Niles Township High Schools Appoint First Asian American Board Member

Niles North High School graduate Dr. David Ko will be installed August 26 as the new member of the Niles Township High School District 219 Board of Education, District 219 said in a statement. At a special meeting Monday night, board members appointed Ko to fill a vacancy that was created when member Lynda Smith passed away in July.

Ko, 33, is believed to be the district's first board member, said District 219 spokesperson Jim Szczepaniak. He is a board certified licensed chiropractic physician and acupuncturist who lives and practices medicine in Skokie. An active community member, he has volunteered more than 5,000 hours at St. Francis Hospital and NorthShore University HealthSystem - Skokie Hospital. 

He serves on the Village of Skokie Human Relations Commission and he volunteers as a team doctor for the Niles North Vikings. For the past four years he has chaired Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s Free Annual Family Health Fair. He was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the community earlier this year when he was named Niles North Alumnus of the Year 2013.

“We were fortunate to have a strong field of applicants for the board opening,” said D219 Board President Bob Silverman. “By appointing Dr. Ko, we are bringing to the board someone with a unique background who is also deeply invested in our schools and our community. We wanted to find someone who would bring a fresh and different perspective to the Board, and we found that person in Dr. Ko.”

Ko received his Master’s in Oriental Medicine from Samra University of Oriental Medicine in Los Angeles, and Doctorate of Chiropractic from Cleveland Chiropractic College of Los Angeles. He owns and operates Ko Be Care Chiropractic and Acupuncture in Skokie.

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