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Theresa Bashiri-Remetio: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Theresa Bashiri-Remetio

City: Morton Grove, IL

Office sought: Oakton Community College Trustee, District 535

Age: 34

Family: Husband, Son, Daughter

Occupation: Sr. Financial Analyst

Education: Oakton Community College - A.A. Business; Elmhurst College - B.A. Economics & Marketing, Minor in International Business; Northern Illinois University - MS Ed. Higher Education Administration; Northern Illinois University - M.B.A.

Civic involvement: Co-Chair - Oakton Alumni Council (2018-Present); Oakton Community College - Alumni Council Member 2014 - 2018; Trustee, Community College District 535 - 2013 - 2015; Student Trustee, Oakton Community College- 2012-2013; Phi Theta Kappa Mentor (OCC)- 2009 - 2011; Phi Theta Kappa Chapter President (OCC)- 2008 - 2009

Previous elected offices held: Oakton Community College Trustee, District 535

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? No

Website:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TBRemetio/

Twitter:

Describe your vision for the primary role of a community college.

With the support and encouragement of the Board, a community college's role is to develop creative, cost effective initiatives to address student learning and workforce preparation. It is crucial that the college continue to explore innovative ways to help the institution adapt to the ever changing job market, educational/technological advances, budgetary constraints, and student needs.

How well is your community college fulfilling that role? What changes, if any, need to be made?

Overall, I believe the College is doing well, but with the ever-changing needs of students, the changing job market, the need for students to have cost effective access to education and the challenge of reduced funding for education requires a nimble faculty, staff and administration and a Board that supports their vision.

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?

No

Is a tax rate increase needed and, if so, how do you justify it?

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?

With a diverse population, spanning a large geographical area, comes a diverse set of challenges. The College is diligently working to identify challenges students face in hopes of addressing them. I am sure things will come up, and there are initiatives currently in flight to help address issues such as class availability, campus accessibility, and the ability to complete a credential based on timing of offerings. I am sure there is plenty of work to be done … The College will need to continue the momentum they have built thus far. It is important for a community college board, in tandem with the administration and proper oversight, to foster collaboration across campuses and within its community in order to encourage dialogue and the development of new ideas, paying attention to outcome evaluation and cost effectiveness, in its pursuit of fulfilling its role as the community's college.

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