D202 Race Puts Roach, Kalantzis, Morelos On Top: Unofficial Totals

PLAINFIELD, IL — The only incumbent candidate in the Plainfield School District 202 Board of Education race Tuesday is poised to return, joined by two new members..

One hundred percent of precincts are reporting, placing Heather Roach, Margarita Morelos and Elias Kalantzis in the lead for the three open seats on the Board, according to unofficial results from the clerk's offices in Will and Kendall counties.

In Will County, they received 28.46 percent, 26.29 percent and 24.80 percent of the vote, respectively. Candidate Savena Joiner came away with 20.44 percent of the votes.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. in Illinois.

Here's a look at unofficial vote totals via the clerk's offices in Will and Kendall counties.

• Morelos: 5,029 votes
• Joiner: 3,944 votes
• Roach: 5,444 votes
• Kalantzis: 4,730 votes

The current secretary on the Board, Roach, was first elected to the Board in 2015 and again in 2019. She has worked as a realtor since 2003 and as an operations supervisor at a distribution company since 2022.

In Plainfield, she has been involved in multiple District 202 organizations, including the Parent Teacher Organization at both Eagle Pointe Elementary School and Heritage Grove Middle School, superintendent search committees, the Curriculum Coordinating Council and Coordination of Administration and Parent Groups for Educational Efficiency (CAPE).

Morelos currently works as a real estate broker and is a certified volunteer with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Her children, who attend District 202 schools, are the motivating factors behind her candidacy for the Board of Education, according to reports from Shaw Local.

"I would like to work together with our district to provide the same opportunities to each student and bring available programs and resources of support to make sure all of our students reach their best potential," Morelos told Shaw Local. "I believe one of our priorities is to make sure we provide the best support at all levels; emotional and curriculum."

Kalantzis, who grew up in Plainfield, currently owns a marketing consulting company. His campaign focuses on reducing violence in schools, increasing test scores, and protecting and serving teachers and administrators.

If elected, Kalantzis highlighted several goals on his campaign website. Issues most tangible to students would be a transition from seven- to eight-periods school days and a later start time at the high school level.

Joiner, a resident of Joliet, has worked as an educator for 22 years, serving school districts including Indian Prairie School District 204 in Naperville and Woodridge School District 68. She has also served as a precinct committee person for Na-Au-Say Township in Kendall County.

Some of the most pressing issues facing the District 202 Board of Education are mental health issues, bullying, learning gaps and zoning challenges, Joiner wrote in a Patch candidate survey. Her platform focuses on creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students, providing educational support to children at a young age, and supporting students of all abilities in extracurricular activities.