Deborah Tranter: Candidate For Arlington Heights SD 25

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Ahead of the April 6 consolidated municipal elections, Arlington Heights Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Eight candidates are vying for four seats on the Arlington Heights School District 25 Board of Education on Election Day. They include three incumbents (Gina Faso, Rich Olejniczak and Anisha Patel) and five challengers (Melisa Andrews, Katie Rausch, Gregory Scapillato, Deborah Tranter and Todd Witherow).

Arlington Heights Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim.

Deborah Tranter

Age (as of election day)

54

Town/city of residence

Arlington Heights

School district

25

Family

Husband Scott (54) Daughter Ashley (32, married to Travis Tzioumis also 32), Son Brendan(24)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.

No

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Education from Roosevelt University, Master's Degree In Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University. I consider myself a lifelong learner and take continuing education courses and professional development on a continuous basis.

Occupation

I am currently enjoying my 12th year as a fifth grade teacher at Olive-Mary Stitt Elementary School in Arlington Heights. Prior to that, I enjoyed ten years as the Director of Human Resources for Long Grove Confectionery Company.

Campaign website

https://www.trustintranter2021...

Previous or current elected or appointed office

N/A

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I believe that the most pressing issue AHSD25 school board is facing right now is that the board itself has become fractured and the Arlington Heights community has become divided. Both the school board and the community need to come together to focus on what is best for all students, the teachers and the future of SD25. The school board, and District 25, can be most successful if we work with a culture of collaboration. I believe that as a member of the school board, I can help mend that divide. One way to begin repairing the fractured relationships is to elect a school board with a wide variety of perspectives, and not vote in a way that supports “group think”. I feel my unique experiences as a SD25 parent, ATA member, educator, active community member, and human resource professional will bring unique and valuable insight to the decision making process of our next school board.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I believe that the critical differences between myself and the other candidates seeking this post is that I am running as a strong independent candidate, not a part of a singular voiced slate. I am running with the unique perspective with corporate training in employee relationships with Human Resources in my background. I also have the perspective and background as a D25 parent of two successful children who were blessed to have had SD25 as their foundation to a fabulous education. Lastly, I have the valuable perspective of working 12 years as an educator in the very district I hope to serve. I know first hand what is in the best interest of our students and our teachers. Serving as the voice of students, families and teachers in District 25, as a school board member, would be a privilege that I would be honored to procure; to be a voice for the AHSD25 community.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district?

As a challenger, I feel strongly that we need to move away from this culture of criticism that is rampant in society. My strongest issue with current members is that as I witnessed our current school board become fractured, students and the best interests of students no longer appeared to be the first priority. I witnessed a clear division within the board and singular voices were heard where group governance should have led. Meetings over the last year lost productivity and gained tension; never being useful to the community. I believe that if members would have worked collaboratively with all stakeholders that impactful decisions could have been made more timely and efficiently.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

The relationship between the new school board, teachers, the superintendent, and the community needs to be repaired and strengthened as a first priority. We will need this to make progress and attend to the important issues of the next 4 years collectively. Another change that needs to occur with our future school board is greater transparency in the relationship with the community. The school district needs to work with the newest contract negotiations to attempt to marry the salary schedules of schedule A and schedule B to entice highly qualified candidates to seek employment in SD25. Sub shortages need to be addressed in the district, hiring incentives, campaigns with parent groups and coffees with the superintendent just may help. The school board will also need to work to address the social and emotional needs of ALL students and teachers in the district because the impacts of Covid and the challenges of remote learning have been deep and wide. Only after the social and emotional needs are addressed, can continued academic growth take place, I believe that my perspective as a teacher will be an invaluable asset as we discuss these problems and potential solutions.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My professional experience speaks for itself. I worked ten years as the Director of Human Resources for Long Grove Confectionery. As a member of their leadership team, I assisted in the development of our employee manual, marketed benefit packages, and worked to recruit and retain employees at our corporate and retail locations. I have spent the last twelve years working as a fifth grade educator, a profession that has fed my soul. In addition to my full-time classroom responsibilities, I served as a building-level Response to Intervention Facilitator, I served two terms as an intermediate team leader and for six years I co-sponsored the OMS Service Learning Club; guiding our students to appreciate the joy that comes with giving back to our community. I am extremely comfortable and experienced in leadership roles, with a constructive attitude towards teamwork; where serving all students, without reservation, is my first priority.

