Shawn Killackey: 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: MundeleinWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Fremont District 79 School Board Age: 51Family: Wife - KimDaughter - Nicole (11)Son- Marcus (5)Occupation: Artist / Author / Stay-At-Home DadEducation: Associates in Visual ArtsBachelors in Commercial Art IllustrationCivic involvement: Member of the Mundelein Centennial Committee (2009)Member of the Old Village Hall Study Committee (2014)Elected offices held: Six years on the Board of Education at Messiah Lutheran Preschool Kindergarten in WaucondaPositions included Vice-President Treasurer.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 was on the Board for six years at the preschool my kids attended. When they moved on to Fremont School District 79, I decided it was time for me to move on there also so I can continue to help with developing their education making it the best that they can receive. I love being a part of that process when I was on the preschool Board, I also said my main question on any issue is "How will it affect the children?"What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?I have always found Fremont Schools to be the best in Lake County for getting students ready for high school beyond. I do know, from sitting in on the last Board meeting in January, that some of the grading standards may be changed soon, but is too early to say if I approve of it or not. I will continue to receive opinions concerns from parents about any need for changes.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 do think the Board should have a major role in the final decisions of the school's curriculum, but only after hearing from the teachers, school officials parents on those issues. Of course the teachers have been trained on what may be best for the students' education, so I would always listen to what they have to say before voting on anything in the Board.One of my pet projects would be to see more programs having to do with art. I know music has many outlets in the schools with band, choir, and such, but I would like to see art grow affect more students in school.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 not currently aware of the budget for the Fremont School District but of course would be learning about the districts status in that if elected.I think maybe there may be some changes with the new administration in D.C., so we have to be aware of that always make sure our budget expenses are in control. As far as any increases in taxes or fees, again I would have to look at where we are currently in the school district.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?School Choice does offer students and their families alternatives to publicly provided schools and, depending on if Betsy DeVos becomes our new Education Secretary, there could be more reasons to entice parents on private or even charter schools as DeVos wants to push.Right now, all we have to do as members of Fremont School District 79 is toot our own horns on how good the school district is. It is well known that it is one of the best school districts in Lake County, if not the best. But again, we have to wait to see what happens with this new administration coming into D.C.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?As I said earlier, the children are the main reason why I do this...why I was on the preschool Board for six years; why I'm wanting to join the Fremont School Board. Since deciding to be a candidate, I have been reaching out to parents on their concerns for the school district what they would like to see changed. One of the issues that came up a lot is to have either a longer lunch break or an additional recess. The students are bombarded with learning, facts, tests, etc. all day it's nice for them to just rebook while eating...and not having to wolf-down their food. Or even an extra 15 minute recess sometime during the day to get out some energy. So that is something I would like to look into.Again, as I said before, the main thing I always ask when making decisions on a Board my fellow Board members knew if would always come up...me asking "How will it affect the children?" After all, that's why were there...to make it a great place for them to learn.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Always been inspired by artists/singers, but I'd go with Bill Gates because of his generosity trying to make the world a better place.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?To be myself. Never live in anyone's shadow. I am the one only me.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I would come out of my shell earlier. I was painfully shy in school I feel I missed out a lot because of that.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Art, of course. With the help of my high school art teacher mentor, Mr. Bennett, I developed to the artist I am today.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Enjoy life to the fullest...it's the only one you've got!