Public education is a cornerstone of Katherine “Kate” Dunneback’s life and it remains a driving force in her service to others. She has 22 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist in public, private, city, suburban, and downstate schools. As a staff member, parent, union leader, and advocate, her work focuses on children and parents, lifting up the voices of those who often go unheard.

Katherine attended public schools in downstate Illinois and was inspired by a grandmother and mother who worked as public school teachers. With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech and hearing sciences and related disorders, Katherine works with children with communication disorders and supports their families in accessing support. She and her husband Brian have raised twin boys who both had educational needs met through IEPs, giving her experience with diverse learners as both a parent and a practitioner.

Katherine was an active member of Illinois’s Education Association, serving as her school’s union representative, and was a delegate to the Illinois Education Association Representative Council. As president of the Central Illinois Speech-Language Hearing Association and a member of the legislation and regulation subcommittee of the Illinois Speech-Language Hearing Association, she helped craft regulations and legislation that put children and their families first.  

A majority of Katherine’s career has been spent serving students and families in Title 1 schools. She witnessed first-hand the gaps in services that occur when schools are inequitably funded which led to her completing training in special education law to improve her advocacy skills. As a CPS parent on Chicago’s South Side, she used this knowledge to assist other parents of diverse learners in advocating for their children in the CPS system. 

Katherine extended her advocacy beyond the classroom. In 2019, she joined the Chicago Teachers Union picket line and connected with families in her community at town halls and social justice protests. She believes that supporting diverse learners and students of color requires listening to their experiences and taking action to address inequities.

With a 22-year career spent working with children and their families, Katherine understands the needs of public schools as a professional, parent, and advocate and knows how student-focused policy and practice can produce better outcomes. She sees the role of Chicago Public School Board member as the next step in a lifetime of putting children and families first.