Dan Vosnos is the executive director of One Chance Illinois-Action (OCI-A), an organization that supports local, regional and state efforts to expand educational options for families. Through his work, Dan is laser focused on empowering parents, grandparents, guardians and foster parents of children with unique learning needs to choose high-quality, inclusive education options that best allows them to become the individuals they are meant to be.
Dan transitioned into his role at OCI-A after a successful 20-year career as an educational administrator, where he served as a high school Athletic Director in the suburbs of Chicago. During that time, Dan developed an unrelenting desire to grow, learn and influence the school and community culture for which he served. His experiences in education enhanced his vision of the whole student and the critical role parents play in their children’s development.
Most importantly, Dan and his wife Elizabeth are proud parents of two wonderful children, Ellis (4) and Frances (1). As a father, Dan has grown to understand the challenges parents face when it comes to finding the best education for their children, especially children with unique abilities. Ellis is blessed with an extra 21st chromosome called Down syndrome. Advocating for Ellis has provided a new lens through which Dan has personally experienced the impact various educational policies have on unique learners. He is now channeling his experiences to bridge conversations between the general education community and the unique-abilities community and to passionately advocate for all students.
Dan is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University, earning his Bachelor of Arts in History/Secondary Education, while also competing on the gridiron as a 4-year letterman for the Titan football program. After graduating, Dan went on to earn his Master of Arts in School Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University, as well as his Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from National Louis University. He and his family reside in Glenview, Illinois.