Board of Education

Clara Bruno Brings a unique and compassionate perspective to the board, shaped by her diverse professional background and deep commitment to community well-being. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Robert Morris University and an Associate's Degree in Nursing from Morton College, combining business acumen with hands-on healthcare experience. 

Clara's career spans over six years in finance and private equity, where she developed a strong foundation in strategic planning and resource management. Complementing her financial expertise, Clara has spent the last local travel nurse for three years. Her ability to care for individuals in high-pressure environments reflects her deep empathy and dedication to service. 

For the past four years, Clara has served as a valued member of the board, with the last two years as Board President. Her leadership has been marked by thoughtful collaboration, inclusivity and steady vision for growth.

Outside of her professional and board commitments, Clara is passionate about staying active through softball, volleyball, and fitness. She also enjoys exploring nutrition, reading, volunteering, and building meaningful connections with those around her. 

Clara's well-rounded background and genuine care for others continue to be a guiding force in her role as a board member.

• DCFS Mandated Reporter Training
• Setting District Goals
• Open Meetings Act
• The Job of the Board President
• Trauma Informed Practices - Part 1

Cheretta Smith has spent more than 25 years in early childhood education, pouring her heart into creating spaces where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to learn. As a Director at Bright Horizons, she leads with both vision and heart, making sure families and educators feel supported every step of the way.

Her passion for education extends far beyond her day-to-day work. As Vice President of the Berwyn North School District 98 Board of Education, Cheretta is a strong voice for students and families, championing programs and policies that open doors of opportunity. She also serves as Team Lead for Married Life with Reggie & London Royal at Lifeline System of Churches, helping couples strengthen their marriages through faith, love, and community.

Cheretta is known for her servant leadership—leading with empathy, compassion, and a natural charisma that makes people feel seen and valued. Whether she’s mentoring a teacher, advocating for a child, or encouraging a couple, her mission is the same: to make a lasting difference in people’s lives.

• DCFS Mandated Reporter Training
• Open Meetings Act
• Basics of Governance
• PERA
• Trauma Informed Practices - Part 1

Cynthia Brito is a scholar activist and doctoral candidate in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Cynthia's research examines how cities manage crises and the opportunities and challenges mutualism and mutual aid strategies bring for communities survive and thrive in an era of multi-scalar crisis. She is a community organizer in areas of immigration, youth, and racial justice. 

Cynthia is the recipient of the UIC's Pipeline to Inclusive Faculty Fellowship, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Sawyer Predoc Fellowship, and the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy Scholar in Residence Fellowship. Cynthia is an alumna of Crossroads Fund's Cultivate: Women of Color Leadership program. Before beginning her doctoral studies, she earned her Master's degree in Latin American and Latino Studies at UIC. 

Cynthia has also worked as a civil rights and constitutional law paralegal for a nationally recognized law firm. She served as a Chicago high school counselor with expertise in youth development and social emotional learning. Cynthia served as the president of Dare to Dream! Get Educated is a state-wide serving organization that encourages middle school Latinas to pursue higher education through mentorship and scholarship opportunities. Mostly recently, Cynthia served as the advisor for a local youth organization on civic engagement and community organizing. 

Cynthia originates from a working-class, first-generation Mexican family that settled in Uptown, Chicago. She now resides with her two teen daughters, Jocelyn and Marlene, two sons, Remy and Santi, who attend the district, husband Mario, and cat Ohtli. She enjoys biking, camping, playing soccer, dancing, and spending time with family and friends. She continues to work on various issues, including immigration, education, reproductive justice, youth issues, and expanding the solidarity economy. 

• Professional Development Leadership Training (PDLT) and Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PEROA) Training for School Board Members

Danielle Gallegos is a passionate educator and advocate for equity in education, currently serving as a dual language teacher with five years of experience in the classroom. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Elementary Education, both from DePaul University, where she developed a deep understanding of the social systems that impact student learning and well-being.

