Meet John “Jack” Downing

Candidate for District 225 School Board

I would like to introduce myself to you, my name is Jack Downing, and in the picture above is my family. From left to right is Patrick, Amara, Devonjae, Jack, my wife Andrea, Henry and myself. I was raised in Glenview and Andrea and I moved back to Glenview to raise our family in 2007.

Professional Experience

I am the Founder and Managing Partner of WorldBridge Partners, a Global Executive Search Firm with offices across the Western Hemisphere and Europe. Over my 30-year career I have successfully completed over 2000 searches worldwide.

I have been asked to speak about the recruiting industry by numerous associations such as the American Staffing Association, the Staffing Management Association of Greater Chicago, the Illinois Venture Capital Association, and the National Graphics Association. I have also been interviewed about employment and recruiting by numerous news media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, the LA Times, and the Chicago Tribune.

I have served on the for-profit boards of KC Clean Technology Hedge Fund and R3 Biofuels as well as non-for-profit boards such as Gift of Adoption, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago (Previous Chair) and Society Of Talent Acquisition and Recruitment of Chicago (Past President).

Education

MBA, Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Manangement
B.A. Loras College

Awards and Recognition

Glenbrook South’s Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipient, 2005
University of Illinois' Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, 2010 Inductee

Community Service

I believe in giving back and have been active participant in our District’s community and beyond.

Started District 225's IncubatorEDU program.
- Worked with District 225 to establish the IncubatorEDU curriculum and program.
- Community Champion and Board Advisor 2017 to present.
- Honors class starting in the 25/26 school year.
Glenbrook South High School Volunteer Assistant Coach 2019 to present.
- Football and Wrestling.
Board of Directors, Junior Titans Football Program 2015 to present.
- President from 2017 to 2020.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help‘s School Advisory Board, 2009-2010.
Board Member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago, 2000 to present.
- Chairman from 2005 to 2010.

Personal Information

I am a Glenview native, I went to grade school at Our Lady of Perpetual Help and high school at Glenbrook South. After college I moved to Chicago where, one day while out walking the dogs, I met my wife, Andrea. Together we have five children, Devonjae, Jack, Patrick, Henry and Amara. In 2007 we had our third kid and like so many other D225 Alumni, we decided to move back to Glenview.

Why I am running for District 225 School Board

As both a proud District 225 graduate and parent of five children—three GBS alumni and two current students—I'm often asked why families should choose our schools. My answer is simple: While D225 delivers academic excellence, it's our "Kids First" culture that truly sets us apart.

This isn't just a slogan—it's a transformative approach I've witnessed from every angle. As a student, I experienced it firsthand. Today, decades later, my classmates and I still quote our teachers' sayings (many of us use them with our kids.) As a parent, I've watched this culture shape my own children's education. And as a volunteer coach and the Community Champion and Board Advisor to GBS's IncubatorEDU program, I've seen how this philosophy continues to evolve and strengthen.

"Kids First" means helping each student discover their niche in life, then build their confidence to pursue it, and then celebrate their journey. This approach creates a rare environment where students feel they truly belong, take pride in their school, and excel academically as a result.

This is why I'm running for the school board. After receiving so much from D225, I'm committed to both preserving our exceptional culture and finding innovative ways to enhance it for future generations.

What you can expect from me as a District 225 Board Member

Fiscal Responsability and Oversight:
1. Ensuring financial stability while maintaining our high-quality education.
Community Engagement and Accountability:
1. I will leverage my connections as an alumnus, parent, and volunteer to expand my reach and understand our community’s needs.
2. I will build bridges between the schools and local businesses through programs like IncubatorEDU.
3. I will maintain open communication with parents about district initiatives.
4. I will remain both Glenbrook North and South’s biggest advocates.
Educational Quality Assurance:
1. I will ensure D225 maintains its reputation for academic excellence.
2. I will continue to support diverse programming that helps students find their "niche in life".
“Kids and Families first” mindset:
1. Our kids and families will be a major factor in all my decisions.