Patrick Wang: 2023 Candidate for Northbrook/Glenview District 30 school board

Bio

Town: Northbrook

Age on Election Day: 40

Occupation: Corporate banker

Employer: BOCUSA

Previous offices held: None

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'm interested in serving on the District 30 School Board and am passionate about contributing to the community where my family lives. I believe the key to sustaining a successful and reputable school district is to work collaboratively with all the kids, parents, teachers, and school leadership. I hope I can be part of the positive influence to continue the success of our school district.

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

A: The school board plays an important role in setting and monitoring the curriculum in our school district. The specific responsibilities vary depending on the existing practice, laws, regulations, and guidance, as well as the ongoing feedback from all the parents and students. Based on that, I believe the role will work collectively with other board members to set up standards, approve material and contents, allocate resources, monitor the progress, and make necessary adjustments whenever necessary. Overall speaking, it's a crucial role to support the student's learning journey and ensure the school district provides the best education opportunity to all the kids.

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

A: As a parent, I'm satisfied with the current curriculum along with the proper leadership of the school board, superintendent, principals, and other faculties. As a candidate, I will be thrilled to learn more details of the process and put positive influence and leadership in the future to enhance that.

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 leadership role has to take a principled stand on the approved policy and curriculum, it's not uncommon to have unpopular and different voices. However, it's important and necessary to ensure the openness of all the stakeholder's voices to be heard and build up consensus throughout the decision making process.

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: Firstly, we should respect the current regulations and guidance from the Federal and State levels, where there has been accumulated past experience both good and bad. Meanwhile, there's successful local practice experience among schools, parents and students which helped us achieve a satisfactory outcome during COVID-19 to balance schooling, personal health, and safety.

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: I've been in the professional area for a long time and experienced complicated business situations where need broad knowledge, communication skills, and leadership to achieve mutual understanding and mutual benefit. This helps me buildup efficient personal skill sets to confidently sever the school district for future development and potential headwinds.

My style is to try to be mutual and objective by putting all students' interests over my own personal interest.

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

A: Based on my passion to contribute to the community, and the experience from my professional career, I'm confident that I have the leadership skill sets and tools to work collectively with other members to strengthen our school district and community. Although the job is volunteer, it's so crucial to affect the learning experience for all the students and support their pursuit of success in the future. That requires the highest integrity, ethical manner, responsibility and dedication.

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

A: I believe the school district would have to look into the ever-changing environment to understand the needs of future success for individuals and provide such opportunities to grow into that. This can be introduced as a potential exchange program with other distinguished schools or districts even out of the state for broader successful experiences.