Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant
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Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant | |
|---|---|
| Executive of Will County | |
| Assumed office December 7, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Denise Winfrey (acting) |
| Member of the Illinois Senate from the 49th district | |
| In office January 9, 2013 – December 7, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Sam McCann (redistricted) |
| Succeeded by | Meg Loughran Cappel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 1969 (age 56) Joliet, Illinois, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Education | Illinois State University (BA) University of St. Francis (MS) Loyola University Chicago (EdD) |
Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (born April 1969)[1] is a Democrat who is currently serving as the Will County Executive, having been elected in 2020. She was a member of the Illinois Senate for the 49th district. The 49th district includes all or part of Bolingbrook, Crest Hill, Joliet, Oswego, Plainfield, Romeoville, and Shorewood.[2] Prior to her service as an Illinois State Senator, she served as the Will County Superintendent of Schools and as both an educator and administrator in public and private schools.
She attended the University of St. Francis and received a masters in Curriculum and Instruction with a secondary teaching certificate in History/Social Sciences. She later earned a doctorate in education with Superintendent's Endorsement from Loyola University. She has worked as a teacher and administrator in both public and private schools in Will County.[3]
Bertino-Tarrant is a lifelong resident of Will County and is the owner-operator of a family business operating in Joliet. She is also involved in the Joliet Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Troy Educational Foundation Board. She is a parishioner at St. Paul the Apostle Church.[4]
Will County Superintendent of Schools
In 2007, Bertino-Tarrant unseated the incumbent to become the Will County Regional Superintendent of Schools. The Will County Regional Superintendent heads the Regional Office of Education (ROE) for Will County. The office acts as an intermediate between the State Board of Education and local school districts. The office administers truancy prevention, GED testing, life safety inspections of school buildings, bus driver training, continuing education for educators and assisting school districts in complying with various state laws.[5] In her capacity as Superintendent, she also serves as the ex-oficio Secretary of the Will County Regional Board of School Trustees.[6]
As Regional Superintendent, she established Lincoln School as an alternative program for at-risk students. The program is a hybrid of computer-based classes with direct teacher instruction.[7]