Kane County, Illinois

Kane County Regional Superintendent of Schools

2 candidates are tracked for Kane County Regional Superintendent of Schools on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jerry Cook and John K. Jonak. Candidate information follows official Kane County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Certified November 3, 2026 general election candidate list, per the Kane County Clerk's official Candidate List (Election ID 31).

What this office does

State board of education member. A state board of education sets statewide academic standards, approves graduation requirements and teacher-licensing rules, adopts the state's school accountability system and, in many states, hires the state superintendent. Members represent districts drawn across the state. Local school boards still run the schools day to day. A regional superintendent of schools handles teacher certification, school safety inspections and other state-mandated services for the school districts in a multi-county region.

Illinois › Kane County › Kane County Regional Superintendent of Schools

Jerry Cook

Democratic

Top priorities

Expanding professional development and coaching for educators and administrators
Strengthening pathways for college, career and workforce readiness
Ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education regardless of background

Per the Kane County Democratic Party.

Biography

Cook is a lifelong educator with more than 30 years serving Kane County students and families, per his campaign site. He held principal positions at East Aurora School District 131 and School District U-46, per his campaign site. He holds a doctorate in educational policy and organizational leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and superintendent certification, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

John K. Jonak

Republican

Top priorities

Supporting student attendance and reducing truancy
Professional development and support for educators
School safety, including annual safety inspections

Per the campaign site.

Biography

He has spent more than 27 years in Illinois public education, including as a teacher and athletic director at Heritage Middle School in Berwyn, assistant principal at Mannheim Middle School, principal at Westmont Junior High School, superintendent of Rosemont School District 78, and, since July 2025, Kane County Regional Superintendent, per his campaign site. He is a retired Sergeant First Class in the Illinois Army National Guard who deployed to Afghanistan and supported Hurricane Katrina relief, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotKane County Board Member, District 1

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Kane County Regional Superintendent of Schools in 2026?

When is the Kane County Regional Superintendent of Schools election in Illinois?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Illinois are on the Illinois election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Kane County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Kane County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Illinois election office, or see the full Kane County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Kane County ballot

30 tracked races in Kane County, Illinois. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Kane County Board Member, District 2 Kane County Board Member, District 3 Kane County Board Member, District 5 See all 30 Kane County races

Candidate profiles

Jerry Cook, full profile John K. Jonak, full profile Official Illinois election office