoping to do is to better understand the district.
“(District) 204 is a really big place,” he said, noting that he wants to learn from its administrative staff and other board members.
He also cited priorities like supporting the district’s ongoing facilities overhaul and hiring and retaining teachers that “really want to be there and help kids.”
“I’m just looking forward to serving,” he said. “There’s a lot for me to learn, and I am looking forward to that.”
Bernard is set to be sworn in at the school board’s next meeting in July. He told The Beacon-News he intends to run for the seat once it’s up for election in April.
mmorrow@chicagotribune.com
