Justin Clark, Lyons Township High School Candidate

LA GRANGE, IL — Justin Clark is one of seven candidates for three seats on the Lyons Township High School board. Here are his responses to the Patch questionnaire:

Name:

Justin Clark

Town of residence:

La Grange

Age:

44

Campaign contact email:

clark4d204@gmail.com

Campaign website:

www.clark4d204.com

Family:

Wife, Son (14; 8th grader at Park), Daughter (12; 6th grader at Cossitt)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My wife and I are both in public education.

Education:

Undergraduate:

Family Consumer Science/Business
Secondary Education/English

Graduate:
Masters in Ed. Leadership
Masters in Literacy
Doctorate in Ed. Leadership

Occupation:

Associate Principal of Building Operations, Richards High School, Oak Lawn

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

First time running for office

The single most pressing issue facing the school board is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing the school board is trust, and this is what I intend to do about it. There is a great responsibility from a public official to always gravitate towards transparency, honesty, and truth. After visiting all but two of the communities (I’m getting to the other two in the next couple of weeks!) that make up LTHS High School, trust seems to be the largest issue that is brought up when talking to people face to face. As a school board candidate, I have made it very clear what my beliefs are regarding what LTHS should focus on, my positions on several critical issues facing our community, and how our students’ futures after high school should be the primary focus of the Board’s work. I am a very honest, earnest and passionate community member that understands that to build trust, one must listen more than talk, reflect as much as react, and collaborate more than control.

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

I do believe that ANYONE who is willing to put their neck out to serve the public as a school board member has good intentions for the community. I’m an optimist. The critical differences that I have when comparing myself to other candidates are 1. What high school students need for the future to thrive is not going to change–it has changed! I have a clear, articulated vision on how I can support LTHS to become the high school of the future. 2. Although my time in the private sector was short, I have both public and private sector leadership experience; and 3. I have experience in public education leadership that ranges from day to day operations to district wide curriculum creation and implementation.

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

The current job I have (Associate Principal of Building Operations) is ultimately responsible for getting a school day and school year from A-Z, start to finish. This includes making sure 1,800 people have accurate classes and spaces for those classes, a safe school that is always reflecting on how to be safer, and a building that exhibits the pride the community has for its students. Day in and day out I’m responsible for the well being of others, and I take that responsibility very seriously. I think that is enough evidence.

What can the school do to counteract dropping standardized test scores?

Although I have looked in earnest and have asked several people, I can not find any growth data from the SAT Suite of Assessments (or any assessment). What concerns me is that if you are not looking at growth data, a school board member is missing critical data points regarding how well students are being prepared for (as example) the SAT exam. How does a school know what is or is not working if you can not point to growth or lack of growth as both a class (class of 2019, 2020, etc.) and through different lenses (race, economic, SPED, EL, etc.)? How does a school know which programs and/or interventions are having a positive result if a student’s academic growth is not considered? Once you have an understanding if there has been increases or decreases in growth over the years, then a school can better understand the interventions needed to increase standardized test scores. Without the awareness of these important data points, a school will be applying interventions blindly, spending money and time on ideas that may not be working. As a school board member, I would strongly advocate for the availability of growth data (both aggregate and disaggregated) for both school administration and the public. Without it, schools are making guesses.

Do you generally support the work of the school district's administration? Why or why not?

Although the author of this questionnaire asks for a “general” response, there is too much nuance to this question to state a simple “yes” or “no” and be fair to both the school and voters. Two things that do come to mind that addresses this question: 1. I do think there is a communication issue when it comes to issues that will potentially be controversial or affect communities directly and 2. As a parent of an incoming freshman, I’ve been very happy with the organization and excitement when attending incoming 9th grade events. If change needs to happen, a nuanced, thoughtful approach will need to happen so as not to disrupt the learning environment for our kids.

How do you view Lyons Township High School's handling of the sale of its Willow Springs land? Has the school district been open enough with the public about the process? Why or why not?

It seems like the process of selling the land has not gone well. Again, I’ve been to almost every community and it’s not just the folks in the immediate vicinity of the land that think that the process was “unfair.” Based on the voices from our communities–both people for and against the sale–the process that was undertaken to sell the land did not have the same level of community involvement as previous times the land was potentially going to be sold. The conversations I have had with a lot of people have made me come to the conclusion that the conversation regarding selling the land needs a restart.

What is your view of critical race theory? Is it being taught in the local schools? If so, what evidence do you have of that?

It’s a 1970s/80s legal theory. No. I don’t think it is being taught unless there is an advanced high school law class being offered somewhere.

What is your view of sex education in local schools? Should an LGBT component be included? Why or why not?

I think sex education should be taught in high schools. I believe an LGBT component should be included in high schools. Sexual education in high school is about a person’s mental and physical health. If high school students are not provided the medical, scientific understanding of that component of their health (and are unable to get it from the home), students could be getting very disturbing information from different media. I also believe that it should not be difficult for a parent/guardian to opt their student out of portions of sex ed if that family so chooses. The opt out process should be clearly articulated to the school’s community.

Will you take questions from the media if you are elected?

Yes. I would love to take questions from anyone! There is probably a Board Policy and/or practice on who speaks to the media, but if it’s me, yes.

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

No. I should be able to serve a full term.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“You’ll never be the smartest, best looking, or most athletic, but you can always outwork someone.” My father

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

There is no candidate that has worked as hard as me to get to know all of the communities that make up Lyons Township High School. And why? Because there is no candidate that understands that to create a high school that provides the students opportunities to thrive post high school, you need ALL of our communities’ support, enthusiasm, and resources. No candidate will outwork me because no candidate can match my passion for our high school.