Education

1981 – 1985 – Bachelors of Science in Accountancy - Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
I took my first accounting class my sophomore year in high school. After taking that class, I knew right then and there that I wanted to major in accounting. During the early '80s, Illinois had two of the top accounting programs in the nation. I applied to Northern Illinois University (NIU) as it was a little closer to my home and was accepted.

I remember other NIU business majors asking me why I was drawn to accounting. For some reason, I loved analyzing numbers from an early age and accounting was the perfect fit for me. I felt that my accounting degree provided me with a strong foundation to quickly assess a company’s financial position and provide recommendations to improve that financial position.

As part of my accounting degree coursework, I later interned as an internal auditor for Household International. After graduation, I began working there full-time. While I loved being an auditor and providing recommendations on how we could improve the company, I soon learned that I was not passionate about the mission of a for-profit corporation.

2003 – 2005 - Masters in Science in Education, School Business Administration - Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL

From 1993-2000, I had the great fortune to be a stay-at-home mom. However, staying at home wasn’t in my DNA. I volunteered in my children’s school district (D300) every chance I could. Those volunteer opportunities started out as a room mom but quickly transitioned to district level volunteer committees.

In my district level volunteerism, I was offered a position on the district boundary committee. I soon found myself running the district boundary software for the committee’s proposed boundary scenarios. With my three year old daughter in tow, the district set us up in a conference room for three months to develop the supporting documentation for the various boundary scenarios.

After I finished my work on the boundary committee, the district asked me three separate times to come work in their business office. As my daughter entered first grade, I accepted my first position in the school district’s business office. As part of that position, the superintendent encouraged and offered to send me to get my masters in school business administration. I, gladly, took him up on that offer!

During my analysis work on the district boundary committee, I realized that I had found my true passion: school finance. Then, my school business administration coursework reaffirmed that school finance was my true passion. Finally, through my school business administration cohort, I found the collegiality of school business officials and the value of the business official network. Some of my dearest friends are those that were in my school business administration cohort and I rely upon them deeply to this day.

2014 – Present - Doctorate in Education – School Leadership - Concordia University, River Forest, IL

Work History

2000-2006 - Accounting Supervisor, CUSD 300, Carpentersville, IL
After staying at home for six years and having worked in the corporate world as an accountant, I was thrilled to be working as the accounting supervisor for D300.

From 2000-2006, D300 was going through some very tough financial times. They had tried and failed to pass several referendums. We were growing about 500 students each year and our buildings were at max capacity. We were also relying on interims to be our school business official.

While I didn’t have my Chief School Business Official endorsement, I did my best to hold the district’s finances together until we could pass a referendum and hire a full-time, permanent chief school business official. In 2005, the district hired a permanent school business official. In 2006, we passed a $185 million capital and a $0.55 education fund referendum. The district was now on solid financial footing.

During this time, I quickly learned that I loved D300 and school finance as much as I loved accounting. Ever since, my passion has been to do my part to ensure our community and students receive an outstanding education system.

2006-2009 - Associate Superintendent, CCSD 62, Des Plaines, IL
2009-2012 - CFO, CCSD 47, Crystal Lake, IL

2012-Present - COO, CUSD 300, Carpentersville, IL

In 2012, I received a phone call from the D300 school board president and superintendent letting me know that the D300 chief school business official was retiring and they wanted to know if I would be interested in applying for the position. Without any hesitation, I said yes! While I thoroughly enjoyed the two districts I worked for after I left D300, my heart has always belonged to the D300 office. I was thrilled to be able to return to the district that shaped me into the school business official I am today and there is no greater satisfaction than to give back to your local community. I have made it my goal to ensure that D300 maintain its strong financial position while providing our community and students with an exemplary education system.

Involvement & Participation

1992 – 2007 – CCD Teacher
1992 - 1994 – D300 Room Parent, Fall Fundraiser Chair, Fun Fair Chair
1994-1996 – D300 Parent Organization Treasurer
1995-1997 – D300 Parent Organization President
1997- 1998 – D300 District Boundary Committee Member
1997-2000 – D300 School Improvement Committee Member

2006 - ASBO International - Bridges to the Future - Scholarship Recipient

When I was at D300, I attended my first ASBO International Annual Meeting & Expo. At my new school district, my superintendent encouraged me to apply for the Bridges to the Future scholarship. I had the great fortune to be chosen as a scholarship recipient.

