Jennifer Jendras: Candidate Profile

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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: Glen EllynWebsite: http://jjrg76.wixsite.com/schoolboardjendrasTwitter: @JendrasJenniferFacebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Glenbard Township High School District 87 School Board Age: 48Family: Spouse Rich GrahamDaughters Charlotte and Lindsay Graham 18Nina Graham 10Occupation: Occupational Safety and Health ManagerEducation: B.S. Environmental Health and SafetyMaster of Public HealthCivic involvement: Girl Scout Co-Leader Troop 51016 (current)2003-2013 Village of Lombard Environmental Concerns Committee2012 PTA President Glen Westlake Middle SchoolElected offices held: Glenbard Board of Education 2012-present. Chair of the Communications and Legislation Committee 2014-presentMember Policy Committee 2012-presentQuestions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?One of the goals I would like to accomplish this term in office is a helping kids develop a greater picture of future career options, what it takes to achieve them, what it costs to achieve them, and offering the right variety of classes that will help prepare towards that goal. I would like to see a career opportunity course be an option at all schools.I would like to the high schools offer more in depth career days/or nights. A day where many individuals from our community can come in and talk about their careers, what it took to get there, what the job is like, how difficult are jobs to obtain. The event could be set up similar to our activity nights, where students go from club to club asking for information and having their questions answered.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?While I am pleased with the strides our district has been taking to address and reduce the achievement gap, I am also passionate about making sure that there are resources set aside for students who perform average and who are not struggling. What opportunities can we offer those students to inspire their passions and drive them towards higher achievement? I would like to see more awareness and resources dedicated to these individuals that are doing ok, that will move them along to doing great. It breaks my heart to hear any student say, I would like to do this with my life, but I don't think I am smart enough.How big a role do you think the board of education should play in setting the curriculum for students and what ideas do you have for changes to the current curriculum?I realize the state legislates a number of classes that are required in order to graduate, but there is no reason that new and innovative classes can't be developed that fall into these requirements.Why can't we offer a class that meets the math requirement, but that class focuses on life skills such as how income taxes are done, how insurance works, how loans and mortgages work, balancing a budget and basic accounting and book keeping skills. How about a science class that focuses on basic electrical principals or other trades? I would like to see more semester classes offered so that kids could more easily fit a better variety of classes into their schedule and thus have more exposure to different opportunities.What budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax or fee increases?This school district must continue to maintain its position and voice with the state legislature on school funding. There is much talk about education funding reform in this state that is far from settled. The Glenbard community needs to continual to be vocal with its legislators and have it made known that if any changes are made to how the state funds education, the changes impacting Glenbard will not decrease our current funding levels, taking dollars away from Glenbard when we rely on those dollars to deliver programs to students. I do NOT support any tax increases. A great majority of people are finding it extremely difficult to pay their property taxes.What role can and should school choice play in your district? If Congress or the state approves a voucher system or other means giving students broader choices among public and private schools, how will that affect your district? What is the appropriate response for the board of education of a public school system?I don't think school choice is needed in the Glenbard High School District, because our schools provide a top student education. I would not mind allowing students to be able to choose between the 4 Glenbard High Schools, if room permits, and the student could manage their transportation to a different Glenbard High School.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I am a parent with a child who is still working her way through the public school system. Like most of the parent voters in the Glenbard District, I want my children to have access to the best education possible. I feel it should be most important to voters in this community that they elect a member on the school board that actually has a child in the public school system, because no one knows more about how decisions a school board make will impact their child than someone who is a parent of a child with skin in the game. I am that only candidate.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.There is not one. I am inspired by your average person that rises above hardships.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Life will never be fair so its up to you to go out there and work for what you want.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would have kept my twins playing at home instead of sending them to two years of a full day pre-school.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Science. It helped me later in life because some of the most interesting jobs involve a form of science and investigation.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Find a trusted group of friends that like to go out and do fun and exciting things!