Catherine Piehl: Candidate Profile

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Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: NapervilleWebsite: www.cathypiehl.comTwitter: @cathypiehlFacebook: Cathy PiehlOffice sought: Indian Prairie Unit District 204 School Board Age: 58Family: My husband, Mike Piehl, three sons, Kevin 29, Dennis 26, James 17. Daughter in law, Kristin 27.Occupation: School Social WorkerEducation: Master of Social Work - Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinos.BA in Psychology, Eastern Illinois UniverstiyCivic involvement: Indian Prairie 204 School Board 8 yearsElected offices held: Indian Prairie School Board 204 Vice President - 3 yearsIndian Prairie School Board 204 Secretary - 3 yearsQuestions Answers With growing concern around mental health and addiction, what should the district do to build mentally healthy students, support the mental health of students who have mental illnesses and help students avoid addiction?As a mental health professional I recognize that schools cannot just focus on academic performance, we have to focus on the whole child. I also have personal experience with family members who struggle with anxiety and depression, the two main conditions for which clinicians treat youth. Addiction is most often the result of self-medicating with alcohol and/or drugs. As a district, we have seen students tragically succumb to heroin overdoses and suicide. Therefore, I believe the correct focus for 204 schools should be on prevention of substance use, recognition of mental health conditions, and adjust teaching practices that put unnecessary pressure on students. Within the past few years, District 204 has increased our focus in sound evidence based approaches to prevention, such as training staff in "Mental Health First Aide", expanding the "Power of Choice" program through 360 Youth Services and our involvement in the "Community Alliance for Prevention" for Districts 204 and 203 youths. Additionally we are exposing staff to a "growth mindset" approach to teaching. This approach values problem-solving skills over results, which builds resiliency, a need that social workers identified.However, we also need our community members to consider their impact on stress performance. This year the Parent Diversity Advisory Council has chosen the "Growth Mindset" focus for discussion. We need to remember that the school system is only one part of our students' lives. What messages do we as parents and community members, send to our students? The schools cannot work in isolation of the community.As teachers use more and more technology in the classroom, how much should the district continue to support the eLo online learning consortium and the STEM Partnership school at Aurora University? How should spending on these technology-related learning experiences be balanced with other educational and financial priorities?A board member has to be aware of the community's wishes, but we also need to facilitate and lead the community in the correct direction. Sometimes this becomes a circular event. Our current state of STEM education, the eLo learning consortium and the John C. Dunham STEM Partnership School at Aurora University are examples of this circular support. In 2010, as a member of a group called STEM 204, we began an awareness campaign by reaching out to our parents and PTAs. We facilitated a gathering of information, practices and programs PTAs could introduce to their schools. We now have some of the most active volunteer STEM partnerships I am aware of in the state. At the same time, the district leadership began to feel empowered to develop programs and curriculum that would meet the demand. We now have "Project Lead the Way" in our middle and high schools. Our parents are a part of the push to ensure new science curriculums include the authentic inquiry based learning experiences the Next Generation Science Standards require. Technology in the classroom is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Our business community first began asking us to prepare our students with the technical skills needed for today's jobs, let alone for tomorrow's jobs. The elo learning consortium is a learning style choice our students have, because our community demands choices. We need to focus on the success of our students, and then work within the budget to make it happen.How big a role do you think the board of education should play in setting the curriculum for students and what ideas do you have for changes to the current curriculum?Our mission statement "is to inspire all students to achieve their greatest potential." This should drive any curriculum changes a board would like the superintendent to incorporate into our educational system. Best practice from high achieving school districts has shown that when board members begin to involve themselves in curriculum or material selection, it should be from a balcony perspective. The balcony perspective includes an expectation that board members continually educate themselves about current and future trends in education. Best practice also dictates that a board's number one responsibility is to hire a superintendent who is trustworthy, knowledgeable and capable of understanding how the mission statement will provide direction. In addition, policy drives our process. Policy 6:40, directs the Superintendent to recommend a comprehensive curriculum, and a regular review process. Policy 6:210 dictates the Superintendent to make a recommendation for the adoption of all textbooks and instructional materials. An example of the board staying on the balcony is with the development of technology, STEM and 21st Century learning. The board educated