As part of the scholarship program, I was able to attend the AM&E and then the Executive Leadership Forum the following spring. I was in awe at the level of member engagement and felt such camaraderie amongst everyone attending. The opportunities afforded with this scholarship reinforced my passion for the school business profession and deepened that passion through the wonderful friendships and collegiality I see at these conferences.

I have not missed an AM&E since I won the scholarship! Each year I attend the AM&E, I am amazed by and learn so much from my colleagues. I leave the meeting reenergized and with a renewed focus to be the best school business official that I can be.

2006 – 2009 - Illinois ASBO Northwest Suburban Regional Group – Member

2006 – 2009 - SELF-Worker’s Comp Insurance Cooperative – Board Member

2006 – 2009 - SSCIP-Liability Insurance Cooperative – Board Member, Chair

2006 – 2009 - Rotary Club of Des Plaines – Treasurer

Susan Harkin 6

2006 – 2010 - Illinois ASBO Professional Development Committee - Budgeting and Finance - Committee Member

Volunteering and giving back has been an integral part of my life. I started as a volunteer at my children’s school and my own church, then, I found an exciting opportunity to serve on the Illinois ASBO Budgeting and Finance Professional Development Committee.

Illinois ASBO's Annual Conference is only as good as the professional development provided by its members. These committees get together quarterly to develop content for the upcoming Annual Conference as well as seminars, day conferences and webinars offered year-round. I am always deeply impressed by the level of commitment our members have to ensure that our professional development offerings are top notch.

We all know how difficult school business official jobs can be. And yet, we find ways to put together one more presentation, write one more article, share one more post about a trending issue or reach out to a colleague that needs help. I truly believe the connections and support amongst our members at Illinois ASBO and ASBO International are a lifeline to all of us. We are a stronger profession because of this network of support.

2007 – Present - ASBO International - School Finance Content Area Expert - Committee Member

2008 & 2009 - ASBO International - Strategic Planning Session (Horace Mann) – Participant

2009 – Present - Illinois ASBO - McHenry, Boone & Winnebago Regional Group – Member

2010 - Illinois ASBO - Leadership Institute - Graduate

2010 – 2017 - Illinois ASBO Board – Director
After serving on a professional development committee for several years, I was tapped by a board member to apply for the Illinois ASBO Board of Directors. I was honored that a sitting board member reached out to me to apply to serve as one of the leaders of our state association. Because I believe it is important that we all give back to ensure we pass along a strong and thriving association, I happily applied. It was a proud moment to know I was selected by my peers to serve as a Director on the Illinois ASBO Board.

Serving on the Illinois ASBO Board was truly some of the best years of my life. I was blessed to serve with several of my colleagues that joined me in my school business administration cohort. I also made many new friendships during this time.

School finance is not for everyone. However, I believe school business officials are some of the most dedicated people I know. These dedicated people, willing to serve on our board, are some of the most special people I know. The passion we all share for serving our students and communities is at the heart of why I love being a school business official.

2010 – 2017 - Illinois ASBO Professional Development Committee - Leadership Development - Committee Member

2011 - Illinois ASBO - Winter 2011 Update – Pathways-to-Success - Author

2013 – 2014 - Illinois ASBO – Board - Treasurer

2014 - ASBO International Volunteerism Task Force - Committee Member

2014 - ASBO International - Private Sector to Public School District – Author
In 2014, I had the opportunity to share my journey in an article I wrote for the ASBO School Business Affairs Magazine. From a private sector accountant to a school business official, my exposure to and passion for public education came through my parents at a very young age.

My mom’s first job was a school bus driver and then later a school secretary. I, fondly, remember coming to her school to read to her principal, bringing home outdated textbooks to play school and running the ditto machine to make copies for teachers. I loved everything about being in the school with her and sharing her passion to support her school.

My dad served on the local school board in the late '60s and early '70s. We lived in a very diverse community. My dad always emphasized the importance of public education for everyone and giving back to our community through public service.

I believe I was destined to be a school business official. As there is no real direct route to this role, I love to hear others’ stories on how they ended up in the best profession in the world. I am sure many of you have similar stories. I like to think these stories unite us in ways no other profession does. It is the glue that makes our state associations and ASBO International so vibrant.

