Erin Johannesen: Candidate Profile

Back to Arlington Heights District 25 School Board 2-year term

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: Arlington HeightsWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Arlington Heights District 25 School Board 2-year term Age: 46Family: Michael, spouse Children Grace (15), Tom (13) and Caroline (12), attendants of schools in District 25 and District 214Occupation: Residential Program CoordinatorEducation: BS, NIU MBA, DePaulCivic involvement: Member, School District 25 since 7/2014 Park district soccer coach Religious education teacher Active PTA volunteerElected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions Answers How satisfied are you that your school district is adequately preparing students for the next stage in their lives, whether it be from elementary into high school or high school into college or full-time employment? What changes, if any, do you think need to be made?I believe district 25 staff does an excellent job of preparing elementary students for middle school and middle school students for high school. The early and consistent emphasis on study tools, presentation experience, and group collaboration provides a strong foundation for tackling whatever challenges students face beyond their school years.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? Again, be specific.As the district population increases, the superintendent has initiated community conversation as she investigates potential solutions for the shortage in space caused by this growth. It's early in the process to speculate as to potential costs and income sources.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 have never worked for a school district, nor has any member of my family been employed by district 25.As contract talks come up with various school employee groups -- teachers, support staff, etc. -- what posture should the school board take? Do you believe the district should ask for concessions from its employees, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?All salary talks begin and end with the fact that salaries are tied to CPI (cost of living, reflecting inflation). Creativity in negotiation comes from areas such as compensation for furthering education.If your district had a superintendent or other administrator nearing retirement, would you support a substantial increase in his or her pay to help boost pension benefits? Why or why not?District 25 salaries are very competitive with other area districts which translates to decent pension benefits. There is no need to boost pension benefits prior to administrator retirement.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?District 25 continues to be a sought-after school district, thanks to the talented staff and active families dedicated to the success of our students. As a school board member, it is my honor to support our superintendent and her staff as they continue to provide a positive, safe, innovative learning environment for the community's children.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I'm inspired by Pope Frances. He is a living example of loving one's neighbor.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My dad encouraged hard work and saving money. From the age of 14, I have worked hard and saved aggressively.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Early voice lessons. At this point, I can hardly stand to hear myself sing.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I loved reading and writing from an early age. I appreciate the vocabulary, communication skills, and imagination to which these subjects provide access.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Choose joy.