Kathleen Parkinson: 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: GrayslakeWebsite: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kathleen-Parkinson-for-the-CCSD-46-School-Board/714018905381254?ref=hlOffice sought: Grayslake District 46 School Board Age: 41Family: Husband: Gerald Parkinson Daughter: Zoe, age 8 Daughter: Sarah, age 7Occupation: Educator/ResearcherEducation: Current: M.Ed. in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment at the University of Illinois at Chicago, M.S. in Agribusiness, Arizona State University (Polytechnic Campus), Mesa, AZ (2004) Post Baccalaureate in Elementary and Special Education, University of Phoenix (2001), B.S. in Cinema and Photography, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY (1995)Civic involvement: Girl Scouts, Grayslake ConnectElected offices held: NoneQuestions Answers How satisfied are you that your school district is adequately preparing students for the next stage in their lives, whether it be from elementary into high school or high school into college or full-time employment? What changes, if any, do you think need to be made?I am fairly satisfied with District 46 as a parent with two children at Woodview School. As an educational measurement professional, I see the value of using standardized tests to measure students' levels of mastery of national standards in comparison with other students however, such tests do not measure the soft skills students will need to be successful in 21st century life. We are preparing students for jobs in the 21st century that do not yet exist. These tests are informative snapshots of a person's development on a continuum, but do not capture a person's emotional intelligence, moral reasoning, creative problem solving skills, level of self-efficacy, entrepreneurial spirit, grit, or overall potential for success. Such soft skills can be developed through problem and project based learning experiences that are aligned to national standards using proven models and strong teacher support to meet the needs of students and families in our local school communities. I would like to see stronger collaboration across the schools in District 46, the high school district, and even the College of Lake County to deliver educational programming that places our district a cut above districts in surrounding communities. I would also like to see more school-community partnerships to support teaching and learning in our schools.What budgetary issues will your district have to confront during the next four years and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, be specific about programs and expenses that should be considered for reduction or elimination. On the income side, do you support any tax increases for local schools? Again, be specific.The school district has been operating with a funding deficit, and that deficit may get worse if the State Senate Bill 16 aimed to redistribute school funds to poorer districts across the state passes. With advocates for our students pushing for all-day Kindergarten classes, more focus on the arts, foreign language, and gifted education, as well as a need to build a technology infrastructure to support 21st century teaching and learning, it is vital we set priorities. I do not support placing the burden of the state's school funding structure on families already paying their fair share of taxes to support strong schools. Instead, I think we can increase tax revenue by working with the villages and regional planning organizations in District 46. I believe the inclusion of a grant-writer will be helpful in locating new funding sources to support innovative educational programming and community partnerships for our schools. There may also be potential to reduce transportation costs by partnering with the high school district, and I am in favor of exploring those options.Should air conditioning be pursued for the schools without it? Please explain why or why not.I think air conditioning should be pursued as a necessary measure to ensure students are learning in an environment that is equal to their peers in other schools in the district that have air conditioning. We should find the most economical solutions for providing air conditioning in schools that do not have it.As contract talks come up with various school employee groups -- teachers, support staff, etc. -- what posture should the school board take? Do you believe the district should ask for concessions from its employees, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?The villages of District 46 have enormous potential for attracting more local businesses that will increase tax revenues to bring our operating budget well out of a deficit in the years to come. As that happens, I believe there are ways to cut costs, while preserving strong instructional programming in safe school environments. With a new governor in place that creates an environment of uncertainty, I would ask employees to trust that as a member of the school board I value the high quality of employees we have in District 46, and will make every effort to ensure they are receiving competitive pay and benefits to keep them in our district.Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one? Is any member of your direct family - spouse, child or child-in-law - employed by the school district where you are seeking a school board seat?I was employed by the Maricopa Unified School District, in Maricopa, Arizona, the Tempe Elementary School District in Tempe, Arizona, and by Chicago Public Schools. I have also been a substitute teacher for District 46 serving Woodview, Park School, and Prairieview schools. No other family member is employed with District 46.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?In my first year teaching in rural Arizona my colleague did little instruction with the kids (with learning disabilities) because she thought they had it rough enough sitting alongside higher level peers all day. She meant well and the kids loved her, but she also made up student data at the end of each year and we had a 4th grader who did not know all the sounds in the alphabet. I was not surprised to see this student grow two grade levels in reading that year when someone worked with him. We need accountability, but at the same time, we cannot blame teachers for society's problems. Effective evaluation methods will empower teachers. I am currently a student in the M.Ed. program in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment at UIC, where I am also employed as a Research Assistant in the Center for Urban Education Leadership. I have the privilege of working with and learning from some of the most successful and influential transformational leaders in Chicago. These leaders have mastered the art of making the most of limited resources by building highly collaborative working conditions among staff and in the surrounding community, while employing evaluation methods that promote continuous improvement of educational programming and services to their school communities. I am completing the Illinois Performance Evaluation Growth for Learning training and assessments to be a certified teacher evaluator, and I believe this experience will allow me to raise informed discussions about district-wide instructional programming and budget decisions.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.The astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson most inspires me for his authenticity, grit, and humble desire to teach.What's the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?I learned to see the inherent good in others, no matter the circumstances.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?I was a gymnast for 19 years, so if I had one do-over I would spend time on learning and enjoying other sports.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?My favorite subject was Social Studies. I am now a social scientist and education researcher.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Be who you want to see in others.