Activist Toolkit

1. What motivates you to seek this office? What skills, experiences, and perspectives would you bring, and why would those contributions be valuable in the office you are seeking? 

I have been an educator since 1976 which has included serving students in District 89 as a Classroom teacher, Title 1 Reading Specialist, Literacy Coach and an Administrator both at the school and district level.  Education continues to be my lifelong passion and life’s journey.  Serving as a Maywood, Melrose Park, Broadview School District 89 Board member would be an incredible honor and allow me to continue the collaborative work integrated into the Strategic Plan.  As a former Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum in District 89, I participated as a member of  the Strategic Planning Committee assisting to develop a plan to be implemented from 2018-2023. I am highly motivated to work in partnership as a School Board member to continue the implementation of the Mission and Vision of the district.  Mission: District 89 empowers, educates and inspires students to achieve personal excellence in a multi-cultural society.  Vision: District 89 will be a school system of choice and community pride.

2. When in the past have you had to balance competing interests? What process did you use? What did you learn? 

Having served on many school, district and community committees, I have learned much on the importance of being a collaborative leader.  Course work in education, including Illinois State Board of Education endorsements in Early Childhood, Reading Specialist, Classroom Educator and Administrator, along with practicing the skillful art of teaching, have thoroughly prepared me to balance competing interests of stakeholders. Through the collaborative process, I have learned the importance of creating an atmosphere where trust is built, the opinions of others are valued and authentic listening takes place. Stakeholders are brought together with decisions always being made in the best interest of all students.  

3. What does transparency in government mean to you? How would you put it into practice? 

Transparency in government is accountability, openness and honesty in all areas.   School Board members are elected by the people in the community, connected with the needs of their constituents.    School Board members are entrusted with a great responsibility within the community.  I would adhere to the official oath of office that school board members take to effectively and efficiently carry out my duties as a school board member.  

4. As more of our local discourse happens in social media, what is your view on how local elected officials should communicate with and respond to constituents? How will you engage with the breadth of the community, and not only those on social media? 

District 89 showcases a vigorous website along with utilizing Facebook and Twitter to highlight and communicate the exciting events taking place at the District and School level.  The website has a School Board page providing a link to updates and information from School Board meetings.  A community member can access Board Policy and explore Board meeting related pages of information.  School Board meetings occur on a monthly basis and there is an opportunity for the public to attend to bring forth issues to the School Board and Superintendent.  District 89 has instituted a Parent Advisory Committee with representation from the Elementary and Middle Schools. Parents on the Advisory Committee have a voice representing their school community and report at local Board of Education monthly meetings. They have an opportunity to meet as a committee with Board members, the Superintendent and Principal.   The latest District 89 news is on the website with specific information for community members, parents, students and staff.  A Community Newsletter, distributed to all residents in all three District 89 communities has been published on a quarterly basis highlighting the important events taking place.   The district also publishes information in local community newspapers reaching those not on social media.  

5. What barriers do you see for community members who wish to engage with District 89? How would you work to reduce or eliminate those barriers? 

When families, communities and schools work together, research has proven that students are more successful and the entire community benefits.  Through Strategic Planning, District 89 has embraced family and community connections to support student learning. To eliminate barriers for community members who wish to engage with District 89, a variety of avenues have been put in place to encourage community members to reach out and participate. Hearing from stakeholders is a vital part of the decision making process.  Committee work, Parent Teacher Organizations, Parent Advisory Committee, conversations in-person, email, phone, social media or at monthly School Board meetings are ways for stakeholders to engage with District 89.  Every voice matters.  Making community members aware that their voice is important and there are various means to connect with District 89 will continue to be a top priority. 

6. What do you feel are the three biggest issues facing District 89, and how do you intend to address them? 

First and foremost, concentration on recovery from the COVID pandemic with an emphasis on students, educators and staff safely returning to school is a priority.  District 89 is committed to providing a safe, supportive learning environment for all.  The District has begun a phased in approach to learning and will be moving forward with a hybrid learning model.  District 89 will remain committed to following all safety guidelines and precautions as outlined by local state and health officials.  A keen focus will continue to be placed on the academic and social-emotional needs of all students.  An assessment of where each individual student is academically, socially and emotionally upon return will be important to foster a culture of continuous improvement.  

District 89 has made great strides in the expansion of the Preschool for All programs which provide high quality learning for preschool students.  The continuation to ensure more children experience quality early learning and care in the three communities that District 89 serves is a priority.  Being able to identify eligible students and offer all families with preschool children a Preschool for All education will prepare children to enter the Kindergarten program well prepared and position them for academic and lifelong success. 

