The mission of Friends of Kilmer (NFP) is to enrich the experiences of students, families and staff at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School through developing financial resources to support educational opportunities and by promoting family engagement through events that celebrate our community.
Board of Directors
All interested Kilmer parents and caregivers are considered members of Friends of Kilmer. These members may help select the board of directors or serve as board members. Board members serve two year terms, and are, therefore, selected every two years at the first meeting of the school year.
2025-2026 & 2026-2027 Board of Directors:
Chair: Katherine Lamb
Vice Chair: Nichole Harrod
Secretary: Liz Bosarge
Treasurer: Jeremy Carlsen
Fundraising Committee Chair: Gabriela Rosete
Family Events Committee Chair: Jessica Kalimili
Board Member: Jenee Rose
Board Member: Jordan Johnson
Our Stance on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
At Kilmer, diversity is not an ideal—it’s our daily lived reality. Our school community reflects the richness of Chicago’s Rogers Park: families from across the globe, speaking many languages, carrying unique traditions, and bringing a wide spectrum of experiences. This is our strength, and it shapes how we learn, grow, and care for one another.
As Friends of Kilmer, we honor this diversity by creating opportunities for every parent, caregiver, and family to feel welcomed and valued. We are committed to fostering equity by ensuring access to resources, events, and opportunities for all families. We believe inclusion is not passive—it is intentional. It means listening deeply, celebrating our unique differences, repairing when we don’t always get it right, and building bridges that make every family an essential part of our school’s story.
Representation matters to us – all caregivers are invited to participate in our monthly meeting, join any of our initiatives, or become a member of our team.
Land Acknowledgement
Our school and neighborhood are located on the traditional homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. Many other tribes such as the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac, and Fox also called this area home.
Just as these first nations came together to co-create, so do the many cultures of our school community.