Susan L. Saam: 2023 candidate for Township High School District 211 Board of Education
Bio
Town: Schaumburg
Age on Election Day: 51
Occupation: Multimedia specialist
Employer: Self employed
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: I am running for this office because I have observed first hand a serious disconnect between the school board, the administration and the parents in the community.
Q: What is the role of the school board in setting and monitoring curriculum?
A: The role of the school board is facilitate and monitor leadership so that the necessary resources are implemented in our schools, and provide the best student learning experience.
Q: Are there curriculum issues within the district that you feel need particular attention from the board?
A: I believe that our school district provides excellent curricular opportunities to our students. However, student readiness has been trending downward, and not merely because of the pandemic lock downs. We need to take a deeper dive in to post secondary options with regard to our growing multicultural student population and assess where job trends are leading them in future, and adjust our teaching techniques to do more than help students test well - but actually learn and internalize what they are being taught so that they can be successful after high school and in to their futures.
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: As a board member I believe it is my job to come to the table informed and ready to listen to all contributors, and be willing to engage in healthy discussion so that we can reach a solution that benefits our students by providing them with the best possible learning experience that we can.
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: We need to continue to fine tune remote, hybrid, and in person learning options, as well as provide support and training for the teachers so that we can simultaneously offer these options to all of our students district wide.
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: I believe that in order to successfully discuss policy we need a start with clear objectives, well-informed participants who come ready with ideas and questions, presentation of factual research, clear and concise goals, and hear from a diverse group of contributors including parents.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?
A: Considering we need board members who are in touch with the students, can relate to the teaching and administrative staff, and have strong long standing relationship with the community, I am the perfect candidate. I am a certified CTE instructor in the multimedia arts with experience in high school and collegiate academic settings, provide youth career counseling and mentorship to young adults, have developed strong relationships in the community lasting over 25 years, and I am an informed and involved parent of two healthy, well adjusted and successful children.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better your district that no one is talking about yet?
A: As a certified CTE multimedia instructor who monitors job trends, it appears that our country is in deficit of skilled trade workers. I believe in providing an expansion of postsecondary career exploration for our students, vocational training internships, including resume and interview preparation counseling for our students.