VVSD Class of 2025 Spotlight- Angel Darko, Romeoville HS Valedictorian
Romeoville High School Class of 2025 Valedictorian Angel Darko has one of the most interesting resumes you will ever see. In addition to being at the top of the list of members of the RHS Class of 2025, Angel also holds several RHS girls’ powerlifting records, and she has the RHS school record holder for highest vertical leap at 34 inches. That feat is even more amazing considering Angel is 4-feet 11-inches tall! A similar vertical by a person six feet tall would be three-and-a-half feet.
Angel will attend Harvard University, studying finance and actuarial science. She had several options for attending college, and began the conversation by explaining why Harvard is where she will continue her education.
Victoria D. Pipkin
“My experiences as both a student and a parent nurtured my deep, personal commitment to strong public education,” Board Member Pipkin said. “I am dedicated to advocating for students and families, promoting academic excellence, empowering teachers, and ensuring Every Student—regardless of background—has access to a safe, equitable, and high-quality education.”
Board Member Pipkin and her husband Greg are longtime Bolingbrook residents and parents of twins who have attended VVSD schools in both Bolingbrook and Romeoville from Kindergarten through high school—now students at Bolingbrook High School and the Illinois Math & Science Academy.
Board Member Pipkin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Spelman College and a Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law. She is an experienced family law attorney and former Chief Financial Officer.
In addition to her professional work, Board Member Pipkin is an active district volunteer, having served on the Brooks Middle School Advisory Council and currently supporting the Bolingbrook High School Music Boosters. Her community involvement includes work with the Alliance for Civic Engagement and Jubilee Baptist Church in Bolingbrook, where she volunteers in ministries, teaches children’s church, and directs the Children’s Choir.
Jennifer Shroba
“I believe deeply in the benefits the educational system VVSD provides to both our students and our community,” Board Member Shroba said. “VVSD offers so much, but we can always do more for our students.”
Board Member Shroba and her husband Dave have been residents of Bolingbrook since 2003. All four of their children are Bolingbrook HS graduates, and Shroba is also the proud grandmother of two grandchildren. Board Member Shroba served for 15 years as the Enrollment & Development Director for St. Dominic School in Bolingbrook. In addition to watching her grandchildren during the day, Jennifer is also a certified volleyball official who officiates games for the Illinois High School Association and for club volleyball in the area.
Board Member Shroba has a long record of community commitment including being a Girl Scouts leader for 15 years, and coaching volleyball, softball, basketball, and soccer for the Panther Sports Club and for the Bolingbrook Park District.
“We welcome both Victoria and Jennifer to the VVSD Board of Education, and we thank them for the time, commitment, and passion that it takes to go through the process of placing your name on the ballot and being selected to represent the community,” said VVSD Board of Education President Steve Quigley. “We look forward to working together as a Board to meet the educational needs of the children of VVSD while also exercising fiscal responsibility.”
Three Things to Know from the Monday, June 16 VVSD Board Meeting
In Photo at Left: VVSD Board President Steve Quigley congratulates former Board Member Debbie Sykora after reading the proclamation naming the VVSD Early Childhood Center Bolingbrook Campus as the Debbie Sykora Early Childhood Center at the Mon. June 16 VVSD Board Meeting.
The beginning of the 2025-26 VVSD school year will feature the opening of the VVSD Early Childhood Center Bolingbrook Campus located adjacent to Oak View Elementary School. At the Mon. June 16 VVSD Board of Education meeting, the Board voted to officially name the new building the Debbie Sykora Early Childhood Center.
Debbie Sykora recently retired from her 12 years of service to the VVSD community as a member of the Board, and that followed her 35-year career as a VVSD teacher. “I am very humbled to receive this honor,” Sykora said. “When I taught, when I was on the Board, attending school events, it didn’t seem to me I was doing anything special. I enjoyed all of it, so it didn’t seem to me I was doing anything special, anything out of the ordinary. To have my name on a building is unbelievable.”
Other actions by the Board at the June 16 Meeting:
Extended the Cleaning Contract with GSF for the 2025-26 School Year. A review of bids submitted on March 11, 2025 at a public bid opening resulted in irregularities in the submitted bids. Therefore, the VVSD Board extended the current GSF contract for one year at a 1.5% increase. The District will rebid the cleaning services contract to ensure a fair and compliant procurement process.
Awarded a contract for phone replacement services to Webex by Cisco to replace the aging system currently in use which relies on outdated technology, limited support, and rising costs. The new cloud-based solution will be scalable, reduce on-site hardware, and lower long-term phone costs.
VVSD Superintendent Report at the June 16 Board of Education Meeting
VVSD Asst. Superintendent Dr. Teresa Polson provided an update to the Board of Education at the June 16 Regular Meeting. Dr. Polson shared information regarding a grant for Wood View Elementary School secured by Illinois State Senator Rachel Ventura and congratulations to the VVSD graduating Class of 2025.
VVSD Student Online Enrollment for 2025-26 School Year
Online enrollment for all returning 2025-26 students and students entering kindergarten is now open.
To be eligible to register for kindergarten, a student must be five years old on or before Sept 1, 2025, and the family must live with VVSD boundaries.
Families of current VVSD students are able to register via their Infinite Campus Parent Portal account while families new to the District will be able to register online. Click here for more details about the enrollment process.
Get Ready for the 2025-26 School Year by Joining the VVSD Team
VVSD is still hiring for a wide range of positions for the 2025-26 school year with an emphasis on adding to our teams of paraprofessionals, lunchroom/playground aides and special education teachers.
We are also seeking new team members including guest teachers, bus drivers, operations & maintenance, nutrition services, and special education staff.
VVSD’s employment opportunities offer schedules for staff members that are in synchronization with school schedules, making VVSD a great choice for parents who need to have their work schedule match up with the school hours, and Winter and Spring Break for their children. To see all VVSD job opportunities and to apply, visit www.vvsd.org/jobs
VVSD Buildings Operations and Maintenance Offering Summer Job Opportunities
VVSD’s facilities operations has several summer temporary job opportunities currently available. These positions are for eight hours per day, five days a week, late spring through summer. For most positions, the hours are 6:30 am- 3 pm, Monday-Friday with starting pay at $15 per hour. Additional dates may include VVSD’s fall and spring breaks, as needed.
The positions being offered will assist in a variety of functions under the direction of supervisors, including general maintenance, grounds, painting, moving, carpentry, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and other duties in support of District-wide operations.
To view the job openings, full description and to apply, visit www.vvsd.org/jobs
VVSD Nutrition Services Shares Information Regarding USDA SUN Bucks Summer Program
SUN Bucks is a nutrition program authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. SUN Bucks 2025 will provide a $120 annual benefit to eligible children, via an Electronic Benefit Transfer issuance by the Illinois Department of Human Services. Complete information on this program is available on the IDHS Summer EBT Webpage.
Illinois Summer EBT information is also available via the customer help line at (833) 621-0737. The agency will be able to assist with such things as the card distribution timeline, usage, allowable expenses, and lost or misplaced cards.
Free Summer Meals for VVSD Students Enrolled in VVSD Summer Programs
VVSD Nutrition Services is once again offering FREE summer meals for students attending our summer programs. For more information, visit www.vvsd.org/food
VVSD’s Secondary Transition Experience Program runs on Dunkin! STEP students visited Dunkin at 1255 W Boughton Rd, Bolingbrook to enjoy a sweet treat and time with friends. Thanks to the staff at this Dunkin location for supporting our students and covering the cost of the orders!
The renovation of the RC Hill Elementary parking lot is underway. The old asphalt is gone and the wiring for the street lamps is the next task.
