Board of Education
The Board of Education consists of seven elected officials who each serve a four-year term. These are unpaid, volunteer positions. Board elections are held during the month of April as part of the consolidated election cycle in odd numbered years.
The Board welcomes your questions and greatly values your feedback. If you would like to send a message to all Board members, as well as the Superintendent of Schools, please fill out the form below.
Please note, if the topic of the message is a question that can be answered by a member of the administrative staff, the message will be referred to the appropriate person for a response. Board members regularly read through their emails and it is important to note that lack of immediate action or a direct response following your message does not imply a lack of interest in what is being shared.
Meet the Board
Robin Cleek, President
Elected 2015, 2019, 2023
Robin Cleek attended Hawthorn schools as a child and returned to reside in Vernon Hills with her husband in 2004. She has three children who all attended Hawthorn schools from Kindergarten through 8th grade, but have now moved on to high school and college. Over the past several years she has volunteered at various PTO events and weekly in the classroom. In addition to serving on the Hawthorn District 73 School Board, she also is a Court Appointed Special Advocate with CASA Lake County. Robin has a Bachelor of Science in Child & Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin and a Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She ran for the school board because she is passionate about education, and being an advocate for children.
George Fievet, Vice President
Elected 2019, 2023
A resident of Vernon Hills for nearly 20 years, George Fievet serves as Director of Client Delivery and Support for Elevance Health. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Iowa State University and a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in organizational behavior from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. George and his wife, Julie, have two sons, one of whom attends a Hawthorn school. Originally motivated by a desire to serve the community and support student success, George remains dedicated to helping make the district an exceptional place to live and learn.
Julie Clifford, Secretary
Appointed 2023, Elected 2025
Julie Clifford resides in Libertyville with her husband and their two children, both who attend Hawthorn District 73. She has lived in the district for 12 years observing education as a cornerstone of the community as well as a key value in her home. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Illinois State University, and a Master of Business Administration from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. Julie works remotely as an eCommerce Brand Manager for Church & Dwight out of Ewing, NJ. She is excited to join the board as she is eager to contribute her energy, knowledge, and dedication to ensure our schools continue to thrive and provide the highest quality education for our students.
Karl Borchers
Elected 2021, 2025
Karl Borchers lives in Vernon Hills with his wife and three young children, the oldest of which began school at Hawthorn District 73 in the Fall of 2021. He works in Human Resources at Abbott Laboratories, earned his Bachelor's Degrees in Biology and Psychology from Lake Forest College, and a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University Chicago. He is passionate about the future of Hawthorn District 73, saying, "I’m invested in the future of our schools and our community; being a member of the Board provides the opportunity to leverage my personal and professional experiences, as well as my perspective as a parent of young children, to help with the challenges of today and in setting the direction for our future success."
Michael Engle
Elected 2021, 2025
Michael is a proud graduate of Hawthorn District 73, having moved to Vernon Hills in 1984. He currently resides in Mundelein with his wife Penny and three sons—Wesley, Brady, and Evan. Since 2010, Michael has worked as a Senior Account Success Manager at iPromo, a leading company in promotional product marketing. Michael currently represents Hawthorn District 73 on the SEDOL (Special Education District of Lake County) Governing Board. Deeply involved in the local community, Michael is active in his sons' travel hockey and travel baseball programs. He serves on the Vernon Hills Community Baseball & Softball Board, where he volunteers his time as a coach. When asked why he chose to run for the Board of Education, Michael shared: "Being on the school board is a great way for me to give back to the community that’s meant so much to me over the years. I believe strong schools help build a strong community, and I want to do my part to support our students, families, and teachers however I can."
Joel Finfer
Elected 2019, 2023
A resident of Vernon Hills, Joel Finfer is retired from a four-decade career in sales and marketing. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Northern Illinois University and brings 30 years of passionate advocacy for public education to the Hawthorn District 73 Board. Currently, Mr. Finfer serves on the District 73 Site and Facilities Committee and is the District representative to ED-RED, an 81-school district public education advocacy group. In addition, Joel sits on the ED-RED Executive Board as its Chairman. The titles he holds most dear are husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather.
Stephanie Peters
Elected 2025
Stephanie is a lifelong north shore resident, and moved to Vernon Hills in 2022. She works for a nationwide retail organization overseeing workplace strategy, operations, and dining across corporate offices. Stephanie volunteered with the 73 Board for two years on the Site & Facilities Committee prior to being elected, and believes "It's our responsibility as members of the community to foster an educational environment that allows students to do their best learning". In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two kids, traveling with her partner of three years, and helping to manage an action packed multi-generational household with her retired parents.
Contact the Hawthorn Board of Education
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