Barb Larson

I grew up in a northern suburb of Chicago. I graduated from W. R Harper Junior College with an Associate in Arts in 1975. I took some of my most challenging classes there. Junior colleges are not second class citizens. I transferred to NIU where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications in 1977. I was awarded a teaching assistantship there for ’77-’78. I met a local farmer in my senior year and we were married in 1978. Norm has been my love and life partner for over 40 years. We have 2 girls that attended Kaneland schools for a few years but the majority of their schooling was in DeKalb. It certainly opened my eyes seeing how different school districts work. DHS offers so much more. Our oldest daughter and her husband make their home in DeKalb and work in DeKalb at the Egyptian Theatre and a local cardiologist office. Our youngest daughter is also looking to put down permanent roots in DeKalb with her significant other, another DHS graduate.

I have worn many varied hats on my road to alderman. Starting with positions to support our girls and their schools as room mom in elementary school, girl scout cookie chair and President of DHS Music Boosters (when we finally got new uniforms!). I also was on our church’s administrative board as Vice Chair (2 year term) and Chair (2 year term), Co Chair of Vacation Bible School for 2 years, Board member, Vice Chair and Chair of Family Service Agency as well as serving as a substitute teacher for grades k-12 at DeKalb District 428 for four years. I also support community programs of  the Ellwood House, DAAHA, the NIU Foundation, DeKalb County Community Foundation, 4-H, meals at Hope Haven and ushering, cleaning, decorating and whatever else is needed at the Egyptian Theatre.

I have worked at The DeKalb Bank, Northern FS at Hinckley, NIU University Programming and Activities, mapper and head bookkeeper for a family business MCS and currently payroll and cattle bookkeeper for our family farm.

So many of these positions required me to be a team player but also a team leader. Some required me to propose budgets and stick to them, and working with family businesses I have learned about spreadsheets and long term financial planning and growth using indicators.