Samantha Bray Ader: 2023 candidate for Palatine School District 15 School Board

Bio

Town: Hoffman Estates

Age on Election Day: 34

Occupation: Managing director, People & Organizational Effectiveness

Employer: Latinos for Education

Previous offices held: Incumbent candidate for CCSD 15

Q&A

Q: Why are you running for this office, whether for reelection or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

A: I am running for reelection to continue moving District 15 forward and ensure all our students get the education they deserve. Together with my fellow board members, Dr. Heinz, district staff, parents/families and members of the community, we have laid the foundation for a successful future for our district and I am eager to continue this work. Our Moving 15 Forward plan, which received overwhelming support from voters, is currently beginning implementation. It will bring full-day kindergarten, increased safety and security in our buildings, and needed facility repairs. I aim see the work through to completion and ensure that our community sees the results we promised. Additionally, we must finalize our new strategic plan, focus on closing gaps in education outcomes for students, and support the mental health needs of our students in the wake of the pandemic. I am excited for the work ahead and the opportunity to continue the progress we have made over the last four years.

Q: What is the role of the school board in setting and monitoring curriculum?

A: The board is tasked with providing oversight and approval of curriculum. Leveraging community input and expert staff guidance, the board must ensure the curriculum is high quality, rigorous, and relevant for all our students. We also evaluate district academic performance to ensure the district's strategies and resources (including curriculum) are working successfully for students. Our students must leave District 15 prepared to be successful in high school, college or career, and as citizens.

Q: Are there curriculum issues within the district that you feel need particular attention from the board?

A: When I joined the board four years ago, I was concerned about the use of outdated curriculum and the relevance of the materials to our diverse student population. However, under the leadership of Dr. Heinz, the district implemented a comprehensive and regularly scheduled curriculum review process. This process includes four stages: research, design, implement and monitor. This ensures that our students have access to the up-to-date materials and that taxpayer money is being used effectively to purchase these materials across all curricular areas. As we have invested in more modern curricula, we must make sure our staff have the continued support needed to successfully implement it in their classrooms.

Q: How do you view your role in confronting policy or curriculum controversies: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state authorities?

A: As a board of education member, my primary role is to ensure that the education provided to our students is of the highest quality and every student receives the support they need to thrive. I take into account feedback from our community and district staff, any legal requirements, research and data, and the values I was elected to uphold. I shared my values of student-centered decision making, equity, innovation, and community voice when I ran for the board four years ago and I believe I have delivered on these values in my board service. This is how I will continue to lead if given the honor to serve four more years.

Q: Concerns are growing regarding a new resurgence of the pandemic. If another massive outbreak of infectious disease occurs, what have we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that will guide your decision making?

A: I'm proud of how District 15 navigated the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. District 15 led by following the science and data available to us, extra care for families who would be disproportionately impacted, and with the goal of getting students and staff safely back into classrooms as soon as possible. We safely opened the doors to our schools when many surrounding districts did not. However, we also learned a lot about supporting students' mental health, inequitable access to technology outside of school, and how politically polarizing a pandemic could become. My decision making when it comes to the health and safety of our students and staff will always be based on science and guidance from health experts. I will also be committed to frequent communication and transparency in decisions to keep our community informed.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage school district policy? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions of your school board.

A: In my current role at a national education nonprofit, I manage the creation, implementation, and monitoring of organizational policy for our employees. I work collaboratively with our staff to create policies that are transparent, equitable, and grounded in our organizational core values. This work is directly relevant to my board service in District 15. I understand how to engage a variety of stakeholders, incorporate feedback, and clearly communicate the purpose and plan for any policy decisions. As a board member, I am proud of how the seven of us are able to collaborate on policy and broader decisions. Our board members represent a diverse set of beliefs and backgrounds, yet we are able to compromise and understand that we are there to make decisions based on what's best for children and our community.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: My experience in education organizations, organizational design, human capital, strategic planning and operations are an asset for our board. I have dedicated my career to ensuring all children have access to a high-quality education. This perspective will continue to be important as we are in the midst of creating a new strategic plan for the district. I'm the mom of two young kids (ages 2 and 6). I want to give forward and work with our community to build the future of our district. Finally, our experience on the board has prepared me, Wenda and Zubair for the next four years. We navigated a global pandemic, passed the Moving 15 Forward plan, built collaborative relationships with our staff, implemented a new budgeting process for fiscal responsibility, stewarded the district to an excellent financial position, expanded mental health support for students and more. We are ready to build on the progress we have made so far for our students, staff, and community.

Q: What's one good idea you have to better your district that no one is talking about yet?

A: As we all know, technology is a quickly-changing force in our everyday lives. There have been so many innovative developments related to technology and especially in artificial intelligence (AI) over the last few years. As a board, it is our responsibility to make sure we are preparing students for the future and with the rate of change in technology and AI, it is hard to predict exactly what that future will be. Our district leaders must continue learning and understanding the technological advances coming our way so we can ready our students to take on those opportunities and challenges.