Longtime leader in Kane County education Julie Vallejo dies

ST. CHARLES – For the 14 years she served as Kane County's first female assistant regional school superintendent, Julie Vallejo touched the lives of students and educators alike.

She brought together all nine school districts to coordinate special education services, said Angelo Vallejo, her husband of 45 years.

Julie Vallejo, 70, of St. Charles, died last month of cancer, her husband said.

She supervised the educational program at the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center, her husband said, "taking great pride to ensure that 'her kids' received an equal education opportunity."

Julie Vallejo coordinated and supervised the Kane County Educator of the Year awards, reviewing all nominations and preparing individualized remarks for each honoree, her husband said.

A retired teacher himself, Angelo Vallejo said he met his wife while he taught in Astoria and she taught in nearby Lewistown in Fulton County.

“Everywhere I went, there she was,” Angelo Vallejo said. “We got married on her birthday, Dec. 20, 1969. I didn’t know what gift to give her, so I thought I’d give her me.”

They moved to St. Charles 32 years ago, where they both taught in Aurora East District 131, he said.

From the classroom, Julie Vallejo became principal of Allen School in Aurora, then director of pupil personnel services in the district’s central office. She left in 1993 to join the Kane County Regional Office of Education. Although she retired in 2007, she continued as a consultant there until 2013, her husband said.

Harrison Schneider, who worked with Julie Vallejo both at East Aurora and at the regional office, described her as a leader for children and educators.

“There is no person I knew that was a better advocate for children,” Schneider said.”She was always there to step up.”

Although she did not start the Educator of the Year program, the awards expanded under her leadership, Schneider said.

“It became multiple categories – administrator, middle school teacher, support staff,” Schneider said.

Expanding the recognition was in sync with Julie Vallejo’s general belief that everyone in a school contributes to educating children, he said.

“She would ... subscribe to the idea that a faculty meeting should include everyone in the building,” Schneider said. “A kid might have connections to someone on the custodial staff or in the cafeteria, and they should be included.”

Julie Vallejo also was part of a group that initiated a partnership with Aurora University to facilitate Kane County educators to earn graduate degrees, her husband said.

Julie Vallejo also is survived by her daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren, he said. Angelo Vallejo said his wife did not want a funeral or memorial service. She was cremated, and the family is keeping her ashes, he said.

“Sophisticated, yet very simple,” Angelo Vallejo said. “This is what she wanted. ... She will be dearly missed but never forgotten.”