Tina Garrett: 2023 candidate for Des Plaines School District 62 board

Bio

Town: Des Plaines

Age on Election Day: 46

Occupation: Insurance agent

Employer: TIPS Insurance Agency, LLC

Previous offices held: D62 board of education member

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?

A: I originally got involved in the board of education because I struggled to access services for students in my household. My goal was to improve access to both early intervention services and accelerated curriculum. My motivation running for office has only grown. I have realized that one day I am going g to grow old and these kids are going to be the ones taking care of me- I need to take care of them now.

Q: What is the role of the school board in setting and monitoring curriculum?

A: The role of board is to select the superintendent and evaluate his performance based on the goals set forth, which aligns with the Strategic Plan the board approves. The board does not directly evaluate or select curricula, it is the responsibility of the administrators, in collaboration with the educators, in District 62 to select and develop curricula that are best for the students in our district. The board receives weekly reports from the administration on student progress, at this time we can question the curricula and what District 62 can do to help improve student outcomes. The only other role the board has in curriculum selection is approving funding.

Q: Are there curriculum issues within the district that you feel need particular attention from the board?

A: I believe we need to pay particular attention to the English Language Arts curriculum- in other words reading, phonics, and comprehension. This became apparent during the pandemic when we not only saw reading scores drop, but also students struggled in other subjects due to lowered reading comprehension. Every subject is built off reading skills, if you don't have reading comprehension everything in life is difficult. I would encourage the community to listen to a podcast titled "Sold a Story" by American Public Media for more extensive background information. I am deeply concerned that a small group of companies creates and sells curriculum that is not based on the data that schools have collected. Commercial programs are marketed to schools regardless of whether data shows that the program is effective or is in the interest of student learning. We will leave students vulnerable it we neglect this issue.

Q: How do you view your role in confronting policy or curriculum controversies: provide leadership even if unpopular, give a voice to constituents - even ones with whom you disagree, or defer to state authorities?

A: I believe that the role of the board is to protect student learning from changing political whims. Controversies receiving attention in the national media are not always relevant in our local districts. However I will say that I do not support the current trend of banning books. Given the literacy issues I've described above, we need to allow D62 teachers to provide literature that engages our students and encourages them to be life long learners. We want our students to gain comprehensive skills to become good decision-makers in the future. With respect to my ability to provide leadership and make difficult decisions, my strategy is to listen to the community, engage with everyone, and ensure that my final decision is supported by data, facts and always in the best interest of our students needs.

Q: Concerns are growing regarding a new resurgence of the pandemic. If another massive outbreak of infectious disease occurs, what have we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that will guide your decision making?

A: What I have learned is that we need a larger presence of social workers at the building level to ensure that students have a strong foundation before any crisis occurs. Every student should have regular breakout time with a social worker to build that relationship. Then when students have to deal with anything overwhelming, they will have a fundamental/base coping skills, and will be comfortable reaching out to trusted staff for additional support.

Q: Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach agreement and manage school district policy? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions of your school board.

A: Since 2008 I have served on local boards such as Parent Teacher Council, Rotary Club, Des Plaines Girl's Softball, and now the board of education for the past five years. I've been fortunate in that our board has been comprised of individuals with different perspectives, and that we give each other the space to express our concerns and ask questions in a respectful way. At the end of the day everyone in that room knows that our goal is promoting the best interest of the students. My style is to be open, honest, and to listen to my team.

Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?

A: Fortunately for the community of D62, every candidate on the ballot is "the best" and I am confident they each have the best interests of the students in mind. I even encouraged one of them to run, and I look forward to working with them. I excel in that I am passionate, I am not afraid to ask for help, and I don't shy away from trying to improve the system. I strive to be a life long learner and I want the same for every student. I want to make sure that our students thrive, not just survive.

Q: What's one good idea you have to better your district that no one is talking about yet?

A: Including/adding the physical element to our social emotional learning strategies would enhance our current efforts. Strategies like deep breathing and stretching help both kids and adults build a healthy lifestyle that helps them at school and will stay with them throughout their lives.