Kelly Henry, District 205 Board Candidate

ELMHURST, IL — Kelly Henry is one of nine candidates for four seats on the Elmhurst School District 205 board. Here are her responses to the Patch questionnaire:

Name:

Kelly Henry

Town of residence:

Elmhurst

Age:

39

Campaign contact email:

kelly@kellyhenryd205.com

Campaign website:

kellyhenryd205.com

Family:

Husband: Christopher Henry
Cecilia (7 years old)
Charley (7 years old)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education:

University of Illinois-B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and B.A. in Spanish
Medical College of Wisconsin- M.D
Loyola University Medical Center: Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency
The Coleman Palliative Medicine Training Program
Occupation: Pediatrician/Palliative Care Physician at Loyola University Medical Center

Previous or current elected or appointed office:

None

The single most pressing issue facing the school board is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most important issue facing the school board is post-pandemic academic recovery and growth. This is a complex issue and requires a well thought out response. We should focus on academic rigor with the continued analysis of individualized student data and provide each school with the resources they require to regain missed instruction time and elevate academic growth and achievement. In addition to academic instructional rigor, we must continue to support the behavioral and emotional health of our students. Learning self-awareness, perseverance, empathy, problem solving, collaboration, and effective communication will enhance academic outcomes and will lead to lifelong, personal success. These past few years, I have personally witnessed an increased number of children requiring mental health treatment. Our schools need to further invest in mental health resources, faculty, and targeted school-based interventions to support our students to help them stay focused and thrive in the classroom.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My experience as a pediatrician, injury prevention advocate, and medical professor makes me uniquely qualified to serve on the board of education. My critical thinking skills, ability to manage complex and challenging situations, and effective communication will be essential to my work on the school board. As a medical expert, I will advocate for the health and safety of our children and faculty as this continues to be critical to improve the academic outcomes in our schools. Among the candidates, I am the only gun safety advocate passionately volunteering my time for a nonpartisan grassroots organization striving to ensure our community is safer from gun suicide, school shooting incidents, and other gun violence. In addition, as a mother of young school-aged children, I remain fully invested in our schools, community and the work of the board of education.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In my daily work, I have dealt with complex child, adult, and family medical and mental health circumstances. I am often meeting families during their most vulnerable moments. My medical role is always to provide accurate information, actively listen to their goals and values, collaborate with other medical providers, and ultimately align the appropriate level of medical support needed for each situation. Effective communication improves patient outcomes and improves the patient’s and family's autonomy, dignity, and quality of life. The work of the school board is also a collaborative process and my experience and communication skills will be essential in assessing the district’s issues and challenges, listening to others’ perspectives, and working with the administration and community. As board members, it is critical that we can work together to arrive at solutions that will support each of our student’s growth and help them achieve successful learning outcomes.

What can the school do to counteract dropping standardized test scores?

I am committed to ensuring each school has the equitable resources needed to analyze student test score data and develop an individualized plan for each student addressing needs and providing interventions when necessary. Each student in our district should experience the same excellent level of education and availability of resources no matter which district school they attend. I also support consistent curriculum across all our district schools that supports and represents all our learners. Our district has begun to make positive changes by implementation of a new ELA curriculum for our elementary schools this past year and is currently reviewing the math instruction for all grades in addition to a curriculum review of the core classes for 9-12th grades. We can continue to improve our students’ growth and achievement with ongoing analysis of individual student data, collaboration with faculty, and providing ELA and math interventions.

Do you generally support the work of the school district's administration? Why or why not?

Yes, I believe the current administration is dedicated to continuing to move our schools in a positive direction. Most district families are unaware that, prior to the current administration, there was little to no periodic review of curriculum, its effectiveness and meaningful measurement of its outcomes. This past year, the district has developed a thorough strategic plan that remains focused on improving student academicachievements and growth, learning environments, financial and operational effectiveness, and community engagement. Each of these strategic priorities has objectives, implementation plans, and targets for continued growth over the next three years. As a board member, I am committed to monitoring these goals and holding our district accountable for ensuring these targets are achieved.

Do you support the district's recent decision to raise the property tax levy by 5 percent, the maximum allowed under state law?

I value the importance of fiscal responsibility and I understand the decision to raise the property tax levy was not a decision the school board took lightly. However, we are all aware of the inflationary pressures of this past year and the rising costs we have seen in our daily lives. Our district is experiencing higher expenditures across all areas and the majority of the district’s revenue comes from local property taxes. The property tax levy is reset every year and I am confident that if inflation continues to decline and remains under control, our district’s property tax levy will reflect that adjustment in the future. Our community values investing wisely in our schools and I am committed to ensuring our district’s financial decisions continue to be fiscally responsible for our district’s overall operations and result in a high return for our students.

What is your view of critical race theory? Is it being taught in the local schools? If so, what evidence do you have of that?

Critical race theory is a college level course and is not being taught in our schools. That being said, I want our children to continue to experience a robust education in American and world histories, gaining knowledge and appreciation of other cultures and societies. Understanding historical events through the lens of different perspectives challenges our students to develop critical thinking skills. Learning about and experiencing other cultures helps students to grow in empathy, compassion, and respect for one another.

These important skills will empower our students to think critically, establish stronger personal connections, increase collaboration with others, and bring about change in their communities and the world around them.

What is your view of sex education in local schools? Should an LGBT component be included? Why or why not?
Developmentally appropriate, evidence-based, comprehensive sexual education programs should be taught in schools. These programs are important to help our students make healthy, safe, and informed choices for their bodies. Comprehensive curriculum promotes healthy relationships by advocating for body autonomy and respect for each other’s personal boundaries. These programs have been shown to improve abstinence and decrease risky behaviors leading to a reduction teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. The curriculum should be welcoming, inclusive and representative of all our students. The goal of these school programs is to provide an adjunct to the teaching students are receiving at home from their families. However, parents are given the option to opt out if they do not want their child to participate in the program.

Will you take questions from the media if you are elected?

Yes

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice I have received is to listen more and talk less. In my professional experience, being an attentive listener is one of the most important attributes of an excellent physician. Understanding others’ perspectives and values as well as demonstrating compassion and empathy, ensures my patients receive the support they need to improve their health outcomes and quality of life. Likewise, empathetic listening is a valuable tool for a member of the board of education. I will collaborate with other members of the board, the community, faculty, and administration to enhance our student outcomes and experiences.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Every day I advocate for quality high value care, effective communication, and patient autonomy. Outside of work, I foster my professional growth with community outreach and advocacy on gun violence prevention and gun safety education to keep our children safe. On the board of education, I will continue to advocate for our children daily. The role of the board should always be to guide and monitor the education of our children and provide them with the tools they need for academic and life-long success. I believe that our job as board members is to always serve the whole child, the whole student. Our students’ physical and mental well-being will always be at the forefront of my mind when making decisions and setting policy for the D205 school district.