Gina Galligar: 2023 candidate for Huntley Unit District 158 school board, 4-year term
Bio
Town: Huntley
Age on Election Day: 56
Occupation: Speech-language pathologist
Employer: Community Unit District 300, Gilberts Elementary
Previous offices held: None
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: My role as an educator for the past 31 years has uniquely qualified me to serve on the school board. I have worked cooperatively with students, teachers, staff, administration, parents and the community. I want to build on the success of D158 while working to make much needed improvements.
Currently, 44% of students can read at grade level. All would agree that we can do better. I will work to ensure that students, teachers and parents have what they need to increase student learning so that students are competent and successful at school and at life.
I am also passionate about special education. We can make better decisions for our special education students. I will work with the new administration to put students first and make educational decisions that will help our most vulnerable learners thrive. At school board meetings, I have witnessed a disconnect between the board and constituents. I will offer monthly meetings to listen and to bring back comments to the board.
Q: What is the role of the school board in setting and monitoring curriculum?
A: The school board plays an important role in curriculum adoption and in making sure that students, teachers and staff have the materials that they need. As a board, we need to ensure that the curriculum is challenging, flexible and meets all learners where they are while helping students achieve maximum success. The school board needs to monitor student learning through the review of AimsWeb, STAR Reading and Math, CogAT, BESS, myIGDIs, ACCESS, DLM, IAR, ISA, KIDS, PSAT, and SAT. That data needs to be compared to attendance and discipline data to get a whole picture of the learning of our students.
Q: Are there curriculum issues within the district that you feel need particular attention from the board?
A: According to the Illinois Report Card, D158 students are struggling. On the Illinois Assessment of Readiness given to students in grades 3-8, 44% of students are proficient in English/Language Arts (ELA) and 39% of students are proficient in math. On the SAT, 47% of students are proficient in ELA, and 53% are proficient in math. On the DLM-AA which is the district alternate assessment, 23% of students are proficient in ELA, 23% are proficient in math, and only 6% are proficient in science. 74% of students passed the Science assessment, however, on 16% of 8th graders passed the Algebra I assessment.
There is something broken in the system and these issues need to be addressed. I will work closely with our administration in the Center for Learning and Innovation to determine the why and how we can meet learners where they are and help them achieve the most success possible. We need to ensure that students meet and exceed high expectations.
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: My role in any controversy, whether policy or curriculum is to listen to both sides of the argument and do what is best for students, families, staff, teachers and community members. The role of a school district is to educate students in reading writing, math and science. We exist to create lifelong learners who are well rounded and kind humans. Students need to meet high expectations which will allow them to be highly qualified and productive members of society. Whether they are entering the workforce or are college bound, the role of the district is to provide students with the best education possible.
My job as a school board member is not to make everyone happy or inject my personal views on a topic. It is to ensure that students, families, staff and teachers are given the tools they need to create a positive learning environment.
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 we have learned from the pandemic is that communication between the decision-makers and those being impacted by the decisions is critical throughout the process. Leadership needs to continually seek consensus from the community with special regard to what will provide the best outcome for all. As an educator, I saw firsthand the negative impact of lockdowns and masking. Students are up to two years behind both academically and socially. It will take years for them to catch back up. We need to work as a community, to ensure the best outcome.
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: As an educator, administrator, and community member, I have worked with many different groups. I have been described as a transformational leader. I have the ability to listen to the opinions of all while seeing the big picture. I am collaborative. I am eager to make changes that will support students, families, staff, teachers, and the community. I am not one that goes along to get along. I will always do what is best for my constituents regardless of what other people think of me.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?
A: As an educator for students in preschool, elementary, middle, high school and college and in my training as a principal, I have the unique ability to know what is best for students at all levels. My role as a speech pathologist has also helped in that I have also served students with unique learning needs. I have created positive relationships with families.
As a mom of two sons who are productive members of society, I saw firsthand their success and struggles as students as my husband, and I helped them navigate all aspects of their schooling.
As a community member, I know how to work with different personalities and opinions. I know how to, and I see the whole picture and not only what is best for me or what lines up with my ideals. I have worked my whole life to ensure that I leave this world better than when I entered. As a school board member, I will continue my work to ensure that all constituents feel heard.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better your district that no one is talking about yet?
A: The education of our students needs to be the number one priority. The current school board just passed a tax levy that will increase taxes by almost 5%. This money is not going for new curriculum or materials to ensure that students are performing at grade level in ELA, math, science or social studies. The money is going to be used for electric buses and solar. More money from the community should not be necessary if we more wisely spend the money we already have. Money should be spent on our focus which needs to be students and helping them meet and achieve high expectations. We need to help our students catch up so that they can learn, grow and be productive members of society. A vote for me will be a vote for our students and the community.