Where I Stand

As a candidate some items that I believe are important  for our students, schools, and community, which I will advocate to improve are: 

Improving our District and School Report Card: 

Across our district we are falling short of state averages in several key areas. These include the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) in Math, SAT testing in Math and ELA, the Illinois Science Assessment, proficiency in math and science, eighth graders passing algebra, ninth graders staying on track, teacher retention, and chronic absenteeism- higher than the state average. 

Our lower performance in math and science is particularly concerning, as it puts students at a disadvantage who are interested in pursuing higher education and careers in STEM. As a board member, I will advocate for targeted strategies to improve these areas. By doing so, we can help our students achieve their life goals, attract families to Elmwood Park who value strong school ratings when choosing to relocate, and ensure that the taxes paid by our community are well-spent.

Additionally, I will push for competitive salaries to retain and recruit the best educators, fostering greater stability for our students and families. Improving teacher retention and staff morale is essential to creating a positive district culture. As someone studying education and with an educator in my own household, I understand that while higher salaries at other districts may be enticing, the overall culture and environment within a district can be the key factor in retaining talented educators. This is an area that we must prioritize for improvement in EPCUSD.

Transparency: 

The issue of transparency has gained significant attention following the “gun incident” at EPHS in 2023. During and after the event, district administrators and officials circulated false information about the events that unfolded. While some details could not be shared due to FERPA and other legal constraints, the information that could have been disclosed was either withheld or inaccurately conveyed to students, staff, families, and the broader community. This was a major incident that exposed several flaws within the board’s communication and decision-making, ultimately placing pressure on them to be more transparent.

Having attended board meetings since high school, and continuing to attend every single meeting for the past year, I have seen the discussions taking place. However, I am often the only member of the community present, particularly at Committee of the Whole (COW) meetings. I believe it is crucial for these meetings to be live streamed and recorded, so that members of the community can stay informed about the discussions, decisions, and debates that happen before votes are taken.

Additionally, I strongly believe that when significant decisions are made by the board, a public statement should be issued to explain how the decision was reached. Conversely, when board members are unable to reach a consensus, it is equally important for them to publicly share their reasons for disagreement. This level of transparency fosters trust and ensures that the community is informed, involved, and aware of how decisions are impacting our district.

School Safety: 

Since March of 2023, following an incident in which a student brought a handgun to EPHS, there has been a heightened focus on security measures and addressing threats within our district. This event prompted important conversations and reactions about the safety of our schools, and I am pleased to see that the district has made significant strides to address the security gaps. Many of the changes now being implemented align with the issues I advocated for during my time as a student, and I applaud the board and district for their efforts.

However, I believe that while progress has been made, it is still not enough. Having one resource officer who is responsible for multiple schools is simply not sufficient given the growing student population. Fortunately, EPHS now has a stationed School Resource Officer (SRO), which is a positive step forward. Still, an increased police presence is needed outside the schools before and after school hours, as was the case when I was a student in the district.

As someone who helps my parents by dropping off and picking up my siblings, and as someone who makes a point of traveling by the schools to check on their safety, I can say firsthand that this level of oversight is not always present. Living across the street from an elementary school, I am acutely aware of the need for more consistent monitoring.

At the high school and middle school levels, I believe that security and campus monitors should receive trauma-informed training and be equipped with more enhanced knowledge to handle physical altercations appropriately. School safety is not just about physical security, but mental well-being as well. It’s crucial that we create an environment where mental health is openly discussed and encouraged. By fostering this kind of dialogue, we can build a safer, more supportive environment where children feel comfortable and empowered to grow and thrive.

Safety and well-being go hand-in-hand, and it’s essential that our district continues to prioritize both the physical and mental health of its students and staff.

Student, Parent, and Community Involvement: 

As a former student of the district and a strong advocate for student voices, I believe that having a student board member is essential for ensuring the board understands the direct impact of their decisions on the student body. While I don't think a student should have voting privileges, I do believe they should be allowed to sit at the table with the board, offering valuable insights and perspectives. This student should be elected by their peers at the high school, with recommendations from the staff to ensure a well-rounded selection.

Reflecting on my own experience as a student, I would have greatly appreciated this opportunity. I often attended board meetings in high school and, at times, had to hold back my thoughts as board members debated decisions that directly affected school dynamics—without firsthand knowledge of how their choices would truly impact students.

The school board must remain accountable to parents and the community, as they are elected officials entrusted with making the best, most informed decisions for our students. To achieve this, we should engage with parents through advisory boards, surveys, and events like "Coffee with a Board Member" throughout the year, ensuring that the voices of both students, community members,  and parents are heard and considered in every decision-making process.

The Role of a Board Member: 

I believe that the role of a Board Member is to work in partnership with the Superintendent of Schools to ensure that policies voted on are effectively implemented. However, the Board must also hold the Superintendent accountable to ensure that goals and expectations are met. Too often, school boards either try to manage the Superintendent or find themselves being managed by them. My philosophy is to strike a healthy balance, a model  refereed to as “team collaboration.” There should be no power struggle between the Board and the Superintendent—after all, we share the same ultimate goal: to make our schools the best they can be and to provide our students with the highest quality education possible.

A Board member should take an active, visible role in the school community by attending sporting events, plays, fundraisers, guest reading sessions, visiting classrooms, speaking at events, and more. Board members should embrace the opportunity to volunteer and witness firsthand the day-to-day operations of our schools. This is something I had the privilege of experiencing as a student teacher observer at Elmwood Elementary. One idea I would like to propose, which I believe is often overlooked, is for Board members to spend a day in various support roles, such as custodians, hall monitors, lunch and recess supervisors, paraprofessionals, and others. This hands-on experience would provide a unique perspective on the important, behind-the-scenes work that keeps our schools running smoothly.

A Board member should be someone who understands the community on a personal level. Having attended our schools, I have a unique perspective, having walked our halls as a student. Additionally, I share a common identity with the majority of our students and families: a Hispanic identity. With approximately 60% of our student population being Hispanic, and this number continuing to grow, I am committed to addressing the diverse needs of our community by representing all members. I also understand the challenges faced by the one-third of our students and families who are ESL learners. As a young student, I was an ESL learner myself, struggling with English as I transitioned into the school system, especially since my grandmother, who cared for me while my parents worked, primarily spoke Spanish.

*Numbers and data referred to come from the Illinois School Report Card of 2024. Click here. In addition, these are amongst a few of the items I seek to address and advocate for. More can be heard and seen by watching the candidate forum, linked in the about me subpage.