The Forest Park Review sent questionnaires to each person running for public office in 2025. The Review’s questions are in bold and the candidate’s responses are below.
With a new presidential administration has come sweeping federal changes affecting public schools. How would you look to guide the district in this new climate?
I have been following EVERYTHING that has been changing or proposed in education. These are difficult times for school districts and parents to navigate, but we must make sure we are prepared to support our students. During these challenging and political times, the school must be ready to support students and families as much as possible. Guidance is needed from adults who are dedicated to making sure that support, resources, and opportunities will help students navigate these trying times and transition into the world outside of school. As a future board member, I plan to work collaboratively with current and new members, as well as the superintendent, to be educated on what changes our schools must adhere to on both the local and federal levels. I also plan to work with the school’s leadership, community leaders, and stakeholders to identify resources and support for students both in and out of the building. I understand how important it will be for our students and their families to be provided with the assurance that no matter what is changing within the government, the schools will continue to support them academically, emotionally, and socially. Now, more than ever, our schools must be ready to understand how these sweeping changes create trauma in our schools and work proactively and collaboratively to address and meet our students and staff’s needs.
What is your impression of new superintendent Krish Mohip? How would you look to work with him if elected?
I am impressed with Mr. Mohip’s extensive knowledge of how to address the needs of students, parent engagement, school law, reform, and the importance of establishing rigor, relationships, and consistency in our schools. But I am more impressed with his dedication to accountability. This is an important trait many leaders lack, and I believe it has been one of the reasons past superintendents in District 209 have failed. We must have strong leaders at the helm of the district, with a willingness to acknowledge what is working and not working equally. Additionally, I value Mr. Mohip’s proactive approach to visiting schools and classrooms, engaging with the community, and discussing their expectations for our schools. He has clearly communicated what the schools need from the community to succeed. As a future board member, I will continue to support him in his efforts to improve the schools and hold him accountable to the goals set by the school board.
It’s no secret that there has been a high rate of turnover in the D209 superintendent position. What do you make of that and how would you work to support more stability in the district administration?
I believe the high turnover rate has multiple underlying issues. One significant concern is that we must select our leaders based on more than just their connections. It doesn’t matter who they know; what matters is whether they understand what our students and schools need to succeed. Some of our past superintendents have prioritized gaining favor with community leaders over fulfilling their actual responsibilities. While I want our leaders and staff to maintain positive and professional relationships with community stakeholders, they must also prioritize the needs of our schools above all else. Additionally, as a board, we cannot hire leaders without setting clear, measurable goals for them. We need to collaborate to identify competent leaders, establish goals, and regularly evaluate their progress. This process shouldn’t be done in isolation or made personal; we must work together as a cohesive unit.
What does equity in education mean to you? How would you advocate for it if elected? Is there any program or resource you’ve seen implemented in another school district that you think Proviso students and families would really benefit from? How would it fill an existing gap?
I aim to address the gap in District 209’s tradition of not evaluating the effectiveness of programs and resources. I have spent a great deal of time reviewing financial documents from the past three years of spending in Proviso/District 209. During this review, I identified resources, programs, and job descriptions that were present one year but disappeared the following year without any evaluation records. Additionally, there are programs with low usage, such as Paper (online tutoring), for which we have continued or renewed contracts despite their lack of effectiveness. Why is this happening? I intend to work with the superintendent and building leaders to establish effective methods for evaluating current programs and systems, as well as vetting new ones. We cannot continue to introduce programs and resources intended to help our students succeed without evaluating their effectiveness. When we keep doing this we fail, and our students fail!
Equity means that everyone is treated fairly and justly. It also means that there is an understanding that everyone has different needs at different times. I plan to advocate for making sure that we, as a school community, are addressing the needs of the whole student while understanding that each student’s needs are different. We must also make sure we provide training for all staff and stakeholders that will allow them to support student’s mental health, academic needs, and well-being in an equitable and respectful manner. I also plan to advocate for systems that work together. We have too many systems and programs that claim they are working to support students, but no one can provide information on how these systems work, whether they are working, and most importantly, are the systems equitable and effective.
Is there any program or resource you’ve seen implemented in another school district that you think Proviso students and families would really benefit from? How would it fill an existing gap?
I aim to address the gap in District 209’s tradition of not evaluating the effectiveness of programs and resources. I have spent a great deal of time reviewing financial documents from the past three years of spending in Proviso/District 209. During this review, I identified resources, programs, and job descriptions that were present one year but disappeared the following year without any evaluation records. Additionally, there are programs with low usage, such as Paper (online tutoring), for which we have continued or renewed contracts despite their lack of effectiveness. Why is this happening? I intend to work with the superintendent and building leaders to establish effective methods for evaluating current programs and systems, as well as vetting new ones. We cannot continue to introduce programs and resources intended to help our students succeed without evaluating their effectiveness. When we keep doing this we fail, and our students fail!