Melissa Johnson: 2025 candidate for Lake Park High School District 108 board

Bio

Office sought: Lake Park High School District 108 board (Vote for 4)

City: Bloomingdale

Age: 44

Occupation: Attorney

Previous offices held: President, Illinois Chapter of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; Secretary, Lightning Hockey Club (formerly LP Hockey); and former President DuJardin PTO

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

As a Lancer for Life and a parent of four, I deeply value Lake Park’s role in shaping our community and attracting families to the area. With a freshman currently enrolled and three future Lancers to follow, I am committed to ensuring the school’s continued success and excellence.

School safety is a top priority, and I believe in providing a well-rounded education that prepares students for future success. The education I received at Lake Park played a key role in my achievements, and I want my children — and all students — to benefit from the same high-quality experience.

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

While the board provides oversight and policy direction, the actual curriculum development is handled by administrators, educators, and curriculum specialists. The board establishes policies to guide curriculum development, ensuring alignment with state and federal standards and community needs.

It reviews and approves new courses, textbooks, and instructional resources recommended by administrators and educators. The board ensures that the curriculum meets state learning standards, graduation requirements, and college/career readiness goals.

It allocates funds for curriculum development, teacher training, and instructional materials.

Monitoring Student Performance — The board reviews data and reports to evaluate the curriculum’s effectiveness in improving student achievement. It gathers input from parents and educators, to ensure the curriculum reflects local values and priorities. The board supports new initiatives like CTE, STEM, and dual credit programs.

Ensuring Legal and Ethical Compliance — It ensures curriculum policies follow state laws and district regulations, especially for sensitive topics.

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

One key area that needs attention is ensuring all students graduate fully prepared for their postsecondary plans, whether college, career, or other pathways.

From a curriculum perspective, this means:

• Aligning all pathways to college readiness, so students can succeed in college-level courses without needing remedial math or English, which add extra cost and time.

• Strengthening partnerships with postsecondary institutions to create seamless transitions that support student success and completion.

• Ensuring curriculum alignment benefits both students and the broader LP community by fostering a well-prepared workforce and engaged citizens.

By focusing on these areas, the board can help remove barriers to student success and improve long-term outcomes.

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?

Anyone that knows me, personally or professionally, will tell you that if there’s anything I can do, it is to take a difficult or unpopular position that I believe in and champion it, even in the face of fierce opposition.

As a litigator, I face controversy head on. I have no problem taking an unpopular opinion and advocating strongly for it. That is why my clients hire me and that is why the Lake Park community would benefit from having someone willing to take a hard stand on a difficult position if and when needed.

My experience as a litigator also requires me to see both sides of every issue, if for no other reason, so I know what I’m up against. In a school board setting, that will benefit both sides of every issue as I will know the strengths and weaknesses of both sides which will allow me to help foster an open and thorough dialogue before any decisions are made.

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.

Over the last several years, I have been at the table with numerous organizations, as well as state representatives and senators, discussing competing bills with the purpose of finding common ground, and in an attempt to craft legislation acceptable to both sides of a given issue. I have testified before the state judiciary committee in opposition of certain bills and in favor of others.

My style in this setting is a combination of zealous advocacy and intent listening. This experience will prove invaluable in a school board setting as it both allows me to effectively present facts to advocate strongly for one position while also understanding that compromise may be necessary in some situations in which case it is imperative one know where they must stand firm and where reasonable concessions can be made if necessary.

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 fully support the continuation of any efforts to create a welcoming, inclusive, and high-achieving environment for all students and families.

Lake Park serves a diverse student community, representing a wide range of cultures and languages and in my opinion, it serves them well. The school report card shows a significant and consistent increase in English Learners from 1.4% in 2015 to 8.5% in 2024, driving home how essential it is that the district provides equitable opportunities for all students to feel included and supported in their educational journey.

Equity and inclusion should not be separate initiatives but rather integrated into all aspects of the district’s work — curriculum, instruction, extracurricular activities, and community engagement. Ensuring that every student feels valued and connected to the school community strengthens learning outcomes and overall student success.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I will ensure, more so than any other candidate on the ballot, that each and every decision we make as a board is the result of thorough research, extensive discussion and debate, and reflective of the will of the communities that Lake Park serves.

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

An important issue that isn’t being discussed enough is how state mandates may limit students’ ability to explore career pathways.

Beginning with the Class of 2027, students will be required to take two world language courses, reducing their flexibility to enroll in career exploration courses like manufacturing, IT, applied technology, and family consumer sciences. These courses often serve as critical steppingstones for students’ future careers.

Another opportunity for growth is expanding College and Career Pathway Endorsements. While some progress has been made, we need to introduce career exploration earlier so students can make informed choices and take full advantage of the exceptional pathway opportunities at Lake Park.

By addressing these challenges, the district can better support students in pursuing meaningful, career-aligned education without unnecessary barriers.