Blake Thomas has served as an engineering leader at two different educational technology companies, has been a member of and presented at conferences for the Illinois Association of Teachers of English, and has lived in Gurnee—first in Grandwood Park, and more recently in Steeple Point—with his family for more than a decade. You might've met him at a community event, or heard him speaking at past board meetings.

Blake is a staunch advocate for students and teachers, the value of education, and the important role of primary education in preparing students to be engaged members of the community. Growing up in rural Oklahoma, Blake developed a keen appreciation for education and the written word at an early age. He attended high school at the prestigious Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, studied mathematics and computer science at the University of Chicago, and is currently a member of Mensa and the Director of Engineering at NoRedInk.