Caucus makes its New Trier School Board picks

Four caucus-endorsed candidates for the New Trier High School Board of Education were recently announced.

Incumbents Courtney McDonough and Sally Pofcher and Glencoe’s Dev Mukherjee and Wilmette’s Rick Adams make up the slate pushed by the New Trier School Board Caucus. Adams is seeking a two-year term, following the mid-term resignation of Kimberly Alcantara, while the others are seeking full four-year terms.

Following board tradition, current board members Jean Hahn will not seek a third term, and Brad McLane, who served on the board from 2019-2023 and was appointed in 2026, also is not running for another term.

Caucus-slated candidates still must follow Cook County’s filing protocol, which includes submitting a proper application, including signatures, by the deadline later this month.

McDonough, of Winnetka, and Pofcher, of Wilmette, are seeking their second terms. McDonough is the board’s vice president, and a former teacher and an education professional, while Pofcher is the former CEO of Shutterfly, PaperSource and Hanna Andersson.

Mukherjee is completing his second term on the Glencoe District 35 Board of Education. He is a tech professional who is the CTO at Silvan Sage and he has taught at DePaul University since 2012. He is the former CEO of Evite.

Adams is a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel who is a captain with United Airlines. He holds two master’s degrees in business administration and diplomacy, respectively.

It is unclear if any by press time if any candidates will challenge the caucus slate. In 2023 and 2021, the caucus-slated picks bested multiple challengers. In four cycles between 2011-2019 and in 2025, the caucus slate went unchallenged.

The New Trier School Board caucus comprises delegates from each of New Trier High School’s six feeder school districts, and a district’s number of delegates is decided by its size. For instance, Wilmette District 39 has the most participants and Kenilworth District 38 the least. For this caucus cycle, 49 delegates (including two student representatives) cast votes.

Interested School Board candidates applied with the caucus earlier this fall, and each was interviewed in front of the entire caucus.

The caucus has vetted and recommended New Trier Board of Education candidates since 1954.

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