District 148 School Board appoints new member

Valencia Wooten, left, receives a congratulatory handshake from District 148 School Board
Attorney Margaret Kostopulos after being sworn in as the Board’s newest member.

Valencia Wooten is excited about joining the Dolton West Elementary District 148 Board of Education and wants to be “a part of the educational vision” of the school system.

The Dolton resident was sworn in and seated to the School Board at the conclusion of the Board’s meeting on Thursday, March 24th. She fills the vacancy left by the resignation of Carmella Shumate Cross.

Wooten said she would like to see the district’s enrollment increase, continued improvement in achievement test scores, and more children meeting and exceeding state standards.

She and her family returning to the area from Georgia about two years ago. She said she was impressed upon seeing students engaged in the learning process at Roosevelt Elementary School where her youngest child is enrolled.

Wooten and her husband, Timothy Turner, are the parents of three children ages 24, 16, and 7.

Employed as a data technical coordinator for Verizon Wireless, she also volunteers her time with a Joliet non-profit organization which she helped her older sister establish. The “Done With Drugs” group helps recovering substance abusers and provides support for their children and families.