Welcome to our New Board of Education Members - April 2025

We are pleased to introduce two new members to the Sycamore Community School District 427 Board of Education. Please join us in welcoming Mr. Jonathan (Cole) Regnery and Ms. Heather Tomlinson. We recently had the opportunity to ask a few questions and learn more about our newest board members.

Tell us about yourself.

Mr. Regnery: I am a lifelong Sycamore resident, proud husband, and soon-to-be new parent. I believe that education is a bedrock of society and that learning, coupled with a loving and supportive family, helps people to become their best selves and to do good in the world. I have two degrees from NIU and am beginning to work on my third this summer. My BS and MS are in pure mathematics, and I’m about to embark on an educational doctorate in community college leadership. I did not have an easy time acquiring either of those degrees, and I’m sure this next one will continue to remind me of the hard work required of students. But, I’m also sure it will remind me of the payoff of learning. This will help inform my decisions on the Board and is also useful in my career.

I am a community college math professor, and I serve on several professional committees at the college and departmental levels. This professional experience gives me insight into how educational practices are implemented, how educational organizations function, and how changes can be made by cooperating with faculty, staff, and administrators. 

I believe in community service, and the reason I ran for the Board is to serve my community. I am currently the President of the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Committee, an active member of the Rotaract Club of Sycamore, and an advisor on the NIU Dean's Advisory Council. Two of my favorite service projects are cleaning up trash on our club’s adopted highway and our book donation program called Adopt-a-Classroom.

Ms. Tomlinson: I have been a Sycamore resident on and off since 1999, and consistently since 2015. I grew up in Genoa and settled in Sycamore after my 3rd child, Michael, who was born in 2015. I was a single mom of 3 children, Mykiah, Alexander, and Michael, for many years. My family has seen its share of struggles, but through the help of Sycamore and various programs, we have become stable and built a life here. I met my fiancé in October 2020 and have since become a stay-at-home mom. His name is Dominic Pellegrino, and he works for Arneson Propane in Sheridan, Illinois. He grew up in Lake Holiday in Somonauk and moved in with me and has become a staple in mine and the kids' lives since. I am currently a BSW student at Aurora University and am completing my internship at Hope Haven in DeKalb, which is a wonderful place to work with a supportive staff and a great community of residents.

Why did you want to join the District 427 Board of Education?

Mr. Regnery: I wanted to join the Board to serve my community by increasing communication, collaboration, and transparency, and by securing a 5-year comprehensive financial plan. This will position Sycamore for generational success and empower all learners to succeed in their world.

Ms. Tomlinson: I joined the Sycamore Board of Education, because I have seen issues in the community that people talk about a lot, but when it comes time to actually participate and do something about it, we have tended to fall short. I don't want to be the person to fall short on issues. I am a problem solver, and in this time in history, we face a lot of uncertainty about the direction of society, and I do not want to see an empty seat on the board. We need all hands on deck when it comes to our children and their education, since we do not know what the future holds, and I don't want to be that person who saw that I could have supported my community and let the chance fly by. I am very grateful for the work that the teachers do, I am their biggest supporter because I have seen them go above and beyond where they could have just taken the easy way out, and I want to do everything I can to return that support to them and make sure they are heard and valued.

What excites you about serving on the 427 Board of Education?

Mr. Regnery: The prospect of delivering sustainable, responsible, and meaningful results for students and the community excites me.

Ms. Tomlinson: I am really excited about all of the up and coming transitions the School Board is looking forward to. We have a fresh board full of members that are ready to create a community-based opportunity that we haven't seen at Sycamore before, and I am really looking forward to it. The school should not be governed by a small group of people who are out of touch with the community. The School Board should be working with the community to create a safe and interactive learning environment for future generations, and I believe that is the direction we are going, and I am proud to be a part of that.