Lourdes Chapa: 2025 candidate for Wauconda Unit District 118 board

Bio

Office sought: Wauconda Unit District 118 board (Vote for 4)

City: Volo

Age: 52

Occupation: Administrative assistant

Previous offices held: Wauconda Unit District 118 board since 2019

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

As a parent in our district, I’ve experienced our schools’ strengths and challenges firsthand. I’m running for the school board to advocate transparent governance that incorporates meaningful input from all stakeholders.

Our community needs leadership that listens before making decisions. As a board member, I’ll ensure parents, teachers, and community members have a voice in shaping our children’s education.

I’m dedicated to maintaining educational excellence while being fiscally responsible, ensuring every dollar benefits student learning.

In our diverse community, every child should feel they belong. I’ll work to create classrooms where differences are celebrated, and all students receive the support they need to succeed.

I also recognize the need for stronger communication between administration, teachers, parents, and the community. Building these connections allows us to work more effectively toward our shared educational goals. I’m committed to ensuring parents understand district decisions, teachers feel heard, and our community stays engaged with our educational mission.

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

School boards play a vital role in shaping educational excellence through curriculum oversight and development.

As a board member for Wauconda District 118, I understand the importance of establishing clear educational goals while ensuring our curriculum meets state standards and community needs.

The board collaborates with administrators to approve curriculum frameworks and instructional programs, always keeping student success at the forefront. While the board doesn’t manage day-to-day classroom instruction, we approve resources and funding supporting curriculum delivery.

This includes making strategic decisions about new programs and educational approaches. Additionally, the board serves as a crucial bridge between the community and the school system, considering input from parents, teachers, and administrators while communicating curriculum decisions transparently.

Our role is to balance maintaining high academic standards with being responsive to our community’s values and needs, ensuring every student in Wauconda District 118 has access to quality education that prepares them for future success.

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

While our district has built a strong academic foundation, I see valuable opportunities to enhance our curriculum, particularly in language education and advanced coursework (AP courses). These are not problems but as areas for strategic growth to better serve our students’ future needs.

I strongly support expanding world language opportunities at the middle school level and introducing more ambitious language exposure programs in our elementary schools.

At the high school level, while I commend our curriculum department's recent work, we can further expand our Advanced Placement course offerings. This would give our students more opportunities to challenge themselves and earn college credits. By broadening our AP selection, we ensure every student can access rigorous coursework aligned with their interests.

These enhancements would strengthen our district’s strengths while preparing our students for an increasingly competitive future.

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 believe effective leadership in policy and curriculum matters requires a balanced approach. My role as a board member is first to listen — to parents, educators, students, and all community members. This isn’t just about hearing the loudest voices but ensuring every perspective gets fair consideration.

While we must comply with state guidelines, local school boards are responsible for representing their community's values and needs. I believe in giving voice to all stakeholders, even those whose views differ from mine. This inclusive approach helps build trust and leads to better decision-making.

Sometimes, leadership requires making unpopular decisions for the greater good of our students’ education. When such situations arise, I focus on transparent communication, explaining the reasoning behind decisions and showing how they align with our district’s educational goals and values.

The key is maintaining a respectful dialogue while ensuring decisions are based on what best serves our students’ educational needs. This approach will help me navigate challenges while keeping our community united in supporting quality education for all 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 learned that listening is the cornerstone of effective policy-making. My leadership approach emphasizes active listening to understand diverse perspectives before making decisions that impact our schools.

In group settings, I prioritize creating an environment where all voices are heard — from teachers and administrators to parents and community members. This listening-first approach helps identify potential challenges and opportunities that might be overlooked.

Throughout my board tenure, I’ve found that carefully listening and considering multiple viewpoints leads to more robust policy decisions. When disagreements arise, I focus on understanding the underlying concerns of each position. This approach has helped bridge divides and build consensus on complex issues.

This listening-centered style will continue to serve our district well because it ensures decisions are made with a comprehensive understanding of their impact. By maintaining open dialogue and thoughtfully considering all perspectives, we can develop policies that effectively address our district’s needs while building trust within our educational community.

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 support enhancing our diversity and equity programs because they benefit student achievement and well-being. In our diverse community, every child should feel they belong.

I envision building upon existing initiatives by focusing on three key areas: First, ensuring our curriculum reflects our student body’s diverse perspectives and experiences. Second, providing educators with professional development opportunities to serve students from all backgrounds better. Third, partnerships with families should be strengthened to create a more collaborative and supportive school community.

These efforts aren’t about preference or special treatment — they’re about creating an environment where every student can reach their full potential.

When children see themselves represented in their learning materials and feel their unique experiences are valued, they’re more likely to engage in class, participate in school activities, and develop the confidence needed for academic success.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I bring a unique combination of long-term community involvement and forward-thinking leadership. With 15 years of hands-on volunteer experience in our schools, I have developed a deep understanding of our district's strengths and areas for growth. As a current parent of a District 118 student, I experience firsthand the challenges and opportunities our district faces from kindergarten through high school.

Being bilingual in Spanish and English also enables me to bridge communication gaps with our Hispanic families, ensuring their voices are heard and represented.

My mission centers on fostering transparency and trust within our community, while my vision emphasizes proactive problem-solving rather than reactive solutions.

Drawing from my core values of honesty, integrity, proactivity, and collaboration, I am committed to anticipating and addressing the needs of both parents and students before challenges arise. This preventive approach, extensive volunteer experience, and bilingual abilities make me uniquely qualified to serve our diverse school community effectively.

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

As a longtime parent in Wauconda District 118, I’ve witnessed firsthand how overwhelming the transition to middle and high school can be — not just for students but for parents too. I’m passionate about creating a Parent Ambassador Program that connects experienced parents with families transitioning to middle school/high school.

I’ve seen too many parents struggle silently with questions about everything from course selection, extracurricular activities, college prep, or even basic logistics like drop-off procedures when we could be supporting each other through these transitions.

My vision is to build a network of parent volunteers who serve as mentors, offering monthly coffee chats, social media groups, and practical guidance based on their own experiences. Having navigated these waters myself, I know how valuable it would have been to have a friendly, knowledgeable resource to turn to.

This isn’t just another program — it’s about creating the supportive community I wish I’d had when my children were transitioning to new schools. By establishing this program, District 118 would demonstrate its commitment to supporting students and entire families through important educational transitions.