Meg Loughran Cappel grew up in Joliet and has deep family roots in the area. Her grandfather, Francis J. Loughran, was a respected trial attorney and advocate for those in and around Will County. Inspired by her grandfather’s legacy of service and advocacy, Meg became a special education teacher to provide a voice for students with special needs. She has long been dedicated to fostering inclusive environments for students to learn and thrive.
After teaching special education for many years, Meg took her passion for education to the next level in 2015, when she became a union representative for her teacher’s union—AFT-IFT Local 604—at her school for two years. In 2017, she ran for and won a seat on the Joliet Township High School Board, where she worked to improve school safety and technical programs within her district. For the last 12 years, Meg has been a champion for equity in education for both teachers and students, offering them support from birth through higher education, and on to meaningful careers.
Growing up in Joliet and benefitting from all it has to offer, Meg has always been passionate about giving back to her community. She has been a volunteer in her community throughout her life: serving and leading ministries at her church; leading various parent/faculty groups for her children; serving as a cheer coach at Sator Sanchez Elementary School in Joliet; and serving as a member of the Plainfield/Shorewood Chamber of Commerce. In addition to previously serving on the JTHS School Board, Meg has also been an Illinois Association of School Board Delegate, a member of the JTHS Discipline committee, and a member of the Joliet Township High School Foundation Board.
A mother of three and caregiver to her elderly father, Meg knows what it’s like living paycheck to paycheck. Meg knows firsthand how important pensions are to working families, as she and her husband, Jason—who is also a public school teacher—have paid into Illinois’ pension system their whole professional careers.
In July of 2019, Meg and Jason started their own small business—Elite Driving School in Shorewood—to help put her children through college and cover healthcare costs. Meg understands that many other families face the same financial challenges posed by higher education and rising healthcare costs, so Meg will take action to support working families and small businesses, while also addressing the need for access to quality, affordable healthcare.
The State of Illinois holds teachers to the highest ethical standard, and Meg believes that our lawmakers should be held to that same standard. Her own leadership, advocacy and passion have been demonstrated throughout her career, and in Springfield she will continue to use her voice to advocate for the people of the 49th District.