2014 - ASBO International - SFO: Gold Mine Session - Facilitator

2014 – 2015 - Illinois ASBO – Board – President Elect

2015 – Present - ASBO International – Legislative Affairs Content Area Expert - Committee Member

2015 – Present - Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce – Treasurer

2015 – 2016 - Illinois ASBO – Board – President

2016 – Present - Illinois School District Liquid Asset Fund Board – Trustee

2016 - ASBO International - Emerging School Business Leader Scholars – Mentor
To me, the true value of ASBO International is the support system of exceptional professionals focused on the same mission, being the best school finance official for their staff and students.

Two years ago, I was fortunate to be a mentor for the Emerging School Business Leader program. Spending time with our new school business officials as a mentor re-energized me and reminded me how very important support is to each and every one of us in our career. On average, sixty percent of our scholarship winners become members of ASBO International, which tells me that the AM&E is a great resource to all of us. As I have watched the AM&E over the years, the excitement and collaboration that takes place continues to inspire me.

2017 – Present - Illinois ASBO Professional Development Committee – Public Policy, Advocacy and Intergovernmental Relations - Committee Member

2017 – Present - Illinois State Board of Education - ISBE Site Level Financial Reporting Initiative - Committee Member

2018 – Present - Illinois State Board of Education - Professional Review Panel for Evidenced-Based Funding - Vice Chair
In 2017, Illinois passed its new evidenced-based school funding model. As part of the final legislation, the state designated a Professional Review Panel to study and review the implementation and effect of the newly instituted Evidence-Based Funding model. In 2018, it was an honor to be selected to serve on the committee as one of two Illinois school business officials and be the Vice Chair on the Professional Review Panel.

In my continued passion to serve public education, I currently serve as the Chair of the Regional Office of Education and Annual Spend Plan Sub-Committees. I am also a member of the Recalibration and Evaluative Study Sub-Committees. After just one year of implementation, Illinois’ new school funding formula holds the promise of closing Illinois’ drastic funding and achievement gaps both between schools in property-rich and property-poor districts, as well as between schools in predominantly white communities and schools that serve predominantly students of color. I am thrilled to serve on a panel that will oversee the implementation of the new formula in the continuation of my passion for a quality public education system for all.

Certification & Endorsements

2005 – Chief School Business Official Endorsement
In 2005, I completed a 39-semester-hour M.S.Ed. in School Business Management program through NIU. The program focused on financial planning, cash management, facility planning and operations, debt management, collective bargaining, investments, budgeting, construction, insurance and risk management, safety and security, transportation, compliance and reporting and even community relations. The program prepared me tackle all of these challenging issues and more. While I have an accounting degree, the Chief School Business Official wears many more hats than a traditional accountant. This program provided the foundation to assist me in becoming a successful school business official.

2012 – Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations (SFO)
In 2012, I earned my SFO certification. I believe this program benefits me, both professionally and personally. The SFO certification strengthens my career by demonstrating my professional competencies, showing commitment to continued professional development and demonstrating to my stakeholders that I have the know-how to support them.

Also, I believe the pursuit of certification shows my initiative, professionalism and dedication to the profession. It showed my employer that I possess proven knowledge and career-specific skills, am capable of thinking critically, I am seasoned in school business practices and maintain high standards and ethics. When I passed the exam, it instilled the confidence in me that I had acquired the necessary tools to perform the duties and responsibilities of a school business official. The SFO certification is just one more way of showing my passion for our profession.

2017 - Superintendent Endorsement
In 2014, I joined a cohort of school business officials to begin working on a doctorate in educational leadership. As part of the program, we can earn a superintendent’s endorsement. While I feel my accounting degree, master's in school business administration and SFO certification help me to be a top notch school business official, the superintendent’s endorsement and participation in an educational leadership doctoral program help me see school finance through another lens.

Previous to this program, I believe I was more of a bean counter and not an active contributor on our superintendent’s cabinet. I was a gatekeeper of the finances but didn’t always understand how and why funds were being spent in ways that best benefitted our students. I joined this program in order to see the use of the district’s finances through the perspective of a superintendent.

Since obtaining my superintendent endorsement and completing my doctoral coursework, I feel I have become an active contributor in conversations about our education programs. I believe I am better able to support our district’s overall vision/mission through the use of the district’s resources. I believe I am a stronger member on the district leadership team by my participation in this program.

Career

Education

Work History

Involvement & Participation

Certification & Endorsements