ECUSD7 Board of Education Members
John McDole – President
Edwardsville Township
Re-elected to the Board April 6, 2021
John McDole was elected to the Board of Education in April in 2019. In 2021, he was re-elected to a four-year term. John served on the finance, facilities, and policy committees from 2019-2021 and in April of 2021 was elected President of the board and currently serves in that capacity.
John and his wife, Karla, both graduated from Edwardsville High School and currently have two children in elementary schools in District 7. John earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Bradley University and a MBA from SIU Edwardsville. After working in Finance at Boeing for several years he made the transition to banking in 2006 and currently is a VP of Commercial Lending at a bank in Edwardsville.
Community is very important to John and over the years he’s volunteered for many organizations including the Edwardsville Rotary Club. From 2017 to 2021 he was on the Plan Commission and Land Use Committees for the City of Edwardsville, also serving as Chairman for both groups. He feels strongly that the relationship between a school district and its communities is symbiotic, where when one has success the other will benefit as well. His approach is that not only are quality school districts vital to the upbringing and nourishment of our children, but it helps maintain and further the quality of life of the communities it serves.
Katie Robberson – Vice President
Pin Oak Township
Elected to the Board April 2, 2019
Katie Robberson was elected to the Board of Education in April 2019. She earned her MBA and Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO where she focused on strategic communication, management, and marketing. Katie is currently a faculty member of the SIUE School of Business and has over 20 years of experience in marketing, communication, and management in both the private and public sector. In addition, she is a certified instructor for the National Council of Mental Well-Being. This certification allows her to provide training in Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid.
In addition to her work at SIUE, Katie is the co-founder of The Trustery, a non-profit focused on youth mental health. She serves on the District 7 School Board. She lives in Edwardsville with her husband, Aaron, and their 3 children.
Jennifer Brumback – Secretary
Edwardsville Township
Re-elected to the Board April 6, 2021
Jennifer Brumback was elected to the Board of Education in April 2019. One of the many benefits of being married to a U.S. Air Force career member has been the professional educational opportunities offered through national and international military assignments.
After earning a BA in Mathematics with a concentration in Secondary Education, Ms. Brumback taught middle school math in the Texas public school system, the Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Panama and a New Jersey private Christian academy. During their assignment in Germany, she served as a high school math teacher at Ramstein High School and was able to earn a M.Ed. in Administration, Supervision, and Curriculum Development. Once her husband retired, she had the chance to work with a program in Oklahoma that promoted at-risk students earning their high school diploma while achieving CTE industry certifications.
In 2012, the Brumback family relocated to Edwardsville. After unpacking their boxes for the last time, Jennifer accepted a position with East St. Louis District 189 where she was eventually promoted to Chief Academic Officer in charge of curriculum, assessment, school improvement, and oversight of technology, special services and Title and partnership grants.
The moment her children enrolled in District 7, they were blessed with an incredible education, fueled by dedicated teachers and a committed community. Their experience at Edwardsville High School fully prepared them for their leap into secondary education. Ms. Brumback’s son, a former EHS band member, is currently studying illustration at Columbia College Chicago while her daughter, a former interact member treasurer, is attending Quincy University studying criminal justice.
During her kids’ time at District 7, Ms. Brumback volunteered for school-based activities to support the programs they were involved in, including a role as EHS Band Booster treasurer. With both of her kids in college, she still found a way to participate in the educational scene in Edwardsville by joining the District 7 School Board in 2019 and working toward the continued development of our community and schools.
During her time on the Board, Ms. Brumback has worked to help District 7 enhance our CTE program offerings, start a much-needed equity conversation to address disparities in education, and navigate our students and teachers through the COVID-19 crisis. She hopes to guide District 7 in adapting to a constantly-evolving education environment and improving communication at every level – while maintaining a focus on educational equity for all.
Moro Township
Re-elected to the Board April 2, 2019
Jill Bertels was elected to the Board of Education in August 1999. She has lived in this district all of her life. Mrs. Bertels, along with her husband, operate a farming operation with the home base being in Dorsey, located in the northern part of the district.
Mrs. Bertels has served the board as its secretary, vice president and president. She has served on various board committees, currently on the finance and facilities committees and as a diversity and equity liaison. She was a member and chairman of the building committee when there was major construction/renovation of school buildings throughout the district.
Throughout her time on the board the district has gone through many highs and lows. The board has made tough decisions that were criticized or unpopular by some members of the community, but each of those decisions was made in the best interest of our students and the school district. The district was given a financial boost when the voters passed the Prop E referendum. Mrs. Bertels will always be thankful to the taxpayers for trusting the board with those new tax dollars. It gave the district opportunities to initiate our technology plan, do repairs and improve the safety in and around our buildings. District 7 was able start our curriculum review cycle. And most importantly we paid off our debt and started building reserves.
