Northern Suburbs
Northern Suburbs: Lake and the Northern Suburbs
Regional Opportunities
Regional IDEAs
Chapter Leader
Dain Ellman
Dain is the STEM Coordinator for Gurnee School District 56, where he has worked since 2002. He enjoys creating engaging hands-on opportunities for students to show their creativity and learn to use new tools. He holds a Master’s of Arts in Secondary Education from Roosevelt University and a Master’s of Science in Education from Walden University with a specialization in Integrating Technology in the Classroom.
While at District 56, Dain has served as Track & Field Coach, Destination Imagination Coordinator, Theater Tech Director, and has led STEM Club, Drone Racing, eSports, Science Club, Technology Club, Student Newspaper, and Yearbook Club.
He lives in Wadsworth, IL with his wife Karen, who is also a teacher, and their daughter Kelsey. He enjoys taking trips each summer with his family, during which they have visited all 50 states. He also enjoys mountain biking, eBiking, and pickleball.
List of All Chapters & Areas Served
Connect with educators
close to home.
Locate your community on the map below and match it with the chart to the right.
Get involved as your voice matters!
| Chapter | Counties or Area Served |
|---|---|
| Abe Lincoln | Christian, De Witt, Logan, Macon, Menard, Moultrie, Piatt, Sangamon & Shelby |
| Blackhawk | Henry, Mercer & Rock Island |
| Central Illinois Valley | Mason, Peoria, Tazewell & Woodford |
| Chicago | Chicago area, for those who live or work in the CPS regions |
| Chicago Prep | All parochial, independent and private schools in the Chicagoland area |
| Corn Belt | Ford, Iroquois, Livingston & McLean |
| Egyptian | Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Perry, Washington, Wayne & White |
| Illini | Champaign, Coles, Edgar, Douglas & Vermilion |
| Kaskaskia | Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Macoupin, Marion & Montgomery |
| Kishwaukee | Boone, DeKalb, Kane, McHenry & Winnebago |
| Northern Suburbs | Lake and the Northern Suburbs |
| Northwest | Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson & Whiteside |
| Shawnee | Alexander, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union & Williamson |
| South Suburbs | Southern Suburbs |
| Southwestern | Jersey, Madison, Monroe, Randolph & St. Clair |
| Starved Rock | Bureau, La Salle, Marshall & Putnam |
| Three Rivers | Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall & Will |
| Two Rivers | Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, Pike, Schuyler & Scott |
| Wabash Valley | Clark, Clay, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Effingham, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland & Wabash |
| Western | Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough & Warren |
| Western Suburbs | Du Page and the Western Suburbs |
More Upcoming Opportunities
Recent IDEAs Exchange
