Michele Hays: Candidate profile
Bio
Name: Michele Hays
City: Evanston
Office sought: Oakton Community College District 535 Board of Trustees
Age: 51
Family: Jason Hays and son, Scott Hays
Occupation: Community Advocate
Education: BA in Drama, AA in Communications, AA in English
Civic involvement: Back On Their Feet, Evanston IL, 2017- present, Founder and Administrator; Evanston Citizens for Appropriate Special Education Parent Partner, 2019; Brummel Park Neighbors and Hands Across Howard, Chair 2005 - present; Member of Evanston Police Chief's Advisory Council, 2005 - 2017; Volunteer Voter Registrar with League of Women Voters and OPAL 2015-2017; PTA President at Chute Middle School, 2013-15; Battle of the Books Club Coordinator, Washington Elementary School, 2008 - 2018; Board Chair, Puerta Abierta Preschool 2004-5
Previous elected offices held: None
Incumbent: If yes, when were first elected?
Website: www.MicheleHays4OCC.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicheleHays4OCC/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hays4Occ
Issue questions
Describe your vision for the primary role of a community college.
A Community College stands at the intersection of high school and 4-year institutions, providing a transitional higher education experience, reinforcement and support for adults who need high school education, workforce training and development, and continuing education. It should provide the community not only with a path access education, but also provide for a more flexible, resilient and educated population.
How well is your community college fulfilling that role? What changes, if any, need to be made?
Our family livelihood is built on a foundation that started with a single class at Oakton: my husband took the EMS class, got a job as an EMT-B and continued his education at Oakton to get his Paramedic license. He is now a sworn firefighter in Evanston and proud member of local 742. I want everyone to have access to the opportunities like this that Oakton has to offer - there are too many people in District 535 who are struggling with underemployment while our businesses search for skilled workers - and this while Oakton's enrollment is dropping.
Are you currently employed by or retired from a school district, if so, which one?
I am not at this time.
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?
No one is at this time, although my son is currently enrolled as a student at Oakton in a dual-credit class via ETHS, and will be entering the school full-time in the fall.
Is a tax rate increase needed and, if so, how do you justify it?
Did not answer.
Community colleges provide many services to a diverse population. Is there a service your college should be providing that it is not, or reaching a segment of the population that it is not?
I would like to facilitate more collaboration between Oakton and local governments and programs, and to explore the barriers to access that prevent students from attending or cause them to withdraw. Ultimately, I would like to see Oakton as the primary provider of workforce development programs across the district, as it is incredibly well-equipped to serve the wide range of training and educational needs across our communities.
Oakton could improve the way it reaches out to the populations who need it most: the unemployed or underemployed who lack the skills or certifications to advance their careers. I believe Oakton could take a page from the book of often predatory for-profit institutions by targeting marketing towards the needs of that population. Potential students need to know that so much more is offered at Oakton - for significantly less tuition than most for-profit institutions - in terms of support, career counseling, and flexibility. Our students deserve to be set on a career path with a full understanding of the steps it will take to achieve financial security, and Oakton excels at providing that.