Laura Wilmarth Tyna: 2025 candidate for Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89 board

Bio

Office sought: Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89 board (Vote for 4)

City: Glen Ellyn (unincorporated)

Age: 45

Occupation: Higher education administrator

Previous offices held: No elected offices, only roles in nonprofit organizations

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

I am running for school board because I believe it is important to support public education and ensure all students have access to high-quality learning opportunities.

As a longtime community member in District 89, I want to help create an inclusive and supportive community which empowers all students and families to thrive. I am particularly motivated to collaborate with district administrators, educators, and local organizations to think creatively about the demands and challenges schools and districts face today, including shrinking resources, increased demand for accountability, and diverse perspectives on school curricula.

As a parent in the district, I want to support the great things already happening in District 89 and continue to improve the education provided to youth in our community. Examples of topics I want to address include the benefits and drawbacks of children using technology, supporting students with individual education plans (IEPs) and 504 plans, and empowering learners of all backgrounds and abilities to thrive.

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

The school board exists to create a vision for education in the district, identifying strategic priorities, goals, and policies which support that vision. Often, the board primarily oversees the budgeting, employment, and evaluation components of the educational system.

In other words, the board is not directly responsible for setting the curriculum, but is highly engaged in monitoring the success of adopted curricula and supporting schools in serving all students well.

I believe educators are best-equipped to make decisions about curriculum and library materials. As professionals trained to facilitate and support student learning, I trust teachers and administrators to make informed decisions about what is taught in schools and which library materials are available.

I also believe it is important to implement collaborative leadership efforts which engage student voices on these and other topics, helping students get excited about learning.

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

I do not have specific curriculum issues in mind as I run for the board; however, I am aware the district has a number of important initiatives in motion already which I would support, such as evaluating the Challenge Program.

More importantly, I perceive that public education is experiencing an ongoing decline in resources and support and District 89 needs a board focused on doing things like creatively managing unfunded mandates, collaborating with other schools or organizations to use resources efficiently and effectively, and advocating to create district and school environments which support all learners and families.

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?

School boards are community entities with the responsibility to hear community voices — even those voices which may be unpopular. Serving on the school board requires dedication, listening, patience, and open mindedness.

In choosing to serve, I believe a board member is committing to hear all perspectives and options before making decisions focused on students, educators, and the stewardship of resources. School boards are not inherently political environments, and I believe they should stay focused on schools and community, not partisan politics.

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 a higher education professional for the past 20 years, I have experience leading and participating in committees responsible for making institution-wide decisions, including policy creation, policy implementation, and strategic planning.

When I am responsible for facilitating group decision-making, it is important to prepare team members for the process. To begin, I ensure the group is well-educated about the topic.

This may include requesting or collecting relevant data, researching best practices related to the topic, seeking feedback from those impacted by the policy, and identifying experts who can inform the decision-making process.

Once group members are further educated on the topic, it is important to hear the many thoughts shared and to consider the merit and worth of each idea.

Finally, I believe decisions are best made through a thoughtful process which takes into account the resources available, the people impacted, and the careful analysis of possible options.

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.

The loud anti-DEI sentiment present in our country today has demonized diversity, equity, and inclusion; however, as a parent of two school-aged kids, I can’t imagine sending my children every day to a place where they felt they didn’t belong or were not valued. I find it hard to imagine a parent who feels differently.

I believe it is essential to create school and district communities where each student matters and we treat them — along with the educators, administrators, and families involved — as whole people.

This means working hard to build relationships with each student and supporting educators in understanding the diverse needs of all kinds of students. I believe it is important for the district to continue addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion and there is space to strengthen that work.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I would be a good school board member because I am a critical thinker, a good steward of resources, a collaborative leader, and a person dedicated to creating spaces where each person feels valued. I will bring these skills and characteristics to the board during a time when we need to think critically and intentionally about using our limited resources to serve all learners well.

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

I would love to explore implementing the “community schools” strategy in District 89. Community schools serve as hubs to the larger community by making resources more accessible to the children and families who need them. Through collaborative leadership between schools, community agencies, and families, community schools emphasize quality education, youth development, family support, family and community engagement, and community development.

By moving toward a community schools model, our district could deepen existing relationships with local organizations and families to support our learners and the broader community, while also utilizing our resources more effectively.

According to the Coalition for Community Schools and the Institute for Educational Leadership, community schools have been shown to improve student learning, increase family engagement, and contribute to youth, family, and educator well-being.