Stephanie O'Neill Macro: 2023 candidate for Crystal Lake High School District 155 board

Bio

Town: Lakewood

Age on Election Day: 53

Occupation: Attorney

Employer: Locke Lord LLP

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 school board because I have a vested interest in the quality of the education the district provides as I am the proud parent of a current and future student attending a school in this district. There is no one issue that motivated me to run. Rather, I have earnest desire to ensure broadly that the district is providing a 21st-century education that values individuals and academic excellence.

District 155 has a strong reputation as having good schools. I want to help ensure that the District 155 maintains this reputation by engaging in continuous evaluation and improvement of all aspects of delivering the best education possible to each student in the district.

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

A: The role of the school board is to set policy and goals for the district. With respect to curriculum, the board must approve the curriculum and ensure that it meets state legal requirements. The board should do so in consultation with the superintendent and with input from teachers/staff.

The board also should engage in ongoing oversight and evaluation of the curriculum to ensure the curriculum enables the district to meet its student achievement goals and that the curriculum meets the needs of a diverse student population to prepare them to succeed in their chosen path upon graduation.

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

A: I do not have a set agenda or specific issues that I feel need to be addressed in connection with the district's curriculum. However, I want to see the district advance academic excellence for all students based on their individual needs. This requires the district to not become complacent but to continuously evaluate its curriculum so that it prepares our students to enter today's rapidly changing world in whatever path they choose.

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 my role on the board in confronting policy or curriculum controversies would be to provide thoughtful and collaborative leadership. This requires listening to the concerns of constituents, such as parents, students, teachers, and the community in which the district is located. It also requires careful and thoughtful analysis of facts and data, including the requirements of state and federal law. Ultimately, a leader must do what they think is best after careful consideration even if the decision is unpopular.

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: I think the COVID-19 pandemic taught us that a school board needs to be flexible and willing to adjust as new information and data becomes available. Balancing students' educational needs while protecting their physical and mental health is paramount. In these situations, there likely will not be a "one size fits all" solution. Instead, the board mut be open to working together to provide creative solutions and tailoring those solutions to the needs of the students. I believe in most cases, school board members, schools, teachers and parents approach these issues with care and concern; we must give each other grace as we navigate difficult issues - always keeping students at the forefront of our decisions.

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 have served previously on my townhome association board and as a member of the founding board of directors of Sit Stay Read!, a not-for-profit organization. In both roles, I worked to address policy and governance issues facing the respective organization. Further, in my professional role as an attorney, I frequently work with other professionals in a wide variety of background and perspectives. I am often called upon to help solve difficult problems while also navigating competing interests. In these situations, I first ask a lot of questions to truly understand the needs, goals, and motivations of those involved. I want to understand all sides of an issue before jumping to conclusions or reaching flawed conclusions. This same listening and understanding, coupled with practical problem-solving skills, will serve me well as a newcomer to the board of education.

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

A: First, I care passionately about public education and ensuring that all kids get a great education in a safe, supportive, and respectful environment. Second, as an attorney, I frequently address complex issues on new subject matters. I think my training and professional experience in researching issues, analyzing data and facts, and understanding all sides of an issue will help me to address and think critically about issues that arise before the board of education. Third, I have personal experience guiding my kids through AP and honors class as well advocating on their behalf in connection with IEPs and 504 Plans. This gives me a unique perspective on a variety of issues impacting students in D155.

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

A: I would like to see the district more widely leverage virtual learning to address certain needs in the district. For example, sometimes a class is not offered because there aren't enough students in a particular school interested in the class but across the district there are enough students to fill a class. Virtual learning should not fully replace in person instruction. However, the teacher could travel to the different schools on different days to provide face-to-face instruction while allowing the kids at the other schools to participate via live stream or leverage the flex-day concept already being utilized in the district. Similarly, this same concept could be utilized for students needing interventions that require a teacher that has special training. It may not be cost-effective for each school to have such a teacher but a combination of in-person and virtual learning would enable more students to have access to the highly trained teacher to address the students' needs.