Joel Zwiefelhofer: 2025 candidate for Woodland Elementary District 50 board

Bio

Office sought: Woodland Elementary District 50 board (Vote for 4)

City: Gurnee

Age: 54

Occupation: Digital marketing director

Previous offices held: None

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

I am running for Woodland board of education because I believe Woodland schools can be better, and need to get better. English Language Arts and Math proficiencies are below state averages, 23% of students miss more than 18 days of school, the district has over $90M in bond debt.

Anyone who has watched or attended a Woodland school board meeting would agree the board has become dysfunctional impacting the ability of the board to effectively address the critical issues facing the district.

I believe I can change the board dynamics based on my experience with nonprofit boards and committees. At the end of the day, I want to provide the best educational experience for every student that walks into a Woodland school. A lot is going right, but we need to continually challenge our schools to improve and adapt to the ever changing world. I know with the right school board that Woodland is up to the challenge.

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

The goal of Woodland schools should be to prepare students academically, emotionally and socially for high school. We need to work closely with Warren Township High School to make sure our curriculum prepares Woodland students for success in high school.

While curriculum is important, success in high school means Woodland schools need to prepare students to manage their own homework, good classroom etiquette, and good study habits. The board needs to set measurable goals and set up regular reviews to see how the district is performing.

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

Woodland is below the state in ELA and Math proficiencies. The school board needs to work with the administration, teachers and staff to determine changes needed in curriculum, classroom instruction and student support to increase student proficiencies in ELA and Math. Woodland has one of the highest percentages of English Learners in the area with 31% of students classified as English Learners. Only 11% of English Learners are proficient in ELA and 7% in Math.

This is a crisis the school board needs to address immediately. Other area districts have English Leaner proficiencies that are double or triple those of Woodland schools. We need to learn what these districts are doing and implement better programs at Woodland.

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?

I always go into a contentious situation with an open mind and respect. In a meeting setting, there should always be a restatement of the current situation along with identifying any outside factors impacting the ability of the school board to act including state and federal regulations.

I think sometimes it is better to first have small group meetings to try to diffuse or at least understand different viewpoints before having a large meeting. Often the formal nature of a school board meeting leads to increased hostility and frustration as in official board meetings, board members are not able to interact or ask questions of speakers.

I think using committee of the whole meetings allows for a less formal environment and could lead to a less confrontational environment.

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.

My professional career has been working with groups to get large projects completed. The most important part is having a full understanding of what the issue is, what the factors impacting the current situation and what the solutions are.

Too many times group members only see the issue from their standpoint and rush to what their team can do to solve what they see as the problem. The more we can move from “I think” to what the facts and causes are the better.

We all love our children and want the best for them so there will always be emotions when talking about our children’s education.

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.

I do not know enough about the district’s diversity and equity efforts. I will note that Woodland has one of the most diverse student bodies in the area — 40% Hispanic, 34% White, 11% Asian, 9% Black. Woodland schools are and need to remain a welcoming place for all students.

If students feel they belong, they are more likely to attend and want to come to school. We need to focus on that — how do we get more students back in school. Twenty-three percent of students are classified as chronic absentee — which means they miss more than 18 days (almost a month) of the school year. What is causing this and how can we reduce this. I believe a sense of belonging and feeling accepted goes a long way into getting students back to school.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I am driven to looking at numbers and am outcome based in my thinking. For the past 25 years, I have worked in corporate marketing to drive top line and incremental sales for Eddie Bauer, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ace Hardware and Capital One. I have the skills necessary to analyze budgets, build actionable plans and hold teams accountable to deliver results. I have served on nonprofit boards and committees building consensus, working with diverse groups and making positive change.

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

Community involvement. A majority of Woodland residents do not have children in Woodland and as I go around talking to residents they do not know much about how Woodland schools are performing.

Woodland represents about half of the property tax bill and I believe regular communication with all Woodland residents is needed. It builds trust and shows the district is committed to transparency. With the continued declining enrollment, the district should also consider opening up more facilities for community use and partnering with the township’s senior and teen centers along with Gurnee Park District to offer events and activities in the buildings.