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Anissa Cyhaniuk: Candidate Profile

Barrington Unit District 220 School Board

Back to Barrington Unit District 220 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: BarringtonWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Barrington Unit District 220 School Board Age: 44Family: I have 3 sons that will be attending the high school, middle school, and elementary school next year and have been married for 21 years. We have lived in Barrington for 8 years.Occupation: Data scientist Consultant/MomEducation: I have a BS in Math and Statistics and a MA in Research Methodology (Applied Statistics). In addition, I have completed all coursework and test for my Doctorate in Research Methodology (applied statistics).Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: I was a member of the School Board for St. Annes Catholic School in Barrington for two years.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?The reason I am running for school board is I believe I can help provide guidance on issues when looking across all three levels of the schools in our district. In addition, I would like to ensure that the district remains strong and that the Board makes decisions that will postiively impact the development of our children in the community not only at the high school level but at the middle and elementary school level as well. My sons will be in the district for another 15 years and I want to ensure everyone is provided an excellent education that will continue to make our community strong.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?Measuring student success in the district has been effective across the system to determine individual progress within the class. I believe that the teachers judge fairly and ensure that the students learn the material. I believe some processes should be altered to help individuals better understand the changes in determining placement of children and allow for more differentiation within the class room.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 believe the school board should be an overseer and understand the options, ideas, and concepts that the educational experts are selecting in order to guide our children. I believe that the board should review and provide input based on reviews of the reports, studies, surveys, etc. of ideas, programs, and curriculum changes that the administration is considering to inform the community about the up coming changes and listen to their ideas. These ideas should also be based on educated research provided for the option and input from the community. However, curriculum should be left to the experts who continue to have a pulse on the new educational teachings, books, and changes occurring in that area year after year.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?I am still currently learning about all the budgeting issues that our district will be facing in the upcoming year and so forth. The Board has already begun Blueprint 220 that will help to provide guidance on facilities and improvements over the next 10 years. I believe this is a good start to understanding the needs for the future for our children. As I continue to learn more about the economic needs for the district and the challenges we might face, I will be better to address, understand, and provide input on budgetary issues.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 see both positives and negatives to the choice/voucher system. The wonderful thing about our community is that there is no poor choice. We have an excellent school system both publically and privately. I believe that if the Board and District continue to keep a healthy, strong, socially and emotionally safe, academically challenging school system which allows each child to grow and succeed at their pace as it has in the past, then the choice will be simple for an individual to decide.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?The main issue important to me is ensuring we do what is best for the children and the community. I believe we should provide the children a safe, comfortable place to learn and provide the children the skills and tools necessary to succeed and be leaders in the future. We need to be able to adapt quickly in our system to quickly changing technology and other learning challenges while ensuring they continue to effectively learn the basics as well as how to deal with personal growth and getting along with others. I bring a perspective of all three levels of the educational system to the table that will allow me to provide insight across the schools both educational and emotional at the different stages each child will go through in our school district.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.The current leader who inspires me is Angela Merkel for her dedication to youth and the environment.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?That as long as you work hard you will succeed and believe in yourself without worrying about what other people think.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Candidate did not respond.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Math - It allowed me to be creative and become a person that can make data speakIf you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Always try your hardest no matter what, never give up in your dreams, and believe in yourself.