Episode 65: Shooting for the Stars: Community Leadership in Action with Joanna Lago and Jaime Zaura

Joanna Lago is a ten-year resident of La Grange Park where she resides with her husband, Felipe, and their two elementary-aged sons. When she is not carpooling her kids to soccer practice, coordinating block parties, helping her parents, LaGrange’s Santa and Mrs. Claus, aka HOHOHoglund, book events in the area, or attending D102 meetings, she serves as Principal at Sherlock Elementary School, a Pre-K through 6th grade school in Cicero, IL. An enthusiastic, compassionate, and knowledgeable educational leader, Joanna has been a school principal for the past 8 years. Leading her school to improve their State Report card to “Commendable” status, Joanna has worked tirelessly to apply best practices in literacy instruction which led to a significant increase in student achievement data. This year, Joanna is bringing her expertise as an educator to her own community, hopeful she will have the opportunity to serve on District 102’s Board of Education. Join Joanna in advocating for our community’s future.

Jaime Zaura was appointed to the Board in 2015 and elected in 2017. Ms. Zaura is a licensed architect and co-founded her firm, 845 Design Group, in 2013. 845 Design Group is a certified Women-Owned Business and specializes in commercial architectural design. Ms. Zaura received her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois of Chicago and soon after completed a Masters of Business Administration. Ms. Zaura was formerly a member of the Sustainable Commission and served on the La Grange Park Zoning Board of Appeals for four years. Serving on the Board of Trustees has always been a goal of Ms. Zaura. As an architect with extensive experience working on public projects, she understands the importance of community involvement and creating an environment that will serve the community as well as future generations.

In this episode, we discuss:

Applying Business Strategies to Education:
Innovative Teacher Recruitment and Support:
Community and Civic Engagement:
Economic Development and Local Highlights:

Lightbulb Moments:

You can bring business principles into education by using diverse metrics, like state tests, perception surveys, and teacher morale, to measure student achievement. You also play a crucial role in tackling post-pandemic challenges like mental health and learning gaps with a strategic approach.
You can explore creative ways to strengthen the teaching workforce, such as recruiting bilingual teachers from places like Puerto Rico or offering incentives like education funding to attract and support educators.
You have the power to make a difference by volunteering for school board or trustee positions and fostering accountability in education. By engaging with your community, you contribute to shaping local governance and supporting educators.
You can be part of driving growth in small municipalities by supporting initiatives like expanding parking and attracting businesses. And don’t forget to appreciate local gems, like the highly recommended Freddy’s restaurant in Cicero.

A Quote To Remember

“Shooting for the stars is not a bad thing.” – Joanna Lago

Connect with Joanna Lago:

Website: https://lago102.com/

Note: Early Voting takes place from 3/17/25-3/31/25 at Brookfield Village Hall (8820 Brookfield Ave Brookfield, IL) or Lyons Village Hall (4200 S Lawndale Ave Lyons, IL)