Misa Edwardsen: Candidate For Township High School District 214

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Ahead of the April 4 consolidated municipal elections, Arlington Heights Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Five candidates are vying for four seats on the Township High School District 214 Board of Education on Election Day.

• William Dussling, current president (term ends in 2023)
• Alva Kreutzer, current member (term ends in 2023)
• Elizabeth Bauer
• Misa Edwardsen
• Frank Fiarito

Dussling, Kreutzer and Fiarito are supported by the Friends of District 214 caucus.

Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim.

Misa Edwardsen

Age (as of election day)

49

Town/city of residence

Mount Prospect

School district

Township High School District 214

Family

My daughter is a sophomore in college and my son is a senior in D214.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelor's in elementary education and psychology and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction

Occupation

educator of 27 years

Campaign website

misa214.com

Previous or current elected or appointed office

none

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

Academic proficiency levels need to be addressed by ensuring students receive core instruction with an engaging curriculum from teachers who have consistent and high expectations. The school board also needs ongoing conversations with its students, staff, and constituents by reaching out at events and forums.

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

Being a parent to two teens and an educator for over 25 years sets me apart from the other candidates. I understand a parent’s view and can relate to the staff.

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

The current board has failed to be transparent with minimal conversation between board members after presentations and/or pressing concerns to allow the community to better understand why the board votes the way they do and by limiting public comments.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Another priority is safety for students, staff, and the community. Safety protocols should be in place with consistent expectations and repercussions, proactive training for staff, and review of school protocols within and around school grounds by the school board.

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

I have been a part of various committees to assist in running the school and have led various professional learning communities. Over the past 15 years, I have taken on other various roles within the school to assist in training new staff members.

Why should voters trust you?

Over the past 25 years, I have been committed to my colleagues, students, and their families as an educator. I am a dedicated educator who wants to see the public school system give students the academic foundation they deserve for a successful life.

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

My accomplishment from my term would be seeing the community come together to support the next generation of students with a successful academic foundation to further their education.

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

The school board needs to be transparent about its spending. Taxpayer dollars must be utilized on supporting students’ academics and well-being.

What are your thoughts on how the district has handled the COVID-19 pandemic?

I commend the district on its efforts with the pandemic. Going forward, it needs not only to reflect on what worked and didn’t work but also consider parent input.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some school boards saw extremely heated disagreements during public meetings. If elected, what changes, if any, need to be made to ensure meetings are run efficiently while still allowing open discussions?

I believe meetings need to be held twice a month at reasonable times. If there is a concerning topic that needs to be addressed, a special meeting should be called.

How do you feel about sex education being taught in school? Should an LGBTQ component be included, and why or why not?

The basics of sex education should be taught in the school. To prepare students for the future the district needs reading, writing, math, civics, and other foundation skills to be a priority.

What are your views on critical race theory and whether it should be taught in the district?

The district needs to make reading, writing, math, civics, and other foundational skills priority.

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

The board needs to place priority on reading, writing, math, civics, and other foundational skills to prepare students for the future. Allowing proficiency levels of 70% and lower is unacceptable.

When it comes to student achievement, what are schools within this district doing well and what needs to be improved? How can those improvements be made?

The selection of courses the district provides is diverse. Improvements need to start by ensuring the staff is providing rigorous engaging material pertaining to the course to improve academic proficiency.

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

No

The best advice ever shared with me was ____________

The best advice shared with me as an educator was make sure your students are excited to come back tomorrow.

The best advice shared as a parent was enjoy every moment because in a blink of an eye your children will be adults.