Kelly Asseff: 2023 Candidate for Elmhurst Unit District 205 School Board

Bio

Town: Elmhurst

Age on Election Day: 47

Occupation: I am a full-time parent, D205 volunteer and former professional school counselor.

Employer:

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 have always been a strong advocate for children and families, represented through my career and volunteer work. I have the education and expertise to continue to build upon the strengths of our school district. I feel strongly we need to educate and address the needs of the whole-child: academically, emotionally and socially, and support them in all aspects of their lives. Our current kindergartners will graduate high school in 2035, and my goal is to help prepare them and all D205 students to be successful and future-ready young adults.

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

A: The school board's primary role in curriculum is to support and work collaboratively with district administration to understand where there are curriculum needs and approve funding for those resources. The Illinois State Board of Education establishes the educational standards all Illinois districts are mandated to follow. The board can also consult with the Illinois Association of School Boards for guidance on legal policy recommendations, if educational laws were to change. As a trained educator, I believe the current method of implementing curriculum is appropriate and meets the best interest of our students.

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

A: I believe the D205 School Board should support curriculum resources that will positively impact achievement and proficiency levels, specifically in ELA and math for K-12 students. I agree with conducting periodic curriculum reviews, such as the recent K-5 ELA audit that revealed learning gaps and is addressing them with a new literacy curriculum. As a district, our job is to ensure our students are well prepared for college, careers and beyond.

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: The role of a board of education member is to provide informed leadership while listening to concerns and feedback from stakeholders. As an elected official, my role will be to represent the interest of the community and understand their perspective. Each situation requires board members to be thoughtful, understand the state standards and statutes that align with curriculum and collaboratively work together with each other and district administration to make the best decisions for our district as a whole and all students.

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: The COVID-19 pandemic was the first of its kind in our collective lifetime. We all learned lessons from that experience as a nation and an individual school district, and those lessons will better inform us if a similar scenario were to occur. My belief is and always has been, the best environment for students emotionally, socially and academically is in the classroom. We know students need to be in the classroom to be successful, and we now have the tools and information to have them in school safely.

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 often had to help determine policy at my job as a school counselor, as I served on the gifted and talented board and special education cooperative for our district and also worked closely with administration to make school-wide and district-wide decisions. The optimal setting to reach agreement is collaborative engagement using data and facts, listening to community feedback, discussing all options, then choosing the best course of action to implement policies that reflect best practices for leading a district.

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

A: I am the best candidate for the job as I care deeply about the students, teachers and issues in D205. My entire adult life I have worked with children and adolescents, whether through my work as a professional school counselor and leading a comprehensive school counseling program, obtaining my Master's Degree in Education, my volunteer work as a D205 PTA President and Chair of Fundraising, or creating programs addressing social skills, study skills, children suffering from grief/loss, counseling children who are victims of abuse/neglect and connecting families with community resources. I have consistently demonstrated my commitment and expertise in working with children, adolescents and families over the past 25 years. I also have 3 children in D205, giving me direct insight into each level and a vested long-term interest in its success. If elected, I am dedicated to listening to and representing the voice of the community and making the best decisions for all D205 students.

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

A: My strong belief is the District 205 BOE is in need of an educator with a mental health specialization. Although there are mental health support resources in place within D205, the district could benefit from a highly qualified professional on the board. The integration of a mental health awareness program for parents, educating on the risk factors and behaviors characteristic of a child in a mental health crisis, could greatly lower the number of children suffering, and therefore reduce the risk of anxiety, depression and the extreme examples of suicide and school shootings. When aware of the warning signs, parents, with the help of school counselors, could create actionable intervention plans to support their students and get them the help they need.