Why should voters trust you?

I am hopeful that voters will see my dedication to serving as the voice of all children when they recognize that if elected, due to conflict of interest, I would have to leave my position as a classroom teacher (a job which feeds my soul)and forfeit my salary to serve as a voice for all students, all families and all teachers in Arlington Heights. I am not seeking anything in return, but mu heart is truly motivated by civic involvement and the desire to assist our community where I know I can.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

As a school board candidate, if I were to win a seat on the board, I would be hopeful that all of the boards actions over the next four years would be successful. That being said, if I were able to play a role in mending the divide in our community, and repairing the fracture in our school board to afford the board an opportunity to work cohesively and collaboratively over the next four years, I would be elated. I would feel successful if the school board were able to address the social and emotional needs of all students and teachers in the district so that measurable academic growth could occur.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

District 25 has been in a fortunate position of exceptional financial health for several years now, including the highest possible bond rates. Additions to several of the District schools were possible through bond sales. The district was able to provide all students K-8 with 1:1 devices during the Covid pandemic due to finances that were received from CARES government funding. Additional funding is expected, but not guaranteed. Therefore, to maintain a financial future of excellence, it is critical that the school board continues to closely monitor all district finances. The goal is for the greatest amount of benefits to be noticeable in the classrooms.

Do you support Black Lives Matter and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

I most certainly support Black Lives Matter and I am appalled and devastated by the deaths of George Floyd, Jacob Blake, Breonna Taylor and countless others who were killed by law enforcement. I do not, however, endorse or encourage retaliatory violence in protests. Violence being answered with violence is never productive. Peaceful demonstrations and education are key to change.

What do I wish to see with our school board?

Issues of diversity, equity and inclusion must be a top priority for AHSD25. We have to increase our awareness of the barriers that those who face disadvantages are up against - and what can be done to remove those barriers. We must be a district rich in culturally responsive practices - literature, curriculum, and assignments that represent the diversity of our world and that accurately honor our history.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

As we see diversity increase within our schools, we celebrate that change - but these students are not met with teachers that mirror their race or their background - I am aware personally that we are working on this. I was reached out to last June and asked to please host a student teacher, that the district was recognizing the need for more diverse teachers and had broadened the student teacher bank outside of the traditional and standard university choices in our pool. I took a student teacher under my wing to ensure that she was trained and equipped with all the resources she needed to succeed - she is now a long term sub at OMS. We need to continue non-traditional recruitment techniques and strategies to bring in a diverse teacher and student teacher pool. In addition to educators, our curriculum needs to be rich in relatable text suited for students of all races and all backgrounds. We must be a district rich in culturally responsive practices - literature, curriculum, and assignments that represent the diversity of our world and that accurately honor our history.

What are your thoughts on the district’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic? Are you in favor of remote learning, in-person learning or a hybrid of the two? Do you support a mask mandate for students and school staff, or mandatory coronavirus testing for both students and staff

While I was admittedly displeased with the lack of decision making that I witnessed by our school board over the last year; it would be unfair to judge anyone in a leadership position attempting to navigate an unprecedented pandemic. Our district is currently following scientific guidelines as suggested by IDPH and CDC and we have all students whose families have chosen to return in person learning, while others remain remote. If we are meeting metrics, I am in favor of having students in the classroom where they learn best. I most certainly support a mask mandate for student and staff; as long as infectious disease experts recommend that we do so. AHSD25 is fortunate that all staff were offered an opportunity to become vaccinated; therefore I do not believe that a mandatory coronavirus test for staff members each day would be necessary.

When the vaccine is available to them, do you support mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for students and staff?

I do not support mandatory vaccinations that are this new. I was thrilled to have been given the opportunity to receive my vaccination; but I acknowledge that not all individuals are comfortable doing so. That being said, if the CDC creates a policy that states the only way to eradicate this virus (such as with polio) is to require vaccinations, I would support their view.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

There are no reasons that I would not plan to serve a full term or office.

The best advice ever shared with me was ____________

One lives not just for one's self but for one's community.