Jin Lee: 2025 candidate for Maine Township High School District 207 board

Bio

Office sought: Maine Township High School District 207 board (Vote for 4)

City: Des Plaines

Age: 62

Occupation: Business consulting

Previous offices held: District 207 board member since 2013

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

I strongly believe that education is the most important investment of all. As a proud District 207 parent, there is no higher calling in our communities than in providing the best possible public education possible.

Maine Township played a vital role in the educational and social development of my children and therefore, I want to give back to the community by continuing to serve on the school board.

As a second-language learner who immigrated to this country, I understand the journey and path of so many of our District 207 students and families in a way that no other candidate does. District 207’s strength is its diversity, and I will continue to advocate for all of our students through my deep understanding of the needs of our communities and the students that we serve in each of our high schools.

I have a proven track record of serving honorably as a District 207 board member, and I will bring an experienced voice to the board to help it in this time of transition as new board members come in.

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

The school board works within state and federal guidelines, along with our leadership team, to set and monitor student learning. I’m proud to have been part of boards here that have been innovative and leaders in our adoption of competency-based curriculum to help improve learning outcomes for students.

That is a good case study where the state allowed for districts to apply to adopt competency-based curriculum, and the leadership team worked with the board, staff, students and community to improve how we teach our students. We have built a really great culture in District 207 of innovation always in service to students. It takes a smart, forward-thinking board to be willing to change, and I am proud that I have been able to be a part of that process.

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

Like all diverse districts, our students have increasingly complex needs that are both within the classroom, like access and support, but also beyond the classroom with the expansion of mental health needs that we see among our students.

I don’t think most people truly understand the level of support that high schools like our Maine Township High Schools provide on a daily basis through our health centers, parent centers and the daily support that all our teachers, support staff and administrative teams provide.

Paying attention to the needs of our students as they change and trying to make a positive impact is always at the top of mind for me as a board member.

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?

Our first role is always to listen for understanding. From each person’s point of view, a particular issue can be very important to some individuals, but boards have to weigh their own policies, state and federal guidelines as well as feedback from staff, students, the leadership team and community members while working to do the right thing, even if it’s unpopular. That’s the role and responsibility of board members.

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.

Our District 207 board has worked collaboratively to determine policy. Most of the time, policy adoptions are simply to keep the district in compliance with federal or state law, and in Illinois that happens annually.

Beyond that we have set important policies like our commitment to environmental sustainability, fiscal responsibility and an explicit commitment to provide equitable experiences for our students. Sometimes those decisions go unnoticed, but our District 207 board has a culture of working together professionally and respectfully to set policies that not only keep us in legal compliance but also meet our greatest responsibility to serve our students.

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.

It’s important for the community to continue to have conversations around inclusion, respect, and equity. We want to instill and build on these values in our younger generations to build a better future. I would love to implement educational training/professional development for district school board administrators, teachers, parents, and community members regarding creating a better community. We continue to grow in this area, both with students and staff.

We have Equity teams led by teachers and students that have kept this conversation going and created opportunities to bring the community together. In districts like ours, recognizing and celebrating our diversity should always be at the forefront.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I have been honored to serve D207 on the board for the past 12 years and excited about the opportunity to continue this service for another four more years. We have a responsibility to invest in what matters most- our students and a good education system. I have been part of a high functioning professional board, and that has served our students and communities very well.

We have nationally recognized schools with programming that does not exist elsewhere in newly modernized buildings that are a tremendous asset to our communities. I am committed to continuing this level of service as a District 207 board member.

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

Global Education — Because of our tremendous diversity in District 207 where students literally come from every part of the world, we have a tremendous opportunity to connect our students to engage in education around the world. I want to provide students with a broader perspective of the world through global education and cultural relationships. I led efforts as a board member to provide an International MOU opportunity with a South Korean School, and I’d like see how we can expand these opportunities for students in the future.