Jennifer Korte
Jennifer [Isaak] Korte grew up in Highland with her parents, (Charlotte and Gary Isaak) and three siblings, and it’s where her drive to help others began.
Jennifer’s oldest brother, Brian, was born with Spina Bifida, leaving him wheelchair-bound, which made him and the entire family deeply appreciative of accessible parking. These designated spots made it easier to get her brother in and out of their van. However, while just a child (8 yrs old) Jennifer started to observe these spots were often taken by cars not displaying handicapped parking permits. Wanting to advocate for her brother and others with disabilities, Jennifer began leaving polite notes on windshields of cars without the display handicapped parking permits, asking drivers not to park in handicap spots.
Jennifer’s early advocacy and work at a local Highland nursing home led her to pursue a master’s degree in social work to help people who are vulnerable.
Family & Faith
Jennifer and Nathan have 3 children and 2 dogs.
Their Christian faith is the bedrock of her beliefs and values.
Public Service and Volunteering
With her master’s degree, Jennifer went to work at Barnes-Jewish Hospital as a social worker. Here she continued to advocate for others and loved helping the patients by listening to their concerns and helping them come up with solutions to obstacles they faced. As a social worker, Jennifer has a unique perspective of mental health, the importance of empowering people and understanding their need to be heard.
While she loved her work, Jennifer took time away from her career outside the house to start her career inside the home. She became a full-time caregiver to her and her husband’s three children, and a part-time caregiver to her grandma. Still, Jennifer found time for others and volunteered with the local pregnancy center, her church, with the Highland High School Band, in her children’s’ classrooms and with the Highland PTO.
In 2022, after being a stay-at-home mom for 19 years, Jennifer was looking for more ways to serve her community and decided to run for public office. This decision was driven by the urgent need to address the negative impact of COVID-related isolation she could see affecting her children, and other children in their community. Although Jennifer ultimately lost the election, she remains resolute in her mission to hold our elected officials accountable. It’s why she later rallied the community and helped successfully stop legislation that would have cost IL taxpayers $2.8 million dollars a year. (HB3093: Free Feminine Products in Men and Women’s Public Restrooms).
Continuing her public service, Jennifer was appointed to the Madison County Mental Health Board in 2023. She was recently appointed as the Vice President of the Mental Health Board and was re-appointed to the board on Dec. 2025. She is also the Vice Chairwoman of the Madison County Republicans. She continues to be a local volunteer, leader and advocate for senior citizens, people who are disabled, children and small businesses.
