Eric Daudelin: 2025 candidate for Woodland Elementary District 50 board

Bio

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

City: Gurnee

Age: 44

Occupation: Superintendent

Previous offices held: None

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

I am running for this office because our district deserves a functional board that can work together as a team to tackle current issues and business. There is not a particular issue that motivates me, but I am looking forward to making a positive and unbiased contribution to our board and am committed to ensuring Woodland students receive a quality education. I have three children currently attending Woodland schools from second through eighth grades.

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

Setting and monitoring curriculum is one of the key responsibilities of our local school boards. Many stakeholders are under the false impression that curriculum is managed federally by the Department of Education when in actuality, it’s our responsibility at the state and even more so at the local school board level. This is why local elections are just as important as state and federal elections.

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

Math scores across the state have been low since the e-learning days of the COVID-19 pandemic. We should continue to look at our numbers and data and identify areas of opportunity and improvement.

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?

It will be my job as a board member to research, listen, and ask questions. In turn, I will provide my thoughts, opinions, concerns, and feedback regarding any controversy; keeping our students and staff in mind as our top priority.

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.

In my current position, I am a supervisor where I am in charge of making decisions to lead our group every day. The single most beneficial action is to be open to listening. It is important to keep an open mind and be respectful of opinions. I am acting in the best interest of the district and not my own personal agenda.

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 current Woodland board has done an excellent job of ensuring diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging however as is the case in most programs there is always room for improvement. We need to continually analyze what is working for our students and staff and what is not working. We need to recognize areas of opportunity and build upon them.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I wouldn’t consider being a board member a job but it’s certainly a privilege and honor to be elected to stand for our community. What stakeholders should know about me is that I keep an open mind and am respectful of others’ opinions.

I am a proponent of constructive criticism, leading by example and believe in treating others as you’d like to be treated. My degree in elementary education and my experience in schools has given me a better understanding of teaching as a profession.

Previously I was elected to serve as president of a Chicago area Jaycees chapter where we focused on leadership, networking, and business development. We facilitated many community events and fundraisers throughout the year in conjunction with our local area chamber of commerce.

I most recently served on Woodland's 2023-28 Strategic Planning Committee which was developed by our current board and district stakeholders.

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

One vision that I have for our district is to be able to offer a year-round food pantry open to all Woodland students and their families regardless of income or any other protected class. Working together with local food pantries and food banks to be able to improve food insecurities in our district could help our students reach their full academic potential. Forty-two percent of Woodland students are considered low-income. Based on 2024 enrollment, this is approximately 1,921 students. (source: Illinois Report Card)

We have our work cut out for us as far as eliminating stigmas associated with food insecurities but It is a welcomed challenge.