About the Administration

Dr. Ralph Kober, Principal

Biography

• Marine Corps Reserve, 22 years, Rank of Gunnery Sergeant
• Special Education - Joseph P. Kennedy School, Palos Heights
• Special Education - East Aurora District
• Assistant Principal - Simmons Middle School
• Principal - Simmons Middle School
• Principal - Traughber Junior High School
• Administrative Instructor at Aurora University

Education

• Bachelor degree from the University of Illinois, Chicago Campus - Elementary Education specializing in Reading and Science
• Master's Degree in the area of Special Education
• Doctor of Education from Northern Illinois University

Family

• Married to wife Joan

Hobbies

• Relax to quite music
• Spend time with wife and family
• Watch old black and white movies
• Read a wide variety of books
• Spend time in the water during the summer

Rene Garren, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Rene Garren started her teaching career at Traughber Jr. High in 1990.  She began teaching Math, Science and Social Studies and  became the 7^th grade Math teacher.  In 2001, she was an Interim Assistant Administrator for Traughber before accepting the full time position of Assistant Principal in 2002.  She remains in that position today. 
 

Mrs. Garren earned her Bachelors Degree in elementary education with a minor in Math from Eastern Illinois University.  She also received her Masters Degree and Type 75 certification in Educational Administration from Eastern Illinois. 
 

Mrs. Garren is a life-long resident of Oswego, where she resides with her husband Ross and their two children, Meredith 17 and Hillary 14.  Mrs. Garren enjoys spending time at all of her daughters athletic events, collecting frogs (real and fake), and traveling.  She also loves to spend time on her patio reading a good book and watching sunsets.

Phil Murray, Assistant Principal

Mr. Murray had taught Math for nine years. He started teaching 7^th grade math at West Chicago Middle School, and then spent seven years teaching 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades at Winfield Middle School.  Mr. Murray then spent three years as the Assistant Principal at Winfield Middle School.  Mr. Murray is starting his fourth year as Assistant Principal here at Traughber Junior High.

Mr. Murray earned his Bachelors Degree in elementary education with a minor in mathematics and social sciences from Elmhurst College.  He received his Masters Degree and Type 75 certification in Educational Administration from Northern Illinois University.

Mr. Murray resides in Naperville with his wife, Brenda and two children.  His daughter Courtney is 8, and in third grade.  His son Keegan is 5 and attends kindergarten.

Mr. Murray enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, bean bag games, and doing yard work in his free time.  He is an avid Bears and White Sox fan!