Catherine Johnson, Lincoln-Way D210 Board Of Education Candidate

FRANKFORT, IL — Catherine Johnson is a candidate for Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education. There are 10 candidates running for four open positions in this race.

The consolidated election is April 4.

Johnson's answers to the Patch candidate questionnaire can be found below:

Your name:

Catherine Johnson

Age (as of election day):

38

Town/city of residence:

MOKENA

School district:

D210

Family:

My husband and I both work in a public high school (he as a guidance counselor and I as a Spanish teacher) and both of our two boys (our eldest is in 4th grade and our youngest is in 1st grade) have been educated in our local public school district — District 159. We have been very content with the education they have received at 159. In fact, we moved to Mokena and the Lincoln-Way community because of its reputation for providing an excellent education. At the time, we were also highly impressed by the offering of a Dual Language program at 159 — a program that wasn’t offered by any other district in the southwest suburbs. While the program was terminated last May, we are tremendously fortunate to have met many families through the program who have become dear friends of ours — all active parents in their children’s education and participants in the Mokena community.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My husband and I both work as HS educators in nearby District 230 at Carl Sandburg HS.

Education:

Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) - B.S. Secondary Education / Double Major - Spanish / Latin American & Caribbean Politics, Sacramento State University (Sacramento, CA) - M.A. Spanish, University of St. Francis (Joliet, IL) (ELL/Bilingual Endorsement/Certified), Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville (Ed.S. School Administration - in progress / anticipated completion - June 2023)

Occupation:

16 years

Campaign website or Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/cjohn...

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

N/A

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

With test scores (both SAT and AP scores) having declined in essentially every school across the U.S. since the Pandemic, it is essential to consider how best to support student learning. In fact, it is the utmost importance of every school to always keep student learning (and thus, all the various factors that influence student learning) as the focus. While D210 has made significant strides in improving these test scores, they are still not back to pre-pandemic levels. While by no means do I believe that a schools’ test scores should define a school’s agenda, unfortunately for many non-educators they are vital as they place enormous weight on our district’s report card, which many analyze before making the decision to move to the area or enroll their children into public schools rather than private.

As research has shown, the single most important factor under the control of the school influencing the degree of student learning is the quality of teaching. While retention of teachers in our district currently remains high, other districts are seeing a rapid decline in teacher retention. Teachers are leaving the profession for various reasons and one of the main reasons is that there is a lack of support to do the important work we have asked them to do. Therefore, I will make it a priority to collaborate with teachers and administrators and have open and honest conversations so that we can work together to ensure they have the support (resources) they need. I feel honored to have the endorsement of the district’s teachers’ union - the Lincoln Way Education Association (LWEA) — and I look forward to working closely with them.

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

As a high school public educator myself, I understand firsthand both the challenges and rewards of the profession. I have headed various curriculum design teams for our World Language Department for levels 2 through AP Spanish Literature, and Heritage Spanish and have been a mentor teacher to new teachers. I also have Sandburg to thank, as it is also the place where I met my husband who is a Guidance Counselor who has taught me so much about all of the support services schools provide to our communities. As such, I have profound gratitude and respect for all of the amazing behind the scenes work from school counselors, social workers and psychologists.

I also am currently obtaining my Ed.S. in School Administration which has provided me with a rich educational background that would be an asset to a school board. Particularly, my recent courses on school finance and law will help me ask essential questions that promote further discussion with other board members to help them analyze how decisions made at the highest level have an impact on everyday school life for both our teachers and students.

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

While there are four positions open, three of these positions are open due to current board members not seeking re-election (and the fourth position designated for an unincorporated resident, with the current incumbent Rich LaCien seeking re-election). I do not in any way believe that the current board has failed our community, in fact, I laud the current board for all their efforts to lower the bond rates, to 1.76% which will save our taxpayers over $21 million dollars. I hope to continue this line of success by learning from and collaborating with the currently seated members who come from diverse backgrounds in law and finance, and help provide an educational perspective as we move forward in the future.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

As a teacher I am a true believer that the day-to-day experience of our children at school is based upon the working conditions of each classroom teacher. School culture and climate need to be strong so that our current teachers feel energized to put forth 110% each day. While our current teacher retention in D210 is high at 89% (slight dip if you analyze the trends), I want to help ensure teachers feel heard and have a voice when it comes to school improvement. If job trends continue to shift away from education in the future, we will also have to get more creative in attracting high-quality teachers to come to D210. If elected, I will make it a priority to meet with the Lincoln Way Education Association at a time of their choosing to help understand their needs so that together we can help support all students so that they may excel academically and socially/emotionally.