The quantity and quality of educational programs are dependent on the effective management of our funding resources.  It remains extremely important that sound fiscal management continues, assuring that funds are used wisely to achieve the District goals as outlined in the Strategic Plan.  The district has received a high financial rating and is in good financial standing, yet needs to be prepared for the vulnerability of possible federal and state budget cuts that may impact district resources.    

I will strive to work together with fellow school board members, the Superintendent and all stakeholders to address the above issues. 

7. How do you define equity? Have recent events and discussions in the larger community informed or changed your thinking? 

I had the privilege of presenting at the Annual Statewide ESSA (Every Student Succeed Acts) Conference with a district team in February 2019.   The presentation was titled, Building the Future, Equity in Education.  Preparation for the conference required us to delve into the differences between equality and equity.  The implementation of one versus the other can lead to significant outcomes for students.  An example of equality would be providing the same curriculum resources to everyone.  Equity recognizes that each student has different circumstances and within the same curriculum resources we ensure to provide specific support, opportunities and additional resources to reach an equal outcome to succeed.  Each and every student should be receiving what they need to reach their maximum potential.  Our focus at the conference was on the whole child, the whole school, the whole community and outlined the Strategic Plan addressing the targets that have been set for equity.  To meet the needs of the whole child, District 89 is ensuring that all children have equitable opportunities to address the challenges of academic standards.  To accomplish this curriculum resources have been updated, intervention resources are in place for additional support, the Student Services Department has been expanded as well as the integration of robust after-school clubs and programs.  Technology resources have been increased for educators, parents and students with a focus on one to one technology.  It is important to note that District 89, through the Department of Bilingual Services, offers a Dual Language Academy and bilingual classrooms supporting language learners to be academically successful in an environment that honors and respects cultural and linguistic strengths.  Preschool for All programs have been expanded from four schools offering eight sections to seven schools offering twenty-four sections. Offering opportunities for high quality early childhood learning enhances equity on the road to lifelong success.  Educator ongoing professional development on Cultural and Linguistic Responsive Teaching and Learning has been engaged in addressing equity in learning.  Building a culturally competent staff is instrumental to serving students and families in an equitable manner. 

8. How do you plan to solicit feedback from people who may be experiencing this community in a different way than you? What barriers do you believe may exist in this process? 

It is important that the communication process as outlined in question 5 is made available to all community members. In addition to the many avenues instituted for communication, surveys have been taken in the past to solicit feedback and may be reconsidered to provide essential information from all stakeholders.  Community forums may be instituted at a district and school level to solicit feedback.  Current practices, procedures, and policies are reviewed frequently to ensure that the best learning outcomes are being provided for students.  Receiving feedback whether it is in the form of support or concerns will allow us to move forward and serve as key advocates for our students, our families, our schools and communities.  Our goal is to have every student college, career and life ready!

9. Name an influential Maywood community member. How did this person’s influence change Maywood? As an elected official, what do you imagine your influence will be on the community? 

During my career, I have had the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people in the Village of Maywood. An influential person who stands out in having made a difference in the community and in School District 89 is Gwaine Dianne Williams. I have had the privilege to work closely with Dianne Williams in District 89.  She is an advocate for families and students and has worked diligently on the formation of the Parent Advisory Council in 2014.  She is quoted as saying, “Parent Advocacy is a passion of the entire District 89 Board of Education and the Parent Advisory Council is an additional avenue toward better communication between parents and the Board.”  She made that happen by working closely with the School District to institute Parent Universities and leadership training for parents.  Along with expanding the role that parents have in the schools, she instituted a Diversity Committee to review and develop practices that will promote workplace diversity, equity and inclusion.  She continued her role as a champion in the area of diversity by being a key player in forming the School District 89 Building the Future, Education Foundation. The mission of the organization is to recruit students of color for college to pursue a teaching career and to support innovation in the classroom through scholarships and teacher grants in Maywood, Melrose Park, Broadview School District 89.  Dianne was elected to the District 89 School Board in 2011 and has continued to enthusiastically support students, families, educators, staff and community members throughout the years.  She does it all with a smile, an optimistic and relentless positive attitude.  She is an outstanding example of a Maywood community member and School District 89 Board of Education member.  My hope is to emulate her distinguished service to others.