Mrs. Bertels is an active member of the FFA Alumni at EHS. Presently, she is the treasurer of the group and longtime chairman of our annual dinner auction. You will see her at a variety of extracurricular events throughout District 7.
Mrs. Bertels is currently the treasurer/secretary of the Dorsey Community Improvement Association, a member of Greater Edwardsville Foundation and a CAREE (Ag in the Classroom) partner.
Mrs. Bertels and her husband are both EHS alumni. Their three sons and one granddaughter graduated from EHS. She has two granddaughters who attend District 7 schools. She has three other grandchildren who live in the district, and will attend District 7 schools when they become of age.
Mrs. Bertels’ drive is to keep finding ways to improve District 7. Her dedication to the district is true. Her commitment to the students, staff and taxpayers is to make Edwardsville School District a better place tomorrow than what it was yesterday.
Edwardsville Township
Re-elected to the Board April 6, 2021
Terri Dalla Riva was elected to the Board of Education in April 2015. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Creighton University, and a certificate in paralegal studies from the College of Saint Mary. She has lived in Edwardsville since 1994, when her oldest daughter started kindergarten and raised her four daughters here.
Ms. Dalla Riva brings the experience of chairing the finance and policy committees to the role as a board member. She has also served on the curriculum and facilities committee, and recently joined the CAC. Currently, Ms. Dalla Riva works as a realtor for Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors and teaches at the Gateway Academy of Real Estate.
Edwardsville Township
Re-elected to the Board April 2, 2019
Debra J. Pitts was elected to the Board of Education in June 2017. She was born in Gary, IN and raised in Chicago, IL. She graduated from Roosevelt High school in 1971. She earned her General Administrative Certification, M.S. and B.S. degrees from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
Ms. Debra J. Pitts is a veteran educator, having served with the Alton School District thirty-one years and eight years as Principal of Civic Memorial High School. She has also served as an Assistant Principal, Dean of Students, Guidance Counselor, Special Education Teacher, and coached Volleyball, Basketball, Track, Cheerleading, and Pom- Pons. She has held other teaching positions at East Middle School, Central Junior High and Alton High School. Debra has experience serving on the negotiation teams for the Teachers Union and as an Administrator.
Her many honors and awards include: YWCA 1998 Women of Distinction, 100 Black Men of Alton, Inc. Honorary Chairperson, INROADS Educator of the year, LCCC Upward Bound Outstanding Contributor, SIUE Recognition of Excellence in Teaching, Federated Unity Club of Alton, Elijah P. Lovejoy- Human Rights Award, Edwardsville Branch NAACP, Illinois State NAACP Conference Chair, Nation Council of Negro Women Outstanding Contributor, Bethalto 2008 Rock Solid Rock Award, Illinois State Board of Education Those Who Excel- Recognition, Madison County Urban League Community Service Award, 2013, Bethalto Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award, Peabody Leadership in Education Award, 2012 and the Madison County Living Legend Award.
Ms. Pitts has held previous and current positions in her community in various capacities including: Edwardsville Parks and Recreation Chair, Illinois State University Associates Executive Committee, Edwardsville NAACP Branch Secretary, President Delta Kappa Gamma Alpha Eta Chapter, and National Council of Negro Women Alton Chapter, Southwest Division of United Way-Charmaine Chapman Society, Chair of Southwest Illinois Division of United Way. She is a member of Mt. Joy Missionary Baptist Church in Edwardsville, where she serves as Church Clerk, Usher Board, Missionary Society, and Choir. She served on the Illinois High School Association Board of Directors 2011-2014.
Ms. Pitts is recognized as a strong youth advocate, who takes interest in their academic, as well as their social and emotional development. She is warm-hearted, conscientious, committed to excellence, and a team player. She has adopted two mottos, “IF I CAN HELP SOMEBODY AS I PASS ALONG, THEN MY LIVING SHALL NOT BE IN VAIN” and “WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN.”
Pin Oak Township
Elected to the Board April 6, 2021
Kristen Pfund was elected to the Board of Education in April of 2021. She is the co-owner of both Pfund Construction and The Ink House an event venue both in Edwardsville.
Kristen currently serves as an ambassador for the Ed Glen Chamber of Commerce, on the board of directors for the Edwardsville Community Foundation, and Edwardsville CEO Program. Mrs. Pfund has also previously been involved with The Main Street Community Center, Ed Glen Junior Service Club, Habitat for Humanity, and PTO president.
Kristen is a graduate of Edwardsville High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. She and her husband Matt, have three children Laynie, Jack and Charlie. Watching her kids grow up in the same school system she attended has been enlightening. Mrs. Pfund has been constantly amazed by how much more is available to them now, and the quality of our school district. Her focus will be to continue to build on that and prepare our students for their future endeavors.
