Linda D'Ambrosio: 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: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Glen Ellyn District 41 School Board Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: My husband and I moved to Glen Ellyn in 2009, although I have been in DuPage County for 25+ years. I have 2 children in D41.Occupation: Financial Compliance, and MomEducation: Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from University of Illinois-Champaign UrbanaMaster of Business Administration from Kellstadt Graduate School of BusinessCivic involvement: #ERROR!Elected offices held: Candidate did not respond.Questions 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'm running for the D41 Board of Education because I believe our students deserve a consistent, high-quality education with accountability to the taxpayers. I first became involved with D41 before my first born even entered kindergarten. At the time, several new changes and initiatives were being introduced that would directly impact the future of our schools. Ever since, I've attended board meetings (or listened in) and my involvement became more frequent when I volunteered to be on the Facility Task Force in 2015-16. I have a passion for our schools, and with young children of my own, will be involved in the district for many years to come.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?Our children are tested several times during the school year. For example, my first grader had a pre-, mid-, and post-test in math, per unit, and they had 8 math units that year. Plus there is MAP testing, PARCC, etc. I strongly believe we need better analysis of the data and not more testing. Testing is necessary for measuring student progress, and can help place students in the most appropriate programs, however, I'm hearing from parents that they wish their students would spend more school time on learning rather than testing.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?There have been frequent and major curriculum changes in recent years. With each change, teachers have to learn the new approach while simultaneously teaching the kids. I believe we need to focus and prioritize fundamental skills and stability over the latest education trends. As a board member, I would support a systematic approach to assessing student and teacher progress and ensure the curriculum and programs are benefitting all of our students. If it is not, we need to identify the issue and provide support for achievement to occur.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?The BOE has the responsibility of being good stewards of our tax money and being transparent during the process. One way is to reverse the tradition of levy before budgeting. We should go through the budgeting process first then back into the tax rate. We have some budget issues ahead as well. We should evaluate our budget and live within our means.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?Indiana has a voucher system in place for several years now. There, students with certain income level, in failing schools, and with special needs would qualify. If Illinois were to pass a law, it might have many different details, so it is premature to speculate. One thing for certain is it would cause enrollment and funding fluctuation which the district has not seen in recent years. The responsible approach on this topic and other possible legislation is to be informed and be prepared for the various scenarios.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Overall, I'd like to see our curriculum stabilize. I'd like for more involvement of all stakeholders in setting metrics on success and analyze deeper to see where we can tweak, but not revamp the curriculum. I feel very fortunate to be in this community where education is valued and supported. At the end of the day, D41 is a high-quality school district with caring teachers and staff, involved parents, and great students. It takes work to maintain great schools, and even more work to become even better. It takes listening to the stakeholders, working with administrators, and being accountable to taxpayers and I am equipped to do so.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Take responsibility for your own life.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?To reach out more to be mentored and to mentor more.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Special reading: Mrs. Harper taught me to read English which opened up a new world for me.Engineering: taught me universally applicable problem-solving skills.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be kind and be responsible for your own life.