Meet your Cook County Neighbor: Dan Shirley
Feb 09, 2026 07:53AM ● By Editor
Photos provided
A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - February 7, 2026
How did you land in Cook County? What journey led you here?
Your commitment to the education and well-being of children and families in Cook County is commendable, given the number of years that you have served on the School Board at Cook County Schools. What motivated you to want to serve on the Board?
I'm a huge advocate for public schools. Having a strong public education system that serves all students requires that we participate in that system. When I first joined the School Board, there was an opportunity to serve the remaining year of the term of a member who was stepping aside early. I didn't know anything about school board work, but I cared about public school and thought that a one year commitment seemed like a place to start. I'm now in my 9th year on the Board and I have a better understanding of the complexities of school finance, how a school district functions and the governance role that school boards are responsible for. A small rural district like ours has some unique challenges, and I'm super proud of the work we have done to maintain financial stability, improve culture and create a vibrant place for kids to learn and adults to work. We are now embarking on some big renovations and improvements that are going to be really transformational for our school and community. While other districts in the region and state are struggling financially and are cutting budgets, Cook County ISD 166 is on stable footing. It has been truly an honor to be part of the team of school board members, administrators, teachers and all school staff who all work so hard for the kids of Cook County.
What is your favorite season in Cook County and why?
I really like all of the seasons, especially winter, but my favorite is probably late summer. Sawbill is a little oasis in the woods and we have a great community of employees that live on site. Our outfitting business is humming along and there is excitement and vibrancy each day. Taking canoe trips with my kids, swimming in the lake everyday, making pizza in our woodfired oven and helping people visit our beloved public lands all make for a special time every year.
Are there any special memories of returning customers over the years that stand out in your mind?
This year is Sawbill's 70th anniversary! Clare is the third generation owner - her grandparents Frank and Mary Alice founded Sawbill in 1957, so it has been hugely important to generations of our family. That is also true for many Sawbill customers who return year after year and decade after decade. Many families have their own multi-generational stories that revolve around annual visits to Sawbill, and it is a gift to be a part of that. Sawbill, with its large community of customers and former employees, is something that is so much bigger than me and Clare and we see ourselves more as stewards of this business rather than just owners. We strive to help maintain and facilitate the traditions that are important to so many people.
Lastly, what is the best advice that you were ever given and how did that impact your life?
To travel. Growing up I was very fortunate that my parents were able to take me and my sisters on many trips around the country and abroad. Clare and I have been fortunate enough to continue this tradition with our family. The world is big and experiencing different cultures and different ways of doing things can be very enlightening and gratifying. Despite some big cultural differences, our shared humanity is what always shines through. People are people wherever you go, and we are all so much more similar than we are different. It's been a formative perspective for me, and I encourage others to try and find those opportunities as well.
A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - February 7, 2026
How did you land in Cook County? What journey led you here?
I was born and raised in Santa Fe, NM and then went to college at the University of Montana in Missoula. I was studying abroad in Chile when I met my eventual wife, Clare, who was born and raised in Cook County. After college, I worked as a research scientist at a biotech startup in Missoula while Clare attended Law School and ultimately became a clerk in Federal District Court. After a number of years in Montana, we had the opportunity to move back to Cook County to take over Clare's family business, Sawbill Canoe Outfitters. We have been back since late 2015 and I'm so grateful to be a member of this community.
How do you and your wife, Clare, find that work-life balance when you are both so busy running Sawbill Canoe Outfitters while raising your young family?
Small business ownership is a lifestyle, it is not something you clock in and out of. Even though the work can be demanding, we also have the ability to be flexible. Ultimately it's up to us to make sure everything gets done and stays on track, so we can make time around things that are important to us. We can schedule around serving on various boards and other community involvement and also kid activities and travel. We really like to take canoe trips in the summer, and that is something that we are uniquely positioned to pull together at a moment's notice.
How do you and your wife, Clare, find that work-life balance when you are both so busy running Sawbill Canoe Outfitters while raising your young family?
Small business ownership is a lifestyle, it is not something you clock in and out of. Even though the work can be demanding, we also have the ability to be flexible. Ultimately it's up to us to make sure everything gets done and stays on track, so we can make time around things that are important to us. We can schedule around serving on various boards and other community involvement and also kid activities and travel. We really like to take canoe trips in the summer, and that is something that we are uniquely positioned to pull together at a moment's notice.
Your commitment to the education and well-being of children and families in Cook County is commendable, given the number of years that you have served on the School Board at Cook County Schools. What motivated you to want to serve on the Board?
I'm a huge advocate for public schools. Having a strong public education system that serves all students requires that we participate in that system. When I first joined the School Board, there was an opportunity to serve the remaining year of the term of a member who was stepping aside early. I didn't know anything about school board work, but I cared about public school and thought that a one year commitment seemed like a place to start. I'm now in my 9th year on the Board and I have a better understanding of the complexities of school finance, how a school district functions and the governance role that school boards are responsible for. A small rural district like ours has some unique challenges, and I'm super proud of the work we have done to maintain financial stability, improve culture and create a vibrant place for kids to learn and adults to work. We are now embarking on some big renovations and improvements that are going to be really transformational for our school and community. While other districts in the region and state are struggling financially and are cutting budgets, Cook County ISD 166 is on stable footing. It has been truly an honor to be part of the team of school board members, administrators, teachers and all school staff who all work so hard for the kids of Cook County.
What is your favorite season in Cook County and why?
I really like all of the seasons, especially winter, but my favorite is probably late summer. Sawbill is a little oasis in the woods and we have a great community of employees that live on site. Our outfitting business is humming along and there is excitement and vibrancy each day. Taking canoe trips with my kids, swimming in the lake everyday, making pizza in our woodfired oven and helping people visit our beloved public lands all make for a special time every year.
Are there any special memories of returning customers over the years that stand out in your mind?
This year is Sawbill's 70th anniversary! Clare is the third generation owner - her grandparents Frank and Mary Alice founded Sawbill in 1957, so it has been hugely important to generations of our family. That is also true for many Sawbill customers who return year after year and decade after decade. Many families have their own multi-generational stories that revolve around annual visits to Sawbill, and it is a gift to be a part of that. Sawbill, with its large community of customers and former employees, is something that is so much bigger than me and Clare and we see ourselves more as stewards of this business rather than just owners. We strive to help maintain and facilitate the traditions that are important to so many people.
Lastly, what is the best advice that you were ever given and how did that impact your life?
To travel. Growing up I was very fortunate that my parents were able to take me and my sisters on many trips around the country and abroad. Clare and I have been fortunate enough to continue this tradition with our family. The world is big and experiencing different cultures and different ways of doing things can be very enlightening and gratifying. Despite some big cultural differences, our shared humanity is what always shines through. People are people wherever you go, and we are all so much more similar than we are different. It's been a formative perspective for me, and I encourage others to try and find those opportunities as well.
Boreal Community Media has been featuring the"Meet your Cook County Neighbor" series for several years now. If you enjoy reading these and would like to nominate someone to be featured, please send us an email to [email protected]!
