We are tremendously blessed by the commitment of our School Board. They are a united team with unwavering courage, inspiring vision, and a contagious passion for Christian education. The 2021-2022 Board of Directors is the team that navigated our school through the most significant and historic year in our 111 year history. All the while, they did not flinch.

Our school is widely considered one of the premier schools in all of Chicagoland and one of the flagships among Christian schools everywhere. We have an excellent program of education, a strong arts program with a rich tradition, an athletic program noted for high achievement, and an unwavering conviction to train, equip and inspire this generation of young people to change the world for Jesus Christ.  

We are a school of multiple generations and yet also a school with many new families joining the team each year. Over 240 churches are represented at Timothy Christian School and over 60 different communities.  Our school operates without debt and holds Foundation assets over $5.5MM, while maintaining one of the lowest tuition rates in the area among comparable schools.  Moreover, we have raised and invested nearly $50MM into our school campus, facilities, programs, and initiatives since 2010!  And, yes, our enrollment continues to grow. We’ve officially hit record enrollment and next year is shaping up to look even stronger.  The list goes on…but you get the picture—we have a great school!

Our school is strong primarily due to the leadership of our school board and their conviction to work for the glory of God. God has used this group to dream big, to pursue successful outcomes, and to achieve great things.  We have several board members finishing their term this year.  Although some will stay on for another term, others are departing from their role on the board.  It is appropriate to honor these board members who are not returning for another year and are finishing strong. Please take a moment to review the bio of these outgoing board members below…and be sure to say “thanks” the next time you see them.  God has used each of them in mighty ways.

In alphabetical order:

Victor Harris. If you’ve been to a Timothy varsity boys basketball game in the last three years, I guarantee you know Victor. He is Timothy’s #1 fan! He has served on our Extra-Curricular Committee and Marketing Committee. I have truly enjoyed being a part of the journey with Victor & Jackie, and of course with their son, Josh, who is graduating in a few days. Victor cares deeply for our youth. He gets choked up when he talks about our students and their relationship with Jesus. He believes with all of his heart that God has a mighty purpose for each of them. As a board member, Victor has always held his convictions based on a simple question: “What’s best for the kids?” I admire Victor. Although Josh is graduating this year, the Harris family will always be Trojans.

Bob Hooker. Bob Hooker has served on our board for multiple terms. He has served faithfully on our Technology & Innovation Committee and has been a key member of our Finance & Operations Committee. He is a major reason for strong budgets here at Timothy. Bob knows accounting! If you know Bob, his analytical skills are extraordinary. Our business office has enjoyed working with Bob over the years. Our board members all have significant responsibilities outside of Timothy. Bob, in particular, has plenty of tasks demanding his attention. Yet he has always stepped up for our school and “rolled up his sleeves” for our mission. We will miss Bob dearly on the board, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets asked to give his insights and expertise down the road.

Tracey Jarzombek. I’ve been dreading this day. Tracey Jarzombek has served multiple terms on the board with the Executive Committee as Vice President and also the Education Committee as the Chair. Tracey was on the search committee that brought me to Timothy back in 2010. (Please don’t hold that against her.) Tracey is the hardest working, most diligent, and most invested board member I’ve ever served with in any organization. Of course I haven’t met every board member in our 111 year history, but I am absolutely certain that she is on Timothy’s Mount Rushmore of board members. If you ask around, you’ll quickly discover that our success in almost every arena has Tracey’s fingerprints all over it. She is an extraordinary leader and has been a personal confidant and friend. I consider Tracey a sister. Above all, she is a woman of God. She is passionate about excellence and doing all things for the glory of God. Our school would not be where it is today without Tracey.

Jill Rhiner. Jill has served on various committees during her time on the board. Most recently she has served on our Advancement & Stewardship Committee as the Chair and has also been a key member of our Marketing Committee. It’s not a secret that these two committees have both set records...and it’s not a coincidence that Jill is involved with both. Record fundraising and record enrollment! Jill is highly driven and a strong leader. I admire Jill. She has the rare combination of being equally contemplative and decisive. She has helped guide our school with a deep biblical wisdom. Her love for Jesus is so evident, and she deeply desires to see our young people enlist for the adventures that God has ahead of them. Jill is a dear friend of my wife and I, so we’ll figure out a way to keep her dialed in at Timothy in some way. 

Joel Tameling. Joel has served as the Chairman of the Board since 2017. He is a winner. Our school is stronger and better because of his leadership. Joel and I have worked closely together for a long time -- on campus, in offices, in homes, over weekly lunches, in a fishing boat, and the list goes on. We have spent considerable time talking about, dreaming about, and planning for the vision for our school. Under his leadership, we have seen record fundraising, new buildings, record enrollment, and so much more. He has become a dearly loved brother to me. Joel sharpens me. If you think I’ve made some bad decisions over the years, you should see the ones Joel has pushed back on and talked me out of. I’ve learned so much from Joel and his family about leadership. Joel is often the last to speak in a meeting. Joel is an excellent listener, a respecter of everyone, and outstanding at finding solutions based on common ground. Yet he is also a man of conviction and always willing to stand on the promises of God and biblical virtues and values. I’m excited to continue serving with Joel on the Timothy Foundation Board as we continue to dream together.

In summary, these departing board members are passionate about Timothy Christian School.  They love our school, our families, our students…and they love Jesus.  These board members have demonstrated a “GO BEYOND” type of commitment in every regard.  I have been blessed and honored to serve them and to serve with them in the advancement of the mission of Timothy Christian School.