Board Member Bios

Emily Conquest
President
econquest@min201.org

Emily has served on the Board of Education since 2019, and has served as Board President since 2021. She has been an active member of the Minooka 201 community since her oldest started kindergarten in 2013. She quickly became a volunteer in the PTO, and was the chairperson for many committees and events over the years. In addition to being a volunteer in our schools, she has volunteered her time in various community organizations including a local food pantry, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Will County Medical Reserve Corp, and in her church community.

Professionally, Mrs. Conquest is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Michigan State University. Her experience includes working in pediatrics, school nursing, women’s health, and community education.

Emily resides in Shorewood with her husband, her three children, and her dog. Her current term will expire in 2027.

Adam Shainberg
Vice President
ashainberg@min201.org

Adam has served on the Board of Education since 2021.  He is dedicated to supporting Minooka 201 at every opportunity. This spirit to volunteer has been a guiding force as he participates in district fundraisers, church events, and coaching soccer teams.

Mr. Shainberg has spent almost two decades in the fields of mental health and special education.  Adam takes pride in the valuable experiences gained working in public school and behavioral academic settings.  Through these partnerships Adam has made lasting contributions to the successful implementation of special education and autism intervention programs. Currently, Adam manages patient advocacy at Ascension Illinois Behavioral Health Services. 

As a graduate of The University of Kansas, Adam is passionate about education, community, and of course basketball.  Adam lives in Minooka with his wife, three children, two cats, and a dog (pending).  His current term will expire in 2025.

Stephen Blount
Secretary
sblount@min201.org

Stephen is a God fearing man that is blessed with a spectacular wife Leslie; 4 remarkable kids that are between the ages of 11-18 years of age (3 Girls and a Boy). He is a real estate agent and businessman that has been very active in his church community and youth sports in our region.

Stephen is an ambitious, charismatic, servant leader that loves all people. He is always striving to be the best version of himself that he can be for his family, friends, clients and community. He is a graduate of Western Illinois University and resides in Joliet with his family.

Stephen was elected to the Minooka 201 Board of Education in 2021. His current term expires in 2025.

Thomas McGowan
tmcgowan@min201.org

Thomas was elected to his current term in 2025. His term expires in 2029.

Edward Cronin
ecronin@min201.org

Edward (Ed) Cronin has been a Shorewood resident for 29 years. He and his wife of 33 years have one grandchild and three adult children, all of which went through the Minooka 201 school system. 

A sales executive for FTD, Ed always wants to make sure our district continues to offer the best education we can. He previously served on the Minooka 201 Board of Education from 2015-2019 before being reelected to the post in 2021. His current term runs through 2025.

Jennifer Monson
jmonson@min201.org

Jennifer (Jen) Monson resides in Shorewood with her husband, three children, and their dog.  Jen attended Minooka 201 schools and graduated from Minooka Community High School. After
high school she earned an A.A.S. in Electric/Electronic Automated Systems Technology from Joliet Junior College, graduated from Utah College of Massage Therapy, and later graduated from the University of St. Francis with a B.S. in Applied Organizational Management. Jen was a licensed massage therapist and small business owner for twenty years before retiring to pursue a career in education. She currently works as a paraprofessional and substitute teacher in a
local special education program.

Jen has participated in volunteer service her entire adult life in both her local and church
communities. She also served an 18-month mission for her church in the Dakotas and
surrounding regions. She is currently serving as a youth Sunday School teacher for elementary school aged children.

Jen believes that every single person is of great worth and has unimaginable potential to
accomplish much in this life. She is committed to serving in the community and committed to being a voice for all Minooka 201 students and community members.

Katherine Tonelli
ktonelli@min201.org

Katherine (KC) Tonelli is an ambitious and dedicated addition to the board. She takes her role seriously and is happy to use her background in education in this way. She earned her BA in Sociology and MA in Education Curriculum and Development while living in Arizona where she grew up. Katherine moved to the area in 2005. She currently resides in Shorewood with her husband and three children. All three of her children, ages 3-9, attend Minooka 201 schools. She enjoys these busy years chauffeuring her kids to and from camps, sports practices, and school events, and looks forward to becoming more active in the PTO.

During the day, Mrs. Tonelli teaches junior high language arts in a neighboring district. She has been in public education as a classroom teacher for over 20 years. Before that, she served as a therapist for children with autism. She’s been working with children since her high school and college days employed as a nanny and youth group leader. When school is not in session, you will find Katherine volunteering in the community at summer learning programs, camps, and coaching.

Katherine was elected to the board in 2023. Her current term expires in 2027.