As administrative director of the Peoria Public Schools Foundation, Jen Adler is the backbone of the organization, a nonprofit charity established exclusively to support Peoria Public Schools and its staff, students and alumni. In this role, she serves as data content manager, bookkeeper, marketing and public relations coordinator, and program liaison, while overseeing staff payroll and various other operations.
Adler has been instrumental in the success of the PPS Foundation, which serves as a bridge to the community, bringing connections and financial support to the public school system. She is always looking to improve the organization, whether through financial savings or improved processes, while dealing with a wide range of stakeholders on a daily basis. The foundation has grown significantly over the years, adding new endowed funds, student scholarships, basic and emergency need support, a career and college readiness program, and the Adopt-A-School program, among other initiatives.
Adler’s behind-the-scenes servant leadership has garnered multiple awards within the foundation, as she goes above and beyond to make Peoria and its school district the best it can be. She and her husband are founders and co-chairs of the annual Peoria SchoolHouse Open, a mini-golf/pub crawl event which has raised thousands of dollars for middle school athletics. She has also played an integral support role for her husband’s position on the school board.
After serving as PTO treasurer at Kellar Primary School for three years, she became secretary of the Lindbergh Middle School PTO and is now serving as president. She co-founded the community garden at Kellar and has been very active in her children’s activities, including the annual Richwoods Youth Baseball Tournament. She also serves on the Be Anything committee at the Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum, helping children ages four to 14 explore a variety of career paths. PM
