Brian Bresnahan: 2025 candidate for Elmhurst Unit District 205 board

Bio

Office Sought: Elmhurst Unit District 205 board (Vote for 3)

City: Elmhurst

Age: 49

Occupation: Business and operations coordinator

Previous offices held: Local school council- teacher rep at Belding Elementary

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

My motivation for running for School Board comes from my deep commitment to education, both as a parent and a professional. With three children in the district and one graduate, I understand the priorities of Elmhurst families and want to ensure every student has access to the best educational opportunities.

I bring 20 years of teaching experience, a Masters in Educational Leadership, currently serve as Business and Operations Coordinator in a local district, and completed my CSBO classes. I understand fiscal responsibility and what that means for our district. I have been very involved in Elmhurst as Foundation 205 chair, PTA chair, Cub Scout leader, RE teacher, and coach. These roles have given me a well-rounded perspective on education — from classroom instruction to financial stewardship to community engagement.

I am a passionate advocate for academic excellence, equity, and innovation along with financial accountability. I’m running to ensure that education professionals are part of the decision making process. I want to support our teachers, engage families, and guarantee every student in District 205 can thrive. I am proud to live in a community that feels the same way.

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

The school board’s goal when monitoring curriculum is to advocate for educational excellence. The board doesn’t create or set the curriculum, but provides oversight. Ensuring alignment with state standards and respecting the expertise of educational professionals, the board assures the curriculum meets the needs of all students, while reflecting our community’s values.

As a classroom teacher with experience in curriculum development and alignment to standards, I understand the best practices surrounding curriculum decisions. As a board member, I will focus on maintaining a curriculum that is innovative, challenging, and equitable.

I will ensure that curriculum decisions are research-based, aligned with student success goals, and the district regularly assesses the curriculum’s impact and make necessary adjustments when needed. We must use student performance data, but also gather teacher input, and be transparent with our community in curriculum decisions

I believe that forming strong, collaborative relationships between educators, administrators, and families ensures that our curriculum is innovative and rigorous enough to prepare all of our students for future success.

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

The district can focus on expanding innovative pathways to success for all students, rather than just the traditional academic routes. While a strong core curriculum is essential, students have diverse interests and strengths that require a flexible, forward-thinking approach to education to prepare them for evolving careers.

We have dual-credit opportunities and a business incubator program, but we can still create more partnerships with local businesses and colleges to provide our students with hands-on, real-world experiences. We can leverage our fine arts program, helping creative students explore arts careers.

We can expand mentorship opportunities, entrepreneurship, and vocational training to better prepare students for a range of opportunities, like college, trade school, STEM, the arts, or entering the workforce directly.

We should continue to explore project-based and personalized learning that keep students engaged, teaching critical problem-solving skills. As a board member, I will advocate for District 205 to be a leader in innovative pathways, ensuring every student pursues their goals aligned with their talents and aspirations.

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 in making data-driven decisions, relying on research and best practices to guide policies that strengthen student learning and success.

At the same time, I am committed to listening to all stakeholders — parents, teachers, students, and community members — including those with differing perspectives. I have stated before that disagreements can lead to stronger outcomes, and through open and respectful dialogue we can collaborate to make the best and most informed decisions regarding policy.

My responsibility is to ensure that policies and curriculum choices align with educational best practices which prepares our students for successful futures. The board’s decisions should reflect both expert, data-driven recommendations along with the unique needs of our district, even when decisions may not be universally popular.

Ultimately, my approach would be to ensure transparency, encourage collaboration, and advocate for policies that uphold academic excellence, equity, and innovation while staying true to the values of our community.

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.

Throughout my career, I’ve worked collaboratively in group settings to develop and implement policies that reflect the needs of the community. I led the effort to rebrand Foundation 205 to align our vision and mission statements with the evolving values of Elmhurst, finding common ground to ensure that our initiatives effectively supported students and schools.

My experience as a teacher collaborating with colleagues to address student needs reinforced the importance of open communication, active listening, and making informed, research-based decisions to achieve the best outcomes.

My leadership style is rooted in collaboration, respect, and transparency, ensuring all perspectives are valued while focusing on data-driven solutions that best serve our students and community. Balancing community input with research and best practices makes sure decisions are both forward-thinking and aligned with the district’s goals.

As one of seven on the board, teamwork and consensus-building are essential. By engaging in thoughtful dialogue, staying open-minded, and making well-informed decisions, I will work to promote academic excellence, equity, and fiscal responsibility for District 205.

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.

As stated previously, I believe in research-based decisions. Looking at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, students need to feel safe and a sense of belonging to thrive. Research confirms that when students feel valued and supported, they’re more engaged and achieve at higher levels.

I support the continuation of diversity and equity efforts, not as political initiatives, but as essential components of a high-performing school district. I believe in high expectations and that every student should have the tools they need to meet those expectations. District 205 has made progress, but growth is always possible.

A strong district ensures every student — regardless of background — has the resources and opportunities to succeed. As a board member, I would advocate for data-drive program assessments to identify areas for improvement, including a curriculum that reflects diverse perspectives, staff development, and expanding innovative pathways to success.

Our diversity and equity efforts should align with our mission of academic excellence and our community values. By setting high expectations and creating an inclusive environment, we ensure Elmhurst remains a place where all learners thrive.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I bring a unique blend of experience as a teacher, school district business coordinator, and community leader, making me an ideal candidate for the Elmhurst Unit District 205 school board.

With over 20 years in education — as a teacher, administrator, and business operations coordinator — I understand both classroom instruction and the financial and operational aspects of running a district. My Master’s in Educational Leadership and Chief School Business Official coursework further prepare me to make informed decisions that balance academic excellence with fiscal responsibility.

Aside from my professional experience, I have been deeply involved in the Elmhurst community, serving as Foundation 205 chair, PTA chair, Cub Scout leader, religious education teacher, coach, and volunteer. These roles have strengthened my connections with students, parents, and educators.

I am passionate about education and committed to transparency, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making, while advocating for student success. I will ensure that our district continues to provide high-quality education, create innovative learning opportunities, and maintain strong financial stewardship

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

As I touched on earlier, one idea that hasn’t been widely discussed is expanding hands-on, real-world learning experiences through partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and higher education institutions.

While District 205 offers strong academic programming, we can do more to create innovative pathways to success by connecting students with career exploration, internships, mentorships, and skill-based learning opportunities.

I was part of starting the business incubator at York, and I believe that by continuing to develop partnerships in industries like health care, technology, engineering, fine arts, and skilled trades, we can provide students with hands-on, experience-based learning opportunities that align with student’s interests and the changing landscape of postgraduate careers.

This would not only enhance student engagement but also help ensure our students graduate with real-world skills that prepare them for success in college, careers, and beyond, making District 205 the innovative, groundbreaking district it has the potential to be.