Shu (Grace) Cao

Shu (Grace) Cao, a 15-year resident of Buffalo Grove, joined Stevenson’s Board of Education in June 2022. Grace and her husband, Bruce, have a daughter in 10th grade at Stevenson and a son who is a recent graduate.

Grace earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accountancy at Northern Illinois University and has worked for Fortune 500 companies for the past 22 years. Currently, she is a Strategic Pricing Lead at Siemens. Grace has a strong background in finance, marketing, and data analysis.

For over a decade, Grace has devoted countless hours to volunteering in KCSD96 and D125. Highlights include helping to develop a Culture Fair for all KCSD96 schools and serving as a founding committee member of KCSD96’s Guiding Coalition of Interculturalism, modeling the district’s values of diversity and inclusion, and connecting parents, educators, and students through cultural and educational experiences. 

Grace brought this commitment to Stevenson and joined the school’s Steering Committee on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity in 2018. At Stevenson, Grace has served as a Finance Committee member and on the board of the Stevenson Community Foundation, and volunteered with Stevenson PPA, Sports Boosters, and Chinese Club.

Grace established the Chinese Community Activity Planning Committee that connects hundreds of Chinese families within the KCSD96 and D125 school districts with multiple large-scale cultural celebrations. Grace uses her bilingual background to help families new to the district feel welcome and settle in quickly and smoothly. In 2020, Grace received an Award of Excellence from the Illinois State Board of Education, which honored her outstanding contributions as a dedicated community volunteer. Her strong service record informs her work with the Stevenson Board of Education.