10. Educational and business leaders have begun to use a "cradle-to-career" framework when talking about education. Please discuss the role of District 89 within the “cradle-to-career” framework. 

The ‘Cradle-to-career’ model starts at the onset to prepare students to become college, career and life ready!  United as a community we align resources to support families and students for success in the classroom and beyond. Ensuring that we have key partners to assist in providing high quality equitable services is imperative.  Some of the partnerships that have been made available to families are through organizations and community members in Proviso Township. Proviso Partners for Health (PP4H) has provided information and services for families and students on healthy lifestyles.  Students have access to free physicals and immunizations as well as access to the Loyola School Based Health Center Clinic located at Proviso East High School.  The District has applied for grants and has succeeded in securing funding to expand the Preschool for All Program assisting in preparing students with quality early childhood learning closing the gap that many times exists prior to Kindergarten. STEM funding has been provided through grants allowing installation of STEM Labs in schools and promoting student success in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  Families are supported with a free breakfast and lunch program at the schools.  D89 has made diligent efforts to partner with local area hospitals and Triton Community College providing services, free book bags and supplies to students at the onset of school.  The Community Youth Alliance and School District 89 in the past have partnered to host ‘Say YES to Your Future’ to support Middle School students as they prepare for High School, College and Career.  Students have attended the Dare to Dream: Get Educated Conference which works with Middle School Latinas to encourage and support college enrollment and introduce students to college and career role models. .  The Des Plaines Valley Region grant which District 89 participates in has provided career development resources for Middle School students and educators.  The robust resources address career planning, creating career awareness and career exploration.  It has been a wonderful support for Middle School students to collect details on careers that interest them.  As the District continues to partner with local agencies, community organizations and feeder schools to support ‘cradle-to-career’   initiatives, the opportunities are encouraging and can be expanded to assist students to utilize their talents, interests and skills as they seek a career they desire to pursue. 

11. What lessons learned from the implementation of remote and hybrid learning during the pandemic do you believe will be applicable going forward, even after the pandemic abates? 

Without a doubt, the unexpected COVID pandemic placed a laser like focus on technology in the educational setting and workplace.  Educators, students and families prepared to make adjustments in teaching and learning throughout the country.  For some it was successful and for others it was a challenge offering little success.   As we move forward, we need to assess what worked well and what has not worked well.   A deep data dive needs to be taken to address where students are at academically, socially and emotionally.  Throughout this challenging time, we have learned much and will continue to learn as students return to the classroom in regards to how online learning can provide support for students and families.  Some thoughts going forward are that options for remote learning will be helpful on days that students cannot be in attendance, for additional course work and for support in curricular areas.  In addition, online learning may be utilized to extend the school day allowing participation in high interest area courses that are not offered in school, in homework help and in keeping students engaged in after-school clubs and programming.    

12. Special education is mandated by federal law. How will you set up structures to ensure ongoing concerns of families engaged with special education are addressed? What do you believe are the biggest issues facing families and children with special needs, and how will you work to see their needs are met?

The District 89 Student Services Department offering special education services mandated by law has been expanded to set up structures to support students and families with special education needs.  The district offers resource programs, speech/language programs, integrated Preschool for All Program, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, the RISE program (Reaching Independence through  Structured Environment), The STRIDE program (Structured Teaching Reinforced in a Differentiated Environment) and the STARS  program (Successful Transitions Achieved with Responsive Support).  Private and parochial students with specials needs are also provided services. Any family having a concern is encouraged to contact the team of dedicated educators who support their child in the educational process.  The school administrator or the district Executive Director of Student Services may also be contacted for consultation in the matter.  I have personally heard of the many positive experiences that families encounter in the Student Services Department providing each student with an optimal learning experience. 

When thinking of optimal learning experiences, the integration of the co-teaching model comes to mind which focuses on small group learning, one to one learning by pairing teachers together to best serve students.  Teachers received professional development in this area on best practices and the implementation of this model.

Families with young children need to be aware that special service is available for students as early as three years of age.  Students may be identified through a district screening process.  The integrated Preschool for All Program to set young learners on the path to success is offered for children ages three and four year old prior to the Kindergarten experience and supports families with their early learners.   This message of importance is communicated through the district to all community members.

Working together with families to ensure the well-being of students is a priority, the district continually welcomes suggestions from parents in any of the Student Services areas.  I commit to listening to families and to assist in the implementation of providing enhanced services to those students with Individual Education Plans.

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[The above answers were supplied on 3/1/21.]