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Dan Gott: Candidate Profile

Maine Township High School District 207 School Board

Back to Maine Township High School District 207 School Board

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: Des PlainesWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Maine Township High School District 207 School Board Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Lifetime Illinois resident. Married to wife, Rita for 47 years; two children and two grandchildrenOccupation: Retired engineer and technology expertEducation: AS, Electronics Engineering, DeVry Technical Institute, Chicago, ILCivic involvement: Dedicated City of Des Plaines community volunteerElected offices held: NoneQuestions 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?I am running for school board to ensure that our local schools continue to innovate and provide academic excellence while remaining fiscally sound.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?The state of Illinois switched from the ACT to the SAT standard in December 2016. Its important to show improved student achievement which can be demonstrated by objective data (SAT scores).Do you support the district's proposed "Hybrid 4" schedule that would increase classroom time for most classes by 17 minutes each week, though it would cut times for science classes?Yes, the proposed "Hybrid 4" schedule gives teachers more time to help students through improved counseling and allows for greater time spent in most classes. The additional class time provides for an extended learning block that promotes academic achievement and helps to lower substitute teacher cost. Teachers must be held accountable for professional training development to assure students receive a greater in-depth learning experience.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?High School District 207 employs the highest paid teachers in Illinois. We need a balanced budget which supports existing and new academic and extracurricular programs.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?New and emerging technologies will drive the future of education and should create opportunities for everyone. School choice is another means to prepare our young people for success and prosperity. Once approved, there is a greater accountability role for both private and public school systems. Private school management and public school boards are tasked with providing forward-looking leadership and careful financial planning. The overall outcome is reduced, or lower property taxes on an annual per year basis.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Candidate did not respond.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.I'm inspired by Rev. Franklin Graham - the famed evangelist who made his reputation with humanitarian works, helping people around the world.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My parents taught me excellent core values and principles. Always put God first in your life. People need to be treated with dignity and respect.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Being retired, I would spend time working as a community volunteer, promoting core family values and teaching others what I learned throughout my life experience.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?My passion was learning high-level mathematics. Having a good understanding about mathematics helped me to achieve great success throughout my engineering career.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?I would tell them to put God first in your life. Everything else will follow and you will be blessed with good health and prosperity.