Member Since: 2021
Current Term: 2021-2025
Email: achangyen@dist50.net

Anna Chang-Yen believes that public education keeps the community strong and feels volunteering on the Board of Education allows her to work to improve Woodland School District 50 schools and our community. Ms. Chang-Yen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Louisiana Tech University where she used her degree as a newspaper journalist for close to 20 years covering public and private educational institutions from Pre-K to college. In 2014, Ms. Chang-Yen started a business offering graphic design, writing and editing services. Anna lives in Gurnee with twin teenagers and a house full of pets. In their free time, they enjoy camping, hiking, movies, video games and road trips. 

The qualities Anna possesses to be an effective Board member are researching issues that affect the schools and working toward change. As a parent, she also feels she has the ability to empathize and understand the problems District 50 families face to improve the services offered. Ms. Chang-Yen feels the specialty she brings to the Board is in the area of Special Education. She is a strong proponent of providing the best special education services possible in order to uphold the civil rights of students and families. Ms. Chang-Yen’s brother was one of the first to be served by the  IDEA act, teaching her that all children deserve a great education that sometimes needs to be advocated for. Anna would like to see the state provide more funding for education as all children deserve a free and appropriate public education.

Member Since: 2020
Current Term: 2021-2025
Email: cholmer@dist50.net

Corey Holmer has been in the field of education for more than a decade. During his tenure he has gained valuable insights into the challenges facing educators and students alike. Corey earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education with endorsements in middle school science and math from Illinois State University and holds several Master’s degrees including Educational Technology from Boise State University, Instructional Technology from  National Lewis University and Educational Leadership from the University of Iowa. In addition, he is certified by Google as a Certified Trainer and Innovator,  named a TED-Ed Innovative Educator and most recently  became an Apple Learning Coach. Currently Corey is an Educational Technologist at Lake Forest High School and serves as the National Honor Society and Cum Laude advisor as well as the technical director for the Freshman/Sophomore show and talent show. Mr. Holmer has had the pleasure of volunteering for several organizations including Feed My Starving Children, Bernie’s Book Bank, Beacon Place as well as in Lake Forest High School and here at Woodland.

Mr. Holmer wanted to serve on the Woodland School District 50 Board of Education to positively impact the district's community and ensure all students receive a quality education. His expertise in educational and instructional technology and passion for innovation allows for Mr. Holmer to contribute to the district’s growth and an “excellent fit for serving on the school board to ensure the best possible outcomes for our students.” Mr. Holmer is committed to supporting one-to-one technology initiatives, providing necessary student support, promoting district stability and building a positive community and culture within Woodland School District 50.

Member Since: 2023
Current Term: 2023-2027
Email: gmatsey@dist50.net

Gari Matsey holds a Masters in Advanced Studies of Human Behavior, a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is a Doctoral Candidate in Advanced Studies of Human Behavior. Her background is in counseling and social services. She has held many administrative leadership roles within various clinical mental health agencies, higher levels of care including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and residential programming within private agencies and the child welfare system. Ms. Matsey specializes in the treatment of eating disorders and co-occuring mood and anxiety disorders. She has ties to mental health organizations such as One Hope United and Lake Behavioral Hospital as well as other community and group practices to assist in social support and mental, behavioral and crisis support to students and families within the district. 

Ms. Matsey’s choice to serve on the Board came from her desire to “represent the needs of students and families. It is important for me as an incoming Board member to ensure that the voices of parents and children from all demographics are heard and acknowledged.” Gari is passionate about preserving the expressive arts and extra curricular activities. She would also like to explore activities that match the diversity of the district’s students, addressing safety and security specifically related to bullying, emotional and physical violence in the academic environment creating a positive culture and climate. Having a child in the special education program at Woodland, she has first hand knowledge of “navigating Individual Education Programs, social emotional support for children and parental stressors paired with some knowledge of the difficulties educators and administrators face.”  Ms. Matsey will advocate for special education programs and hopes to increase trauma informed care for the district's academic environments while serving on the Board of Education.

