At just 32, Chris Kloeppel is the youngest Champaign Community Unit 4 School District Board of Education president in recent memory – if not ever. Born in Georgia, Kloeppel lived in foster care until he was adopted at the age of 5. The family moved to Urbana when he was a teenager, and he graduated from Urbana High School. He met wife Tiffany while lifeguarding at Sholem Pool the summer after their freshman year of college. He worked in healthcare instead of returning to college, first as an EMT and later a phlebotomist.
Kloeppel changed career direction and was accepted into the plumbing apprenticeship through Local 149 Plumbers and Pipe-fitters. In 2013, he started working for the University of Illinois in the Facilities and Services plumbing shop. He serves as an officer in Local 149, is a delegate to the AFL-CIO of Champaign County, and serves on the Board of Directors for United Way. In April he was one of five new members voted to the school board, and was subsequently elected president by fellow Board members. Chris and Tiffany live with their two daughters Madison and Molly in Savoy.
See why we think Chris Kloeppel is a Chambana dad to know.
Q: You’ve only been sworn in for a few weeks but it feels like longer. What is the most important thing have you learned so far?
I was mindful of this beforehand, but literally everything you say, do, and write is being observed and scrutinized. Each and every decision has supporters and naysayers and that’s OK. If we work together as a Board and listen to the community as a whole and keep the students as the priority when making decisions, we can and will be highly effective.
Q: What are your major goals for your board tenure?
I don’t think of them as my goals so much as the Board’s goals. The first two come straight from the Illinois Association of School Boards Foundational Principles of Effective Governance and go hand in hand. As a Board, we need to first clarify the district’s purpose and direction. Second, in order to do that, as a Board we need to connect with the community. After establishing purpose and direction, we can begin to look at our facility and staffing needs to meet those goals.
Q: What does your family think of your new gig?
Leery and skeptical might be the most honest answer right now. These first few weeks have been busy with award and graduation ceremonies on top of all the time needed to get up to speed on all of the goings-on of the district. I see things calming down here shortly as we find our groove. Tiffany and the girls are in a wait-and-see frame of mind.
Q: What do you suggest for other people who want to get involved in our schools?
Start by simply going to something: a PTA meeting, a school board meeting, etc. There are numerous committees and volunteer opportunities that are constantly looking for community and parent involvement. Also consider becoming a mentor – this can often be as meaningful to the mentor as it is to the student.
Q: What’s your favorite piece of advice you received from your dad (or other father figure)?
My dad has always told me to do my best and to be proud of what my best is. He also taught me that sometimes you have to work hard to better your best. If you do your best, there can be no shame in that.
Q: Who is/was your favorite TV dad and why?
Probably not exactly what you were looking for, but the late Stuart Scott comes to mind. As he publicly fought cancer his undying love for his daughters struck a chord with me as a father of two daughters myself.
Q: What does your ideal Father’s Day look like?
An early morning round of golf followed by church with my parents and my family. My girls really enjoy going to the pool, so we would probably spend the rest of the afternoon at the pool and wrap up the day with a trip to the Sidney Dairy Barn.
Q: It’s date night. What Champaign-Urbana area restaurant is your destination?
If my wife is picking, we’re going to Maize. If I am picking, we’re going to Minneci’s.
Q: Tell me something most people don’t know about you.
I make and decorate some pretty awesome cakes. I started making cakes seven years ago when my daughter turned 1. It snowballed from there and it has been a hobby of mine since then. Recently I’ve scaled back due to the time commitment required.
Chris Kloeppel was nominated to be a Chambana dad to know. Nominate a mom or dad today — it’s easy!