At the June 20, 2023 meeting of the Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 Board of Education, Mrs. Carly Bishop was appointed as its newest Board of Education member. This appointment comes in the wake of a vacancy left by an outgoing member Jackie Lichter and is in adherence with Board Policy 2:70.
Upon publicizing the vacancy, the Board began accepting and reviewing applications from District residents interested in the position. Following an interview process as prescribed by Board Policy, Carly Bishop, a proud Oak Lawn resident since 2018 and mother of two D123 students, emerged as the preferred candidate. Bishop brings extensive experience in the arts and an unwavering commitment to educational excellence to the role.
Bishop's diverse background includes an MFA in Acting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a distinguished career in musical theatre, with performances at esteemed venues such as the John F. Kennedy Center, the National Theatre, and the Grand Ole Opry. In addition to her stage career, Bishop has dedicated 25 years to teaching theatre to over 12,000 students across 14 states.
Her contributions to the community extend to her tenure as Artistic Director at the Beverly Arts Center of Chicago and her ongoing volunteer work at the Drama Club at Sward Elementary and Cub Scout Pack 3618. She is also a dedicated Moraine Valley Community College's Foundation supporter.
In her new role, Bishop is committed to prioritizing safety, arts education, and accessibility, and she will serve the Oak Lawn-Hometown learning community until the conclusion of the Ms. Lichter's original term in April 2025.
During her oath of office, Mrs. Bishop said, "She will serve as education's key advocate on behalf of our students and our community's schools to advance the vision for Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123." Bishop went on to say she would also "foster excellence for every student in their academic skills, knowledge, citizenship, and personal development."
We warmly welcome Carly Bishop and look forward to her contributions to our learning community and our student's futures.