Member Since: 1999
Current Term: 2021-2025
Email: CLittle@dist50.net

Member Since: 2019(Previous Term: 2016-2017)
Current Term: 2021-2025
Email: ramen@dist50.net

Renea Amen has a Juris Doctorate degree from the John Marshall Law School. She completed her undergraduate degree at Columbia College of Missouri and proudly served in the United States Navy. Mrs. Amen keeps busy as she owns a criminal defense law firm where she practices law and is an adjunct professor at her alma mater, Columbia College of Missouri. 

To Mrs. Amen, service to the community has always been something she has done and feels serving on the Board of Education is another way she gives back to the community she lives in.

Member Since: 2021
Current Term: 2021-2027
Email: bpowvens@dist50.net

Brianna Powvens graduated from Bay Port High School in Green Bay WI and earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a Math Education major and Sociology minor from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Mrs. Powvens taught math in Janesville WI upon graduation and has held administrative assistant positions in the fields of real estate, construction and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health. She now takes pride as a household manager or stay-at-home-mom since 2014. Brianna has had the pleasure of volunteering as the PTA Board representative, preparing manipulatives for the math and reading programs at Elementary and the Middle School’s Music in the Park event. Outside of the district she volunteers at Bernie’s Book Bank.  

Initially, Mrs. Powvens ran for the Board of Education with a “why not me” mindset. She ran for re-election after “finally feeling comfortable with her role as a Board member and wanted to continue being a voice for our community and increase community engagement.” As a former teacher, she is able to look at issues from a teachers perspective as well as from a parent perspective since she has two children attending Woodland. Many life experiences have taught Brianna that hard work is necessary to live and thrive and she takes her position as a Board member very seriously putting in the work required to ask questions and understand issues from various perspectives of those working in and attending Woodland. Mrs. Powvens is passionate about transparency to the community, community engagement and adding a student voice to the Board of Education.

Member Since: 2023
Current Term: 2023-2027
Email: asabor@dist50.net

Amy Sabor attended public school in the Detroit Metro area and graduated with honors from Michigan State University earning a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. Prior to starting a family, Mrs. Sabor was a highly certified and award winning landscape account manager for commercial properties and corporate campuses in the Chicagoland area. She provided designs and Plant Health Care programs for 50 properties while overseeing the operations of five maintenance and installation crews and all subcontractors. Amy enjoys volunteering for the Woodland PTA and serves as a Kindergarten Catechist and Parish Council Chair at her church. She also volunteers on Moms Demand Action and local political campaigns. Finally she partnered with members of the Warren Township High School community to pass the referendum and welcomes the opportunity to work with our local Sierra Club. 

Amy wants to serve on the Woodland School District 50 Board of Education to help “ensure a safe learning environment for all and to maximize opportunities for our Woodland students so that they are prepared to pursue their chosen path amongst all that has been secured for them at Warren Township High School.”  Her knowledge in grounds and maintenance, long term planning, budgeting, reviewing bids and estimates, interpreting data and survey results as well as serving on Home Owners Associations and non-profit Boards are Amy’s areas of expertise that she feels will assist in her decision making on the Board of Education. Mrs. Sabor grew up in a working class community knowing that she needed to make the most of her public education to attend college. Her life experience of having a father who immigrated from Greece and owning a small business and having a grandfather who was a WWII Veteran and master carpenter as well as family members volunteering in leadership roles for Rotary Club, UAW and Girl Scouts taught Amy to forge her own future, value service and step up in leadership roles. Having a daughter who graduated from the Dual Language Program and now attending Warren Township High School along with two other children attending Woodland, Amy cares deeply about “maintaining the strength of our Dual Language program and ensuring accessibility to our music program at the middle school for any student who wishes to participate.” Amy would like to maximize clubs and activities for Woodland students to assist them in finding a sense of belonging in the community. 

For questions about Board of Education Meetings, Agendas, or Public Comment, please contact Laura Campanella at LCampanella@dist50.net or 847-596-5602.