Kai Rush: Candidate Profile
Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: ElginWebsite: http://sites.google.com/site/electkairushu46Office sought: Candidate did not respond.Age: 37Family: I have a beautiful wife, Olivia, an elementary school teacher, and two boys, Grayson (1) and Cason (5), a full day kindergarten U-46 student. Many of my family members are public servants, such as firefighters, police officers, military officers and educational professionals in Illinois, Georgia, Florida, New York and Wisconsin.Occupation: Lead Teacher, Technology and Media Specialist/ University Instructor, AU NIUEducation: Ed.D #8226; (In progress) Instructional Technology #8226;uml; Educational Technology, Research Assessments College of Education Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois #8226;uml; Expected: December 2016 M.S. #8226;uml; Instructional Technology #8226;uml; Educational Technology, Research Assessments College of Education Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois B.S. Social Science Education #8226; College of Education #8226; University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida IL State, Social Science 6-12 Education 2013, Standard IL State, Middle School Endorsement, 2013 IL State, Technology Specialist Endorsement, 2013 IL State, Library Media Specialist Endorsement 2015Civic involvement: U-46 Citizens' Advisory Council, Representative U-46 Family Community Engagement, MemberElected offices held: Image Board Commissioner, City of ElginQuestions Answers What is your position on standards-based grading, which has been controversial with parents, students and even some teachers? Did the district botch the implementation of this new system? What could it have done differently?There is a national push for standards-based grading and I love the philosophy of a pass-fail grading system. When you go to the DMV to get a drivers' license, you rather pass or fail the test. As a teacher, I received an Illinois teaching license, because I passed my classes and required tests. That is the same philosophy of a standards-based grading system. I can not judge the current board or administration for their implementation actions, as I was not part of the overall process and meetings. In my humble opinion, I would have implemented it at the K-6 level first and allowed the system to grow with students each year. Over time, the staff, the community and parents could have been allowed to adapt to the system and philosophy. The problem we still face is that the post-secondary institutions have not adopted a standards-based grading system. Therefore, we need to collaborate with our local post-secondary institutions to make decisions based on what is best for our students and their future.Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one? Is any member of your direct family - spouse, child or child-in-law - employed by the school district where you are seeking a school board seat?I work for St. Charles D303 school district. I am a lead teacher of technology and Media/ LRC Director at St. Charles East High School. I walk in every day ready to "motivate and educate" my awesome students!Would you support holding the line on tax increases since the district has emerged from deficit spending and has a healthy surplus of roughly $50 million? Explain why or why not.The district should be applauded for helping to build a healthy surplus. I will listen to every solution not to raise taxes, but even my employing district, St. Charles D303, had to raise taxes this year. It has been speculated that due to financial hardships at the state level, $30 million of funding may not make it to our schools. Our buildings need updating, our staff needs cost-of-living increases and our classrooms are overcrowded. This week, my son was sent home with a book to read from his teacher. The book was purchased by the district in 1995 and falling apart. The staff and administration are being as resourceful as they can. We will need to look for positive, creative solutions to our budget problems. In the end, we need to make sure that every child of this district has a quality education.Would you support a charter school within U-46? Why or why not?I support any school that supports the highest student achievement. It could be academies, charter schools, online schools, vocational schools and many other educational programs or schools. We need to be careful how we select schools and programs to be in our district. Do they serve all U-46 students? Are the teachers allowed to unionize? What makes the school "unique" from what we currently offer at U-46? For example, I would love to see a robotics or engineering program/ school created in U-46. There are many local organizations to help us form a program or school and their are huge private grants to fund this type of program. The more options and opportunities we provide for our students, the better we prepare them for the 21st century world.What budgetary issues will your district have to confront during the next four years and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, be specific about programs and expenses that should be considered for reduction or elimination. On the income side, do you support any tax increases for local schools? Be specific.Our district could be fiscally sound, if the state government were to fund our district appropriately. If the state and federal government will allow teachers to teach and school districts to choose what is best for their students, we would be in a different financial situation. With PARCC, common core, standards-based grading and so many other unfunded federal and state initiatives and mandates, our district is having to reallocate money that could have been used for new technology, upgrading our buildings and/or our many other needs. It is our job, as school board members, to be an advocate/voice for U-46, not against U-46. We must tell the state of Illinois, to send money, not initiatives. We need support for our staff, not increased criticism of how they do their jobs. Lastly, we need to be positive and creative with our budgeting situations. If cuts need to be made, we can save millions of dollars by positive, creative solutions that do not affect the classroom, such as moving to a textbook-free environment, wellness tests for employee insurance and applying for grants to fund our academies. I would not choose to cut any of our staff members or administrators, as they are hard working individuals and most positions are paid below the regional average for their positions. The staff and administrators are in this district, because they love our children. Molding great students today, will pay into our society later.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?There are three U-46 key elements I am very passionate about. First, I want to see full day kindergarten implemented districtwide. Early childhood literacy is so important to our children's education. Bridging the achievement gap starts in kindergarten. It is a $2 million cost and many of our schools are at capacity. My objective is to push for doubling our full-day kindergarten program from 2 schools to 4 schools in the district to give every parent and students the opportunity to choose this program. At the same time, we will continue to ask parents to share the cost of this program, but seek grants and donations for our socio-economic disadvantaged students. Secondly, I love our arts program and academies. Every child needs drama, art, pottery, dance, band and all the other great arts programs. We must continue to fund these programs, along with PE. Lastly, we must focus on making all children successful and focusing in on diversity. Every hispanic, black, white, gay, special education, jewish, muslim or any student should receive a forward-thinking and accepting education environment. All children need to be loved, nurtured and given every opportunity in life to succeed. I love education, our children and U-46. I will make every decision and vote in favor of the best possible education for every child in U-46. I love this district, this community and our students!Please name one current leader who most inspires you.One of my greatest friends and high school principal, Terrell Yarbrough. He nurtures, coaches and leads his students and staff to strive for the stars.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Prayer will guide you to the right path. It may not be the path you wished for, but it is the right path.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I wish I would have served in the Peace Corps and had the chance to help people throughout the world.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?After 8 years of drama, I can credit my speaking and presenting skills to my well-rounded education. We need the arts in our education system!If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Always help people, never let anyone steal your joy and do what makes you happy! (Side note: You must love Disney!)