"Upward Mobility" would be the word one could use to
explain the life and success of our own Danielle Owens. Finding someone who embarked on a career in education and experienced career fulfillment in one place has to be a rarity.
Born and raised in Freeport, IL, Danielle graduated from high school there and then moved on to
the University of
Northern Iowa. While completing her undergraduate work in History Education, with a minor in English Education and Coaching, she came to Pekin to fulfill her student teaching requirements. After
eight
weeks at Edison in the Language Arts area, she completed another
eight
weeks at Pekin High in their Social Studies department. Upon graduation, she stayed at PCHS and worked on a part-time basis in the spring of 1997. When a teacher there took temporary leave, Danielle took her spot which led to a role as a
social studies teacher,
Student Council Counselor and Home-Bound Tutor. This was followed with a position as a summer school teacher.
When a spot opened up at the high school for an English and Journalism Teacher, Danielle applied and received it. To prepare herself for a role in Journalism classes she went to Eastern Illinois University to take some classes in that field and gain some knowledge for her new role.
Her career took flight as she coached Girls
'
and Boys
'
tennis and also worked with the school newspaper
;
she taught English for
five
years and coached for four. She then moved into Social Studies and
went
back to working with the Student Council all while completing her Master
'
s Degree requirements.
Life then changed for Danielle. She and her husband welcomed a daughter
, Natalie
.
When
a position opened up in the Dean
'
s office in 2004-05
,
Danielle's future was revealed. She was there for
four
years and was going take on the position of Assistant Princip
al
for Curriculum. But when the Assistant Princip
al
of Operations resigned, Danielle moved into that role. She subsequently went back to the Curriculum job for another few years.
When the lead administrators of the time began thinking of retirement, they started working on a transition plan that included Danielle. They created an Assistant to the Assistant
Superintendent
for her. After one year in that capacity, she served as Assistant Superintendent for three years while pursuing her Education Specialist degree and Doctorate. Upon Paula Davis's retirement, Dr. Danielle Owens was hired as Superintendent of Pekin High School in March of 2015 and started in her ultimate task in July of that same year.
Danielle joined Pekin Rotary in July of 2012 having been invited to visit us by Tim Ruwe - one of her predecessor's at Pekin High. "I think it's important to be part of the community-especially when you're in a position of leadership
,
" she told me. "I'm trying to get PCHS to better connect with the community,
which is also why
my Assistant Superintendent is a part of Kiwanis." I think we're all glad that Danielle chose Rotary.
When asked about her hobbies, Danielle told me that she enjoys spending time with her family that includes a daughter who is 13 and a son
, Carter,
who is 9
as well as her husband, Chris
. She also shared, "I like to work out at Gold's Gym and travel when we can."
Danielle is joining our board and will serve in the position as chairperson for International Service. She also agreed to move up in the chairs and eventually serve as club president. Given her impressive and rapid advancement professionally, Danielle Owens is destined to someday serve as a distinguished president of Pekin Rotary.
We're blessed to call her one of our own.
Gary Gillis
here.
