Liz Zawilinski
Lincolnway Special Recreation Foundation
Board Member
I have been a resident of Frankfort Square since 2001 moving from Midlothian, IL where I lived after I got married. I grew up in Hanover Park and graduated high school in Elgin, IL. I obtained an Associates Degree from Elgin Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. Shortly after I got married and began to teach and I am now starting my 27th year of teaching. During this time I also obtained two Masters Degrees, one in Curriculum & Instruction, and the other in Administration with a Type 75 Certificate. I enjoy teaching and taught my first three years at Roosevelt Junior High in Dolton, IL. For the last 23 years I have been a teacher for Kirby School District 140 working at Prairie View Middle School for 14 years and then moved to my sister school, Grissom Middle School for the last 10 years and I am still going strong in a job I love.
My husband of 26 years Jim and I have four adult young men who all graduated from Summit Hill Junior High and Lincoln Way East High School. Our oldest son Jake is in the Navy. Chase and Zach will be going to Iowa in August, and Cole will be starting his third year in the Transition Program at Lincoln Way Central.
Community service is especially important to our family. Our family has volunteered countless hours to the Frankfort Square Wildcats Football Organization from coaching, being a team mom, working the concession stand, helping with spirit wear, raffles, and painting the field. My husband was a coach for 17 years and held the following Board positions over the years: Volunteer Coordinator, Field Maintenance, and Vice President. We were also a very active family with the Frankfort Square Baseball League serving 15 years with the organization. My husband was a coach the entire 15 years for our son’s teams and a travel raptor team. He served on the Board as a Player Agent, the Vice President of Administration, and was the President of the League for four years. I helped with spirit wear, I was a team mom, and I sometimes helped with the concession stand.
My husband and I love the Frankfort Square community and all it has to offer. The park district has a wide variety of programs which many community members sign up for. We especially love how there are activities for people with disabilities/special needs. We have a son named Cole who is moderately Autisitic and he has benefitted from the resources of the schools and the Lincoln Way Special Recreation Association. My husband has been on a couple of Boards for many years and has made a positive impact on many kids and people in the community. I wanted to join the Lincoln Way Special Recreation Foundation Board to make a difference as well. I want to be a voice for those who have trouble expressing themselves. I want to help support other families who have family members with special needs.