CHICAGO — The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has named Dora King, president of the North Chicago Community Unit School District (CUSD) 187 Board of Education, as the 2025 recipient of the Thomas Lay Burroughs Award. The award honors outstanding local school board leadership, recognizing the transformative impact of King’s extraordinary leadership in strengthening governance, improving student learning, and expanding opportunity for all students.
The Burroughs Award, instituted by ISBE in 1991 in memory of the late ISBE Chair Thomas Lay Burroughs, celebrates board members who advance student learning, promote equity, and address local challenges with exceptional leadership. ISBE Board Chair Dr. Steven Isoye presented King with the award Sunday at the 2025 Joint Annual Conference (also known as Triple I), hosted by the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Business Officials, and Illinois Association of School Administrators in Chicago.
“When school board members lead with clarity, courage, and a focus on students, entire communities benefit,” said State Superintendent Dr. Tony Sanders. “Mrs. King brings all of that and more. She is a dynamic, forward-thinking leader whose steady guidance helped North Chicago move from crisis to stability. Her unwavering commitment to students, families, and educators helped lay the foundation for future academic growth and continued financial solvency.”
“Mrs. King has demonstrated what exceptional school board leadership looks like,” said Dr. Isoye. “She stepped into leadership during a profoundly challenging time and helped steer the district toward stability, excellence, and renewed community trust. Her impact will be felt by students, families, and the community for generations.”
King joined the North Chicago CUSD 187 Board of Education 13 years ago during one of the district’s most difficult eras. Severe financial, operational, and academic challenges had prompted ISBE to take the rare step of assuming oversight of the district. King was appointed to lead the board because of her deep roots in the North Chicago community and her longstanding commitment to young people and families.
In his nomination of King for the Burroughs Award, North Chicago CUSD 187 Superintendent John Price credited King’s leadership as bringing stability at a time when the district faced significant distress, including volatile board meetings, staff turnover, and urgent financial decisions.
Under King’s guidance, the board strengthened its governance practices, improved transparency, and established systems to keep student outcomes at the center of decision-making. As a result, North Chicago has experienced dramatic improvements in academic performance, staff support, and student engagement. Key accomplishments during her tenure include:
- Freshman-On-Track rates increased from 56% to 91% in five years.
- The four-year graduation rate rose from 56% to 88% over four years.
- The district implemented standards-aligned curricula in all subjects and invested in high-quality instructional materials.
- North Chicago outperformed state and national growth trends in reading and math.
- The district’s Green Bay Early Childhood Center earned the Illinois Gold Circle of Quality for two consecutive years.
- Teacher retention improved from 61% to 83% in five years.
New student opportunities emerged, including a reestablished high school marching band, a thriving Media Club, an expanded NJROTC program, a supportive Freshman Academy, enhanced counseling and postsecondary advising, and a teacher pipeline for graduates to return as educators.
King has also been a strong advocate for the district’s diverse student population, which includes high percentages of low-income students, English learners, and military-connected students. Under her leadership, the board prioritized programs that support students’ transitions, engagement, and long-term success. This included the expansion of transitional programs for military-connected students, backing efforts to broaden academic and enrichment opportunities, and endorsing the creation of a new district foundation that now offers full scholarships for graduates to earn college degrees or industry credentials through the College of Lake County.
Her leadership has been central to rebuilding trust between the district and the community. Families now view the district as a place of progress and possibility rather than distress.
"Mrs. King began her leadership of the board at a time of deep crisis,” said Superintendent Price in the nomination. “But because of her deep commitment and strong leadership, Mrs. King saw the district through, from state takeover to an incredibly robust, dynamic learning institution committed to continuous improvement and to each and every student.”
North Chicago Community Unit School District 187, located in Lake County, serves approximately 3,300 students, 90.8% of whom identify as Black or Latino.
For more information about the award, visit ISBE’s Thomas Lay Burroughs Award webpage.