themselves on the importance of our students needing to learn these skills. As an educated board, we were able to support our Superintendent bring programs that fit with our mission. It was her job to find ways to do so effectively and efficiently. I have expertise in social emotional learning. I use my expertise to consider our best practices in this area, and advocate when I see a need, but I stay on the balcony.What budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax or fee increases?I am well aware that when it comes to our budget we need to have a balanced approach. If our focus appears lavish, we risk losing the support of the community. If our focus is only on the numbers, and we cut programs and staff our educational system will decline in value, and we risk losing the support of the community. Our focus is our mission statement, to inspire all students to reach their greatest potential. This drives our goals. Ultimately, we strive to tensure the education provided continues to attract homeowners, and students can reach their greatest potential.Currently the state of Illinois owes our district $10.4 million. Our projected revenue from the state for 2017 should be 14.55%, or about $47 million. The budget forecast presented at our February 13 meeting, had two scenarios. One indicated a status quo picture, which is not quite status quo, since the state has a nasty habit of not providing promised payments. Even if the state actually pays their bills, we would see a serious decline in necessary revenue by 2020. The second scenario includes an irresponsible proposal for a temporary freeze on local property taxes. A tax freeze would have a negligible effect on a homeowner's property tax bill, but it would cause a rapid and steep decline in revenue for the district by 2019. The question becomes a matter of when and by whom taxes are raised if there is no funding formula reform.What role can and should school choice play in your district? If Congress or the state approves a voucher system or other means giving students broader choices among public and private schools, how will that affect your district? What is the appropriate response for the board of education of a public school system?We have become a choice society. We no longer walk in for just a cup of coffee; we want it with mocha and 1% milk. Indian Prairie has been deliberative in our approach in providing avenues for all students. Becoming a part of the John C. Dunham STEM School, the eLo consortium, programs such as VEI (Virtual Enterprises International) are a few examples of choices we provide to our students. The important point to remember is we provide these choices under the umbrella of a public school system within the requirements of state and federal regulations and accountability. In addition, we do this at a lower than state average operating cost per student of $11,500, vs $12,800. Choice within the public school system is appropriate because it allows all students, no matter race, gender, or level of wealth, to benefit from it. School choice in the form of charters, and vouchers, does the opposite, and results are dubious. An article by Professor Robert A. Garda, ("Coming Full Circle", 2007), explains how modern education reforms such as school choice, and finance reforms have been working to create a separate but "equal" education system once again. "The current reform movements displace integration in the American conscience as the best route to equality by creating a false belief that minority achievement gaps can be eliminated in separate schools". (Duke Journal of Constitutional Law Public Policy) School Choice, at the core, is an avenue to separate and segregate our schools.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?Our children are the future. It is our collective responsibility to protect, educate and nurture all of them. As an educator, a parent, social worker, homeowner, and citizen, I implore our community to continue to support our public schools. Indian Prairie School District #204 is achieving excellence because our community values children. There are many voices working to devalue the institution of public schools. Blaming teachers for a pension they were promised, expecting the school experience to be the same as 50 years ago, (when our economy and society is moving exponentially into the future (self "â#128;œdriving cars!)), promises of lowering taxes as campaign slogans, when instead we should be talking about how we can best serve the community within our means. We need to understand what "within our means" means. It has to be fair. The impact of Proration on General State Aid has resulted in our district not receiving $10,640,000 for the last five years. That has been difficult for our district. It has devastated poor districts. I value being a part of an educated caring community. I would be honored to continue to serve as a board member for Indian Prairie School District #204.I have spent the last day and a half answering the questions for the Herald. I thank the editors for providing candidates this opportunity. I wanted to be sure to speak truth. I have done my best with a 250-word limit. I will be putting fuller responses up on my website. www.cathypiehl.comPlease name one current leader who most inspires you.Michelle ObamaWhat is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Be kindIf life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I wish I had started running (as in exercise) sooner than at age 40.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?7th grade Social Studies. I learned that everyone sees the world a little differently.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Love your life, or change it.