Evanston School Board Candidate Profile: Elizabeth Rolewicz

EVANSTON, IL — Four candidates are running for three contested seats on the Evanston Township High School District 202 school board in the April 4 municipal elections.

Two incumbents are seeking re-election: Monique Parsons and Elizabeth Rolewicz. They face two challengers: Leah Piekarz and Kristen Scotti.

Evanston Patch provided all candidates with a questionnaire ahead of Tuesday's vote and publishes their responses verbatim.

Elizabeth Rolewicz

Age (as of Election Day)
46

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No

Education
BFA University of Illinois Chicago

Occupation
I am currently a stay at home parent, doing freelance work, but I wish to find meaningful work in an equity-focused local non-profit.

Campaign Website
https://www.rolewicz4eths.com/

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office
ETHS D202 School Board 2019-present

The most pressing issues facing the district are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.
My greatest concern is the disparity in outcomes based on race or disability status. We need to work to decrease bias that students are experiencing, and continue to approach the whole student when working to mitigate racism in the student experience. For students with IEPs, we need to ensure that all data is disaggregated by IEP status, and that IEPs are fulfilled to their legal standard, so that students can have their required supports and meet their greatest potential.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I have the experience of already being on the board for almost 4 years, working through arguably the most complex and stressful time in the history of the school, during the pandemic. We were making very difficult decisions in a time-sensitive, emergency situation, all to keep the students safe while keeping learning as undisrupted as possible. I was also a part of the superintendent hiring process, and helped choose the best possible candidate to serve our students. I would like to stay on the board so that I can see through that process and continue to support our superintendent in the important work he envisions for ETHS.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

- Address the issue of race as a predictor of academic outcomes
- Support our special education students and families by implementing evidence based solutions to guide students toward careers and independence
- Explore school safety options to determine what is a good fit for ETHS
- Continue to address the mental health crisis that resulted from the pandemic

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Again, having served on the board during an exceptionally challenging time, having emerged on the other side successfully, and having avoided disruption to learning to our greatest ability. We continue to address the effects the pandemic had on academics and social-emotional learning. If we can survive a pandemic, we can survive anything.

Why should voters trust you?
I have always led with honesty and integrity in everything I have done in this community, always keeping the community’s needs front of mind. I have listened to the community and advocated on their behalf. I can be trusted to always stay student-focused, whether it’s an open or closed meeting. I am committed to having the sometimes difficult and uncomfortable conversations about the issues we encounter at ETHS. We need to have honest conversations to addresses our complex issues.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?
I look forward to seeing our racial equity work have a significant impact on the well-being and success of our black and brown students, as it already has. I want to uphold this work and ensure that it continues to be a top priority for ETHS. I want to encourage our superintendent to bring his big, bold ideas to the table and to offer my full support so that we can see real change for our most marginalized students.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?
The board has continually monitored finances and we take fiscal responsibility very seriously. ETHS uses student-focused, values-based budgeting, and that is apparent in budgeting decisions that are made. We keep cuts away from the classroom. ETHS has presented a Balanced Budget for 16 years and won financial awards. We also have a AAA bond rating. The ETHS Digest, or Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), gives Evanston/Skokie residents an overview of ETHS finances. It’s available online. This digest provides crucial information to the community about our financial standings.

What would you do to improve the district's retention and recruitment of educational professionals?
There is a national teacher shortage, and ETHS is affected by this as well. I would support initiatives like robust professional development, competitive pay, and creating a culture and climate that allows teachers to thrive and meet their potential in their profession. I also support partnering with higher-ed in the Chicago area to recruit directly from colleges and universities. I would love to see a pipeline of our own students entering the teaching profession and coming back to teach at ETHS, as they already have. I also believe that ETHS’s national reputation for being a leader in equity work will attract and retain quality professionals.

In what areas, if any, are students in the district exceeding standards? In what ways, if any, are they falling behind?
We have seen a steady increase in participation in pathway to honors and AP courses across racial demographics, which we are very happy with. From our recent Board meeting February 6th, 2023, the Literacy and Numeracy report shows us that while reading scores have remained steady across most cohorts for both the SAT and MAP, math scores have been impacted by the pandemic. However, the conversation about standards is more complex and must be addressed as it pertains to different demographics, so we can see a clearer picture of how our students are doing.

Do you think the current school board has done enough to support racial equality? If not, what specifically should be done to do so?
One of the highest priorities of the school board has been to support racial equity, for many years now. Our District Goal #1 addresses racial equity. ETHS has been a model for other schools nationally for their innovative equity work. But the work is not done yet. We still see racial predictability among academic outcomes. We need to continue to look at the whole student, both academics and well-being, because we know that well-being and belonging contribute to academic success. We need to focus on representation in the classroom and in advanced courses for our black and brown students. We need to create a culturally relevant curriculum and school climate so that our students feel seen, heard, and valued.

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:
Life is meant to be difficult, and as soon as you accept that, it will cease to feel difficult. This advice helped transform me from a scared and frustrated young adult, to a grateful and confident adult.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
First and foremost, the students are my priority, and advocating for their success is my job. I carry this same mentality to my other volunteer work, as I have always advocated for youth. I love young people, and marvel at their creativity, brilliance, and potential. I want to ensure that all students are able to reap the benefits of the many opportunities available at ETHS, regardless of their race, income, disability, gender, or other marginalized status. I hope that my experience and vision will allow me to earn your vote.