Courtenae Trautmann: 2023 Candidate for Elmhurst Unit District 205 School Board
Bio
Town: Elmhurst
Age on Election Day: 55
Occupation: Retired
Employer: Retired
Previous offices held: District 205 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 am running for a second term on the D205 School Board because I want to continue ensuring that our district pursues academic excellence, that the board prioritizes fiscal responsibility, and above all else, that every school is as safe as possible. In the last four years, I have worked hard to develop, communicate and implement solutions that focus on these priorities. I want to continue serving this great community by using my experience to make thoughtful, informed decisions that positively impact ALL of our students. As a parent of two D205 students, I am deeply invested in our schools and their successes. I am committed to focusing on clear communication with the community and I pledge to continue cultivating positive relationships with all stakeholders.
Q: What is the role of the school board in setting and monitoring curriculum?
A: An effective board member collaborates with the entire board, connects with members of our community, and actively participates in board committees and the hiring of a superintendent. The board empowers the superintendent to manage the district and provide leadership for all staff members and our students. A school board does not set curriculum, but it is our responsibility to ensure curriculum materials are reviewed on a timely basis and approve changes when warranted. When curriculum changes have been recommended, I have made sure to ask the tough questions as well as understand the short and long term impacts of the change for both our students and staff. It is the school board's responsibility to hold the superintendent accountable in pursuing a curriculum that sets our students up to succeed in whatever pathway they intend to pursue after they leave District 205. I will CONTINUE to ask the hard questions, challenge the norm and demand the best for all of our students.
Q: Are there curriculum issues within the district that you feel need particular attention from the board?
A: I hold true to the belief that we will provide our students an education that focuses on critical thinking-teaching HOW to think, not WHAT to think. I will continue to demand & support a rigorous & robust learning environment for all of our students that have varying values, needs, interests & goals. The board knows that not all kids learn the same way & importantly, that there are gaps from the pandemic that need to be addressed. I am proud of the work being done to address those gaps. I have a proven record of making informed, data driven decisions & holding the District accountable when gaps exist, including ensuring that our curriculum aligns with the state standards & assessments. In 2022, the current board approved a new strategic plan for D205 & I am proud that process was developed with a students first focus-in partnership with our parents, community members & educators, we developed a framework for decision-making that built upon the common values held by our community.
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 the current Chair of the Board of Education Policy committee, I have had many conversations with fellow board members and administrators that are challenging, but listening to different opinions and focusing on what serves our students best guides my decision making. I take my responsibility as a board member seriously and do not rubber stamp any of my decisions - especially those regarding policy, financial matters or curriculum monitoring. During this past year, we have tasked our District to undergo curriculum reviews of our ELA curriculum, our math curriculum and our Dual Language program. Doing what is right for all of our students is at the core of ANY decision I make. I will continue to represent this community the best way I know how, which is advocating for rigorous learning, fostering an understanding of different perspectives and nurturing respect for one another even when the conversation is difficult.
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: Navigating the pandemic was incredibly challenging and an immense responsibility, making decisions not just for my family but for the approximately 8,000 students in our district (all while being required to abide by the ever-changing state and national COVID mitigation requirements). At the time, we didn't know what we didn't know. That is no longer the case. At the core of all of my decision making is students and what is best for them. It is very clear that the most important thing we learned is that our students need to learn in person. Our children, my own two D205 kids included, need to be learning in person with their teachers, eating lunch with their peers, participating in sports, performing arts, and clubs. Whatever health challenges may arise, I will continue to advocate for what is best for our students and I continue to believe that to be safe, in-person learning. I will CONTINUE to be the voice of our students so that they know they are heard.
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 the Chair of the Board of Education Policy Committee, I have had the opportunity to work collaboratively with committee members & the district to ensure that our policies reflect what is actually happening in our buildings. It has been a priority for me to make sure that every policy in our policy manual is reviewed at least 1 time every five years. This has never been done before in our District; however, it is a project that I am passionate about. I have been on the District's Safety & Security Committee for the past 6 years. I have worked collaboratively with the city of Elmhurst, Elmhurst Police Department & Elmhurst Fire Department to develop solutions to keep our students & staff safe. This worked involved listening to all points of view, focusing on what is best for our students & staff, and being prepared to discuss all aspects of a topic. That is how I have handled every day as a Board of Education member & that's what I will continue to do for the next four years.
Q: What makes you the best candidate for the job?
A: I am an experienced & passionate leader who will continue to step up to represent our community. My priorities & focus will continue to be school safety, academic excellence & fiscal responsibility. With my 26 years of federal law enforcement experience & 5 years in NFL Security, no other candidate is more qualified to be a subject matter expert on school safety than I am. My children attended Lincoln Elementary & are currently at Bryan & York. I think it's important that I have students in our D205 buildings so I can understand first hand the student experience from start to finish in our community unit district. I am proud of what this board has accomplished; however, there is more work to be done & I am ready to continue that work for four more years. Continuity on the board will enable that work to continue uninterrupted. You can count on me to make decisions in the best interest of our children & our community as a whole.
Q: What's one good idea you have to better your district that no one is talking about yet?
A: As a current board member, I've had a voice in the decisions and progress that have been made in our district over the last four years. I've been able to put forward my ideas in real time and am proud of those that have been completed, especially the Policy review implementation and safety improvements, such as additional surveillance cameras at our buildings, enhanced crisis manuals specific to each building, the completion of the safe and secure entrances at every one of our buildings and the installation of new alert and panic alarm systems. I'm not a person looking for the latest trend or gimmick and I believe collaboration and transparency are key to being an effective board member. If there are ideas or best practices that are STUDENT FOCUSED and make sense for the students in OUR District 205 community, I welcome the opportunity to collaborate on those ideas, regardless of which corner of our community the original idea arose from.