Shannon Adcock: 2021 candidate for Indian Prairie District 204 board
Challenger Shannon Adcock, one of 11 candidates running for four, 4-year terms in Indian Prairie Unit District 204, responds to the Daily Herald candidate questionnaire for the April 6, 2021, local election.
The candidates are: incumbents Laurie Donahue of Naperville and Susan Taylor-Demming of Naperville; and challengers Shannon Adcock of Naperville, Allison Fosdick of Naperville, Saba Haider of Aurora, Robert O. Harris of Naperville, Supna C. Jain of Naperville, Marina Kosak of Naperville, Yanmei May Liang of Naperville, Rajesh Narayan of Naperville, and Kader Sakkaria of Naperville.
In-person early voting with paper ballots is now available at DuPage County Fairgrounds Building 5, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. In-person early voting with touch-screen voting begins March 22 at locations throughout the county. Learn more at www.dupageco.org/earlyvoting/.
For more election coverage, visit dailyherald.com.
Bio
City: Naperville
Age: 41
Occupation: Owner of Shannon A. Photography LLC
Civic involvement: Elementary school fundraising; Hesed House Mission Sponsor
Q&A
Q: Why are you running for this office, whether for reelection or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?
A: I am opting to run with a strong sense of advocacy for students in this community. Our three children will be at each level of district education during the 4-year term. I plan to bring a much-needed parent perspective while governing districtwide policies with transparent communication. Getting our district back on track from the restriction of school choice, subpar academic rigor, and lacking social-emotional enrichment of this past year is a big issue that motivates me.
Q: How would you grade the current school board on its response to the pandemic? Why?
A: I would give poor marks to our current board with much improvement needed. The decision to revoke choice of in-person learning in August 2020 was incredibly misguided and shows poor governing skills. Additionally, it is very worrisome that a group of educated professionals and parents on the board has so dispassionately and unanimously decided on policies in what is arguably the most challenging time in district history. The board does not ask the tough questions nor does it offer transparency in its governance.
Q: How do you view your role in confronting the pandemic: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state authorities?
A: I view my role as representing all of the constituency, not just a portion. My advocacy for school choice is meant to address the needs of all district students. As a candidate, I have been very transparent in my views and it has certainly not been popular with everyone; So it goes when you take a stand and share transparent viewpoints. This does not scare me from being a voice for the community, especially if needs are not being met. I plan to represent the voices of the constituency by fulfilling the board of education oath.
Q: Did your district continue to adequately serve students during the disruptions caused by the pandemic? If so, please cite an example of how it successfully adjusted to continue providing services. If not, please cite a specific example of what could have been done better.
A: Yes and no. In the spring, in the fog of war, the district did manage to connect educators with students. It had the advantage of already issuing students with Chromebooks that allowed access to remote learning versus other districts. Any educator and parent could recognize, however, that this mode of delivery was neither academically rigorous nor at all enriching. By May and June, the fog of war was lifting and we knew the safety guidelines and measure that would allow the in-person option for learning. In August, that option was revoked and district students were forced into the remote learning paradigm, which is not our gold standard of education. The lack of community representation at the board level is where it could have absolutely done better.
Q: Do you have a plan on how to safely and effectively conduct classes in the spring? What have you learned from the fall semester that you would change in the spring?
A: The plan should be to provide the choice of full-time in-person learning by following the well-documented mitigation and safety strategies that other local schools, state districts, and institutions worldwide have utilized to ensure equitable access to quality education.
Q: What is your position on allowing high school sports to continue during the pandemic? Be specific.
A: I support allowing high school sports to follow the pre-pandemic scheduling of activities.