Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I am a CPS parent, so I have a significant stake in the success of the system. I am also an experienced educator. I was previously a special education teacher and then a principal at CPS's Burke Elementary. I choose to become a teacher and then a school leader in large part because of the inequalities I saw in my community and the world. Everyone deserves access to an excellent education, regardless of zip code, regardless of wealth, regardless of anything. I sought, in my small way, to make that a reality. That is a large part of why I became a principal.
Often good leadership is what makes the difference between an excellent school and a failing one. When I was appointed principal of Burke the school was on probation - its students were performing far below grade level and its culture was disorganized, unkind, and hostile. By the time I left, the school was no-longer on probation and the school culture was a beautiful mix of high expectations, compassion, care, and joy. I am running for school board because every Chicago student deserves a school like that. I want to take what we know creates schools worthy of their students and apply those lessons to schools across Chicago. This is a pivotal moment in Chicago’s history, and I want the best for my daughter and every CPS student.
Why are you the most qualified candidate?
As a principal, my team and I turned around Burke elementary school. When I arrived the school was on probation. By the time I left not only was the school taken off probation but we had consistently been ranked within the top 1% of improvement in Illinois. I know what makes a school excellent and I know how to apply it. I am also the only candidate in the race that is neither backed by charter schools nor the CTU. By staying independent of the major sources of money and power shaping our schools, I can ensure that the only people I will be beholden to are my constituents.
What is the biggest issue facing your specific school board district?
As the parent of a CPS student and a former school principal, I have had a front row seat to CPS’s many successes and failures. The most pressing issue in my district is that of equitable school funding. To this end, I support using CPS’s Opportunity Index to guarantee that funding is equitably distributed to schools, but I also support evaluating the impact of that formula to ensure it distributes funds to schools in the way that school communities need. Fundamentally, I support growing the total pie of available funding for all schools by advocating for the governor and State Legislature to fully fund the Evidence Based Funding formula.
Aside from funding, our school leaders and students know and acutely feel the impact of a severe staffing shortage. We must support career ladders that support and lift interested parties in taking on many of our hard to staff roles. We need to provide funding and pay for certification and the time it takes to complete those pathways. We need to offer signing bonuses for critical but hard-to-staff positions, and we need to formalize teacher-leader roles with pay that retain our very best talent. I also see improving achievement and mental health as major issues that the Board must tackle.
As a school leader, I improved reading and math achievement by selecting rigorous curricula, investing in teacher and staff professional development, creating time for proper planning, and consistently prioritizing collaboration. Collaborative planning and reflection around teacher practice and student data are essential to ensure lessons are responsive to student needs and foster academic growth.
To apply the above at scale, we need to ensure that our schools have the funds, staff, and time in teachers’ schedules to support such systems of collaboration and development. Lastly, we must diligently care for our students’ mental health. This means ensuring that our schools are the safe, supportive community anchors our kids and families deserve by properly funding and staffing school-based mental health resources and facilitating partnerships with community-based organizations to provide holistic wrap-around services for families.
How has your district been impacted by the shuttering of CPS schools?
My district, particularly the southernmost half, was deeply impacted by the 2013 school closures. The shuttering of the schools was deeply traumatic and excruciatingly damaging for countless communities. I will stand in opposition to any attempt to repeat the failed and harmful 2013 closures.
How have your district’s schools been impacted by students who are new arrivals to the U.S. and how should CPS best accommodate those students and families?
Like the rest of the city, District 6 has been impacted by CPS’s failures to properly adapt and educate the recent arrivals. We do not provide sufficient resources for ELL students and their parents. For one, there is a profound shortage of teachers with bilingual certification - a shortage that has only gotten worse as recent arrivals have grown the need for ELL teachers. I support funding the coursework needed to achieve bilingual certification and offering test-in opportunities for multilingual speakers. This would allow people to achieve temporary licensure more quickly as they work toward more permanent certification. Additionally, we have many parents who are bilingual speakers; we should consider ways to hire them in support roles to supplement core bilingual instruction. For parents, especially those who have recently arrived, CPS is often deeply challenging to navigate. I support providing navigators, who are fluent in each individual’s native languages, to help them chart their course through the system.
How do you believe the school board should handle the looming fiscal crisis at Chicago Public Schools?
CPS has a budget gap that is large and baring concerted action will only get larger. As a board member, I will:
1) Advocate for the State to merge the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund and the Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois to equalize state pension funding for CPS and every other school district in the state.
2) Seek efficiencies in the delivery of capital plan projects. In particular, I will implement design-build, enhance standardization across contracts, and create revolving funds for maintenance to ensure that we move away from expensive one-and-done project funding.
3) Fight for the State to fully fund the Evidence-Based Funding Formula.
4) Utilize all future one-time funds to underwrite non-recurring spending or pay down debt.
A moratorium on closing CPS schools is set to expire in January. Should CPS consolidate more schools?
CPS should not pursue school closures or consolidations.
What is your position on closing selective enrollment schools?
My daughter attends Galileo Scholastic Academy, a magnet school. I do not support closing selective enrollment or magnet schools.
What is your position on charter schools?
I support maintaining access to charter options within CPS’s school portfolio. I do not, however, support diverting any additional public funds to further charter growth; especially when we are facing a budget crisis.
Is your campaign being supported by the Chicago Teachers Union?
No
The Chicago Teachers Union wants the district to focus on retrofitting schools with equipment that will battle the effects of climate change. Is spending money that way right now a good idea with the massive deficit the district faces?
I support the transition to a net zero school system. HOWEVER, given the budget crisis we are facing, I do not support directing additional resources, beyond what we are already spending, to retrofits. Down the line, when we aren’t facing a dire budget crisis, I would support additional retrofits.
What is your biggest priority and what do you hope to accomplish on the Chicago Board of Education?
My biggest priority is to build a school system that does right by its students and families. I will not be satisfied until every student receives a world class education at any CPS school they choose.