Christopher Sparks: 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: North AuroraWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherGeorgeSparks/Office sought: Aurora West Unit District 129 School Board Age: 36Family: Corinn A. Sparks, wifeGeorge Sparks, son, 4Mitchell "MJ" Sparks, son, 4Occupation: Assistant Kane County Public DefenderEducation: NIU College of Law, Juris Doctor, 2010NIU, Bachelor of Science, 2002Civic involvement: Candidate did not respond.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 am running for School Board to be a part of the future of District 129. I have been a resident of 129 since 2009 when we bought our first house in North Aurora. I have two children, George and Mitchell, who will be entering kindergarten at Schneider in 2018 as the West Aurora High School Class of 2031. I hope to help them get the best education here in School District 129.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?West Aurora uses multiple tools for measuring students' success including the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC), Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) assessments, the SAT, and other assessment tools. District 129 should focus on making long term, incremental improvements rather than on new methods of testing students.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 prefer the teachers and administration set the curriculum. District 129 hires professional, licensed teachers and administrators who have years of education and experience on which to rely when deciding matters of curriculum.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?Illinois school districts have tough decisions to make going forward. The Illinois legislature currently is working on reformulating General State Aid, considering a property tax freeze, and shifting pension burdens as part of their school funding reform. Illinois also has a large disparity in funding between high income school districts and low income districts. School districts need to work hand in hand with their legislative representative to equalize student funding between students in high and low income districts. Our goal should be to make education funding a needs-based system where the needs of the students dictate the amount of funding.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 have never considered placing my children in a charter school. I am focused on making my school district the best place for my children to get an education.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Working in criminal justice, I am concerned about keeping children in school and out of our jails and prisons. I want to work on addressing behavioral problems through restorative justice techniques rather than referring children to the juvenile justice system. Children who are referred to the juvenile justice system undoubtedly fair worse than those who do not have contact with the criminal justice system.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Elon Musk because that guy is literally inventing the future.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?My family was active in the Boy Scouts. I learned to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I'd trade in my Communications bachelor degree for a degree in a hard science degree any day.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?I liked film class, and and I once had dreams of becoming a filmmaker.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Don't dwell on envy or jealousy. The world is an unfair place. When others excel or get lucky, be glad for their fortune.