Catalina Chavez: 2025 candidate for West Chicago High School District 94 board

Bio

Office sought: West Chicago High School District 94 board (Vote for 4)

City: West Chicago

Age: 48

Occupation: Manager of digital solutions

Previous offices held: None

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

I’m running for school board because every student deserves to feel seen, supported, and valued — not just in words, but in action. As a longtime West Chicago resident, high school graduate, and parent, I’ve seen how a strong school system can change lives. But I’ve also seen how some students struggle to find the resources, mentorship, and support they need to reach their full potential. That’s why I’m committed to:

• Championing for critical programs like bilingual education, special education, technical career training and mental health resources.

• Using data to guide smart spending so school resources are invested where they make the biggest impact.

• Strengthening partnerships with families, ensuring they feel engaged and supported as equal stakeholders in their children’s success.

I want every student to know: You matter. Your challenges are real, but so is your potential. And as a board member, I will fight to make sure our school empowers every student to succeed.

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

The school board plays a critical role in ensuring that our students receive a rigorous, relevant, and well-rounded education that prepares them for the future. School boards set policies, approve curriculum, and ensure it meets both educational and legal standards — while also reflecting the needs and values of our community. But curriculum approval isn’t just about compliance — it’s about ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has access to high-quality learning experiences that prepare them for success in a changing world.

Beyond policy decisions, the board monitors student outcomes, reviews data, and holds the superintendent accountable for results. That means looking beyond test scores to understand how well our curriculum supports critical thinking, problem-solving, and practical skills. We must also engage with educators, families, and students to ensure that curriculum decisions align with the needs of those directly impacted.

As a board member, I would prioritize transparency, equity, and academic excellence — ensuring that curriculum decisions are data-driven, student-centered, and reflective of the high standards our community expects.

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

Yes, students value their education but want more opportunities to explore careers, gain hands-on experience, and engage in coursework that prepares them for the future, according to the 2024 WEGO Student Survey.

The board must ensure curriculum policies support innovation and align with real-world demands. This means setting priorities that encourage expanding dual-credit and career-tech opportunities, strengthening hands-on learning, and ensuring equitable access — while working with administration to evaluate effectiveness and resource needs.

We must listen to students, collaborate with educators, and use data to guide curriculum policies that promote engagement, rigor, and real-world readiness — ensuring students graduate prepared for college, a trade, or the workforce

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?

Policy and curriculum decisions should always be guided by what best serves students — academically and socially. That means leading with integrity, even when decisions are difficult or unpopular. A school board’s job isn’t to avoid controversy — it’s to ensure that policies are fair, well-informed, and focused on student success.

I believe in open dialogue and inclusive decision-making. That means listening to all perspectives — especially those who disagree — while ensuring decisions are grounded in facts, research, and student success. State laws provide a framework, but our district has the responsibility to shape policies that reflect our community’s priorities while upholding high educational standards.

Difficult conversations shouldn’t divide us — they should push us toward smarter, more effective solutions. My role is to listen, engage, and lead in a way that ensures our schools remain inclusive, forward-thinking, and always focused on what’s best for students.

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

I’ve spent the last several years in digital design operations, which requires strong problem-solving skills, a collaborative approach, and the ability to make sense of complex information. I’ve learned that good leadership means listening to all perspectives, identifying shared goals, and turning discussion into action.

On a school board, those same principles apply. Effective governance requires considering multiple perspectives — students, educators, families, and community stakeholders — while keeping student success at the center. That means setting clear policies, measuring their impact, and ensuring accountability at every level.

What is your assessment of the school district's diversity and equity efforts? Do you support the continuation or enhancement of such programs, of would you rather see them diminished. Please explain your reasoning.

Our district has made progress toward fairness and opportunity for all students, but progress alone isn’t enough. The 2023 ISBE investigation exposed serious gaps in disciplinary policies, student support, and resource allocation, confirming what too many families already know: Not every student gets the same chance to succeed.

We cannot allow students — especially English learners, students with disabilities, and those from underrepresented backgrounds — to be left behind. The question isn’t whether to continue equity efforts, but how to make them stronger and more effective. That means:

• Regular audits to ensure disciplinary actions, academics, and services are applied fairly.

• Expanded student support, including mental health resources, tutoring, and career pathways.

• Clear reporting and meaningful community engagement so families can see real progress.

Addressing these gaps requires collaboration and accountability. By working with educators, families, and community leaders, we can ensure policies aren’t just well-intentioned, but truly effective — removing barriers, expanding opportunity, and helping students thrive.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I know the challenges our students and families face — because I’ve lived them. This district gave me the foundation to build a career in digital design — a field that didn’t even exist when I graduated high school.

But like many students today, I had to navigate the education system on my own. My parents, unfamiliar with AP classes, SATs, and college applications, wanted to help but didn’t always know how. That experience shaped me — not just as a professional, but as a problem solver, bridge builder, and advocate for students forging their own paths.

I’m running for school board to expand opportunities, increase transparency, and ensure accountability by:

• Advancing policies that expand academic pathways and prepare students for future careers — even those not yet created.

• Ensuring transparency in board decisions so families and educators have a meaningful role in shaping district policies.

• Building partnerships between families, schools, and the community to support student success.

This is the leadership I bring — translating bold ideas into policies that expand student success, foster collaboration, and hold the district accountable.

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

A transformative idea for our district is Participatory Budgeting (PB) in schools. This initiative would allow students, parents, and educators to propose and vote on how a portion of the school budget is spent.

By directly involving students in budget decisions — whether for mental health resources, new technology, or campus improvements — PB empowers students as leaders, fosters civic engagement, and ensures school funds address real student needs.

Schools in cities like Phoenix and New York have successfully implemented this model, and bringing it to our district would give students a real voice in shaping their education.