Danielle began her career in education by supporting students outside the traditional classroom setting, working at a nonprofit organization that provided after-school homework help and social-emotional learning programming. That early experience shaped her belief in the importance of whole-child development and community-based support systems.

As a teacher, Danielle is known for fostering inclusive, bilingual learning environments that empower students to grow academically, emotionally, and socially. She is deeply committed to serving her community and ensuring all students have access to a high-quality, inclusive, and equitable education.

Now, as a school board member, Danielle brings her classroom perspective, community engagement experience, and dedication to public education to help guide district decisions. She believes strong schools are built through collaboration, transparency, and listening to the voices of families, teachers, and students.

• Professional Development Leadership Training (PDLT) and Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PEROA) Training for School Board Members

JoAnn Kulis-Kerns Valeriano is the longest-serving board member in the history of Berwyn North School District 98, with nearly three decades of serving across two tenures: first from 1987 to 2003, and again from 2013 to the present. In 2027, she will become the first board member in district's history to reach 30 years of service. 

A lifelong North Berwyn Resident, JoAnn is a retired registered nurse with a career that includes working at MacNeal Hospital, various Cicero schools, and public health service through home visits. She is a strong advocate for students and staff wellness and continues to champion initiatives that support health, equity, and quality education across the district. 

JoAnn is a proud mother of two sons- one a teacher, the other the head of a nonprofit organization- and grandmother to four grandchildren, all of whom attended schools in District 98. Known for her honesty, conviction, and commitment to doing what's right. JoAnn brings a strong, independent voice to the board and is deeply dedicated to serving her community. 

In 2025, she was honored with the Joseph C. Vallez Award from the North Berwyn Park District for her outstanding contributions to the city of Berwyn . 

JoAnn believes her mantra as a board member is best captured in the lyrics of Whitney Houston's song "Greatest Love of All":
I believe the children are our future. teach them well and let them lead the way.

These words have guided her every decision, vote, and initiative throughout her decades of service. For JoAnn, being a board member is not just a role, it's a calling rooted in the belief that investing in children is the surest way to build a stronger,  more compassionate, and more just community. With every meeting, every conversation, and every challenge faced, she remains committed to the principle that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. 

• DCFS Mandated Reporter Training
• Basics of Governance
• Open Meetings Act
• PERA
• Balancing Effective Governance and Transparency
• Equity Lens: A Systemic Leadership Process
• Connecting with the Community
• Unconscious Bias
• The Trust Edge
• School Finance for Board Members
• Using Data
• The Board and Its Superintendent

Melissa Mouritsen is a professor of political science at the College of DuPage since 2015. Her teaching and research focuses on urban and suburban politics, particularly in the Chicago metro region. She is a first-generation college student with a PhD from UIC, an MA from The George Washington University, a BA from UIS, and an AA from Triton College. She is the co-author of Illinois Politics: A Citizen’s Guide to Power, Politics and Government and co-editor of Twenty-First Century Chicago. Additionally, she has contributed to research on local governance, including co-authoring reports analyzing corruption, voting patterns and political behavior in Chicago, the suburbs and Cook and DuPage Counties.

Melissa works with local governments and community groups in the district to write reports, give talks, workshops and guidance on participating in and engaging with local government. Before entering academia, Mouritsen gained hands-on political experience working for a Chicago alderman, where she navigated the complexities of local governance. She later worked as a building and zoning consultant.

Mouritsen is the Executive Director of the Illinois Political Science Association and a member of the Illinois Education Association.

Mouritsen has lived in Berwyn for 9 years and has one son who attends D98 schools.

• DCFS Mandated Reporter Training
• Open Meetings Act
• Trauma Informed Practices - Part 1
• Collective Bargaining for School Board Members

• DCFS Mandated Reporter Training
• Open Meetings Act
• Equity: An Educational Imperative
• Trauma Informed Practices - Part 1