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

As mentioned previously, I have led district curriculum design teams, been a teacher mentor to new teachers, and am bilingual — having lived in various Spanish speaking countries (Spain, Guatemala and Mexico) and have also led groups of high school students abroad to both Spain and Peru. Honest and open discussion with all is how I seek action. I am a deep believer in reflection and don’t settle for “good enough.” While we should always celebrate small victories, I will always push for better.

Why should voters trust you?

I have two children currently in 4th and 1st grade who will eventually become Lincoln-Way graduates. Any progress that is made with both the current and future school boards will have a lasting impact on their academic and social experience at Lincoln-Way. As such, I am committed to collaborating with fellow school board members, administrators, teachers and parents in order to help ensure our schools are safe, AND supportive environments. If I win, I hope to run for re-election for many terms to be a part of the tradition of excellence that is the Lincoln Way legacy.

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

I will not be a side-line board member who only attends monthly board meetings but an active participant — attending events and advisory committees to speak with parents, students and other stakeholders concerning issues important to the community. I would also like to establish a strong relationship with the LWEA, setting up established meeting times to collaborate together and help understand the concerns they have to improve their daily life since the single most important factor increasing student achievement is the quality of teaching.

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

I believe that fiscal responsibility and accountability to taxpayers must be at the forefront of all government spending decisions. As a parent and taxpayer myself, I understand the importance of ensuring that every dollar spent is done so wisely and with the best interests of our students and community in mind. Since returning back to school to obtain my Ed.S. in School Administration I have practical experience conducting thorough research and analysis to determine the most cost effective solutions for school districts and I will work closely with school administrators, teachers and other stakeholders to prioritize spending that will directly benefit our teachers and students, such as expanding educational programs and services and maintaining safe, well-maintained facilities. Additionally, I deeply believe in transparency and open communication especially when it comes to the handling of taxpayer dollars.

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

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to all schools and I would like to thank our district and school board for demonstrating remarkable resilience, flexibility, and creativity in ensuring that students continued to receive access to a high quality education. While not ideal, the district’s adoption of a remote learning schedule and their commitment to providing students with laptops and internet access ensured that students could continue their education. Incredibly, the district’s efforts to provide students with meals and support services during the pandemic also helped alleviate some of the stress and uncertainty faced by families.

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?

School board meetings always open with public comment. Obviously, the procedures of school board open sessions do not allow open discussions, which is why school board members must be approachable and willing to go out to district events and be actively involved on committees in order to talk with as many stakeholders as possible to better understand the concerns of the community.

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

A crucial aspect of sex education is to help provide students with the information and skills they need to make informed decisions — especially in regards to their health and well-being. Sex education has been taught in schools for over 80 years — it is not new. Age appropriate, sex education allows students to better understand themselves and promotes understanding and respect for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or identity.

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

The Civil Rights Movement, racism and discrimination have traditionally been taught in our schools. It is a part of our historic past and should never be edited or erased so that we may learn from our errors and not repeat them. Currently, it is my understanding that our district is actively focused on closing the learning gaps observed due to the pandemic through the promotion of SAT preparation courses and after school tutoring programs to monitor and map student growth to help identify learning loss areas for targeted intervention. School boards do not dictate curriculum — this is not within their scope of power. School boards can help monitor progress (or lack thereof) of student programs, but it is not their choice to directly mandate how curriculum is taught. To my knowledge, there is no evidence that CRT is being taught in our district.

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 a school board candidate, I am committed to promoting and supporting racial equality in our schools. Every student deserves a safe learning environment where they are respected and valued regardless of race or ethnicity. I also recognize that addressing racial disparities in our schools requires ongoing dialogue and engagement between all stakeholders within our communities we serve.

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?

As highlighted at the November school board meeting, all three of our schools have continued earning the Exemplary designation as awarded by the Illinois State Board of Education, our graduation rate has remained high at 96%, 9th grade “on track” progress has increased from 94% to 96%, and the total student percentage participating in early college coursework such as AP and dual credit has stayed consistent at 40%.

While our SAT scores have improved, they still are not back to pre-pandemic levels. We need to continue to look at resources to help our students be successful. Currently, the district is providing extra SAT prep courses which is a great step in returning to pre-pandemic student achievement.

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

No. I am fully committed to serving and representing our community.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

I still remember reading Thoreau for the first time in high school and his words leaving a profound impact on how I live my life each day — “I cannot make my days longer, so I strive to make them better.” This is what I try to do within my own classroom each day, at home as a mother to two young boys and what I will do tirelessly as a school board member.