Dana Lee Miroballi: 2025 candidate for Lake Zurich Unit District 95 board

Bio

Office sought: Lake Zurich Unit District 95 board (Vote for 4)

City: Hawthorn Woods

Age: 54

Occupation: Attorney

Previous offices held: None

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

As a mom of two current District 95 students and having my children attend four of the eight schools in our district, I am excited to share my skills and talents to benefit our schools and community. As an attorney for almost three decades working in both the private and public sectors, including almost 13 years at the U.S. Department of Justice, and as a middle school cross-country and track coach, my insights would benefit our schools.

I believe in District 95’s mission to empower every learner to achieve personal excellence, which includes preparing our kids for college, as members of a skilled workforce, and/or practical living skills, while creating an environment of innovation and opportunities through education, athletics, and extracurricular activities.

As part of this mission, I am proud that our district has created the Young Adult Center to support our older students with higher needs. And, as a parent of students with Individual Education Plans (IEP), I understand the importance of affording all our students opportunities to achieve skills and gain success at many diverse levels while ensuring all students are emotionally healthy and secure.

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

The school board plays a pivotal role in shaping and overseeing the district’s curriculum. The board collaborates with the Office of Curriculum and Instruction to support continuous learning and teaching for deeper understanding. The board ensures that the curriculum aligns with state and federal guidelines, while meeting District 95’s educational goals. And, the board approves educational programming for Advanced Studies, General Education, and Special Education programs.

In collaboration with the district, the board evaluates the success of educational programs and initiatives, making data-driven decisions to enhance student learning outcomes. As educational standards change or the community needs advance, the board revises policies to reflect such changes.

Engaging with parents, teachers, staff and community members, the board gathers stakeholders’ input to assist it with making curriculum changes.

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

It is important to afford all our students opportunities to achieve skills and gain success at many levels while ensuring all students are emotionally healthy and secure. There are always gaps that we, as a community, can fill to build an even stronger learning environment.

I look forward to creating an even more robust learning environment for all students. For instance, providing services for children who are academically at grade-level or above, but who also need additional support for neurodiversity (e.g., autism, anxiety, executive functioning, attention, hyperactivity) in smaller class sizes and assisting kids with executive functioning deficits early in their academic careers could be areas District 95 explores.

Additionally, I am extremely impressed with the middle schools’ ELA program, but I was even more so when middle school students received both literature and composition. I understand the benefits of combining the programs into one course and how it benefits other courses and learning opportunities, but I wonder if limiting the writing instruction during such formative years will have a negative impact on our students.

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?

My role is to lead with integrity, listen with an open mind, and make decisions that put our students at the forefront. Leadership is listening to all viewpoints regarding students’ education, well-being, and future successes, while ensuring District 95 policies align with state and federal educational standards.

I believe in making fact-based, student-centered decisions even if they may not be universally popular, but only with full collaboration with stakeholders. A school board serves the entire community. I am committed to listening to all perspectives, engaging in thoughtful discussions, and ensuring every voice is heard, even when opinions differ. Constructive dialogue leads to stronger, more inclusive decision-making. And, I would do this with kindness and compassion.

Although state and federal mandates set certain guidelines, the school board has local control over curriculum implementation. I will advocate for policies that reflect our community’s values and students’ best interests, ensuring we comply with state laws while making thoughtful decisions at the local level.

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.

As an attorney, coach, and mom, I work in group settings to develop and implement policies that balance multiple perspectives while focusing on achieving the best possible outcomes.

I know how to navigate complex discussions, build consensus, and make informed decisions. I achieve this through collaborative, solution-focused discussions. I listen to ensure all stakeholders — parents, teachers, administrators, and community members — are heard.

I rely on facts, research, and best practices to find common ground while considering the fiscal impacts of our decisions. Even when disagreements arise, I work to foster respectful, productive dialogue that leads to practical solutions.

This approach ensures transparent, well-informed decision-making prioritizing student success and fiscal responsibility. By bringing people together, encouraging constructive debate, and making fact-based, fair decisions, I will help implement policies that strengthen our schools, support our educators, and provide every student with the tools to thrive.

Strong leadership, fiscal responsibility, and a commitment to collaboration are key to ensuring our district moves forward effectively.

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

I am dedicated to fairness in education for all students — ensuring access to Advanced Studies, General Education, and Special Education programs while prioritizing our students’ mental, social, and emotional well-being. And, I embrace our community’s cultural and socioeconomic diversity while championing strong anti-bullying initiatives to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for all students.

I fully support District 95’s diversity and equity initiatives, such as promoting cultural and religious holidays through emails and social media posts explaining the history and significance of such celebrations. Understanding our fellow community members and embracing our differences is the key to working together for the good of our school community, especially our students, families, and staff.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I am dedicated to prioritizing the wise and effective use of school funds to achieve the best outcomes for our students, teachers, and community. I am passionate about our school community and finding solutions through collaboration with board members, administrators, staff and our community.

I am a parent of two children currently attending District 95 schools who have attended four of the eight schools (one elementary school, both middle schools, and the high school), providing me with varied and current perspectives. Additionally, my children are involved in our District’s sports, art, and special education programs providing me a perspective from different vantage points.

As an attorney I possess many key qualities: listening carefully; considering all sides of an issue; researching issues; negotiating; and understanding how statutes, regulations, and legislation apply to schools. Applying my almost 30 years within the legal profession would benefit our school community.

Moreover, as a former attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice for almost 13 years, I focused on issues through a strict nonpartisan lens, which is paramount as a board member.

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

Success in school looks different for different students. One skill that would assist most, if not all students, is developing strong executive functioning skills at a young age. Increasingly students are diagnosed with executive functioning deficits, not because more students are deficient than they were in the past, but because we are now better able to diagnose conditions, such as ADHD, that contribute to such deficits.

Identifying children at a much younger age who are deficient (or who are at risk for being deficient) with executive functioning skills, would have a greater impact on students’ success once they enter middle and high school when such skills are paramount for academic achievement.

And, by providing such skills earlier, children’s self-esteem and confidence can be built slowly impacting their social and emotional health and growth. There are numerous ways to assist these students, such as through occupational therapy and social work services pushing into classrooms and pulling students out who need more intensive guidance.