The Wednesday Journal sent questionnaires to each person running for public office in 2025. The Journal’s questions are in bold and the candidate’s responses are below.
OPRF does not hold an “exemplary” designation from the state, a rating given to the top 10% of public schools, how would you help the school get there? Why is it important to get there?
Of course, we want our high school to be among the best in the state. Having an excellent high school, that meets the criteria for “exemplary” designation on the Illinois Report Card, creates opportunity for our children and keeps our communities thriving. A focus on school quality also maintains property values and keeps Oak Park and River Forest attractive to new families. Data shared by the district with board candidates indicates that the areas of concern on the 2023-24 Illinois Report Card include the percentage of freshmen “on track” as well as some measures of climate and collaboration among teachers and students. This suggests that in order to move OPRF toward exemplary status, the board should advocate for the administration to focus on supporting freshmen who are struggling academically, as well as on building a cooperative and collaborative culture within the school.
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?
My starting point would be to understand the current policies and advocate to strengthen them as needed. There are at least four areas where the district will need to be prepared and organized to respond to changes, while staying in compliance with relevant state and federal laws. First, ensuring the safety of immigrant students and families is critical. The school needs to ensure that policy is in place regarding how law enforcement is received at the school entrance and the need for a warrant, signed by a judge, to come on school property. Data management policies should be reviewed to avoid collection or retention of any unnecessary information pertaining to student or family immigration status. Second, as federal policies regarding LGBTQ+ students shift, the district must uphold and extend protections for these students. Gay, trans, and non-binary students have the right to feel safe and supported at school. Third, while there may be changes in federal health and wellness policies, the district must maintain a science-based approach. Finally, curriculum. The OPRF curriculum must remain robust, standards-based, and culturally responsive.
What is the most important aspect of the Project 2 facilities upgrades currently underway at OPRF? How would you look to keep the plan on budget?
The new facilities under construction as part of Project 2 will create physical education, athletic and arts spaces that are safe, modern, and accessible. The work underway also includes some great sustainability initiatives, such as a green roof and geothermal. This is a much-needed modern facility that will benefit almost every student at OPRF, on a daily basis. To keep the Project 2 construction on budget, the board should continue to receive regular reports from the contractor, become aware of any anticipated overages at an early stage, and be prepared to adjust as needed to maintain the budget.
What does equity in education mean to you? How would you advocate for it if elected?
Equity means that every student should have access to the resources and opportunities to be successful, and that race and socioeconomic status should not predict outcomes. It also means that systematic barriers to student success should be eliminated. One of the most important equity initiatives currently underway at OPRF is the new freshman curriculum. Since 2022, most freshmen coming into the high school participate in honors-level courses in science, English and history. The current freshman class is the third class to participate in the revised curriculum, which means that the data is just coming in about its outcomes. What we know so far is that more students are taking AP exams and overall scores are improving, and standardized test scores remain relatively stable. As mentioned above, attention is needed to improve outcomes for freshmen who are struggling. If elected, I will support the continued implementation of the new curriculum, along with data informed adjustments to make it better.
In recent years, OPRF has changed its behavioral policies to put a greater emphasis on restorative justice, what do you make of these changes?
I am supportive and appreciative of this approach. Data shows that disciplinary actions taken by the school, such as out of school suspensions, disproportionally affect students of color at OPRF. A restorative justice approach centers student well-being and is appropriately aligned with the role of the high school: to provide a high-quality education that prepares all students for their futures. Under this approach, the goal is to keep students in school and to provide structure and guidance to help students stay on track and work through disciplinary issues. Importantly, the use of restorative practices is called for by Illinois state law. Of course, any threats of violence or extreme violations such as bringing weapons into the school, must be taken extremely seriously.