John Gawel, North Palos Dist. 117 School Board Candidate

PALOS HILLS, IL — John Gawel is running for his first term on the North Palos School Dist. 117 school board. There are seven candidates running for five open positions in this race.

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The consolidated election is April 4.

Your name: John Gawel

Age (as of election day): 52

Town/city of residence: Palos Hills

School district: North Palos School District 117

Family: I was raised in Palos Hills, and my wife Christine and I are proud to be raising our two children here as well. Our son, Jack, graduated from Conrady in 2021, and he is a sophomore at Stagg High School. Our daughter, Adeline, is currently in 8th grade at Conrady Jr. High. My wife and I are both passionate educators. We have dedicated our lives to this field because we care deeply about the opportunities that a quality education can provide. Both Christine and I enjoy supporting our children in their extracurricular activities. Our family time is often spent watching our son perform in Stagg's marching band and cheering on our daughter at her swim meets and volleyball games.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? If yes, please explain. No

Education:

Dominican University - River Forest, IL
Master of Science: Special Education
Illinois State University - Normal, IL
Master of Science: Counselor Education
Eastern Illinois University - Charleston, IL Bachelor of Science: Psychology
Brother Rice High School

Occupation: A special education teacher for 21 years.

Campaign website or Facebook or other social media: Support North Palos and Support North Palos Facebook.

Previous or current elected or appointed office: None

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.*

At this present time, the most pressing issue is to extend kindergarten services for all students. I would earnestly support the district in pursuing all feasibility aspects to making this a reality within the soonest time frame possible. Additionally, our district has been blessed with strong leadership from our superintendent Dr. Jeannie Stachowiak, and it will be the incoming board's challenge to select her successor.

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

The most critical difference between me and the other candidates is that I have over twenty years of experience in the classroom. I have witnessed how decisions made by others with the best of intentions are sometimes not pragmatic for the classroom. By virtue of my time and experience within the field of education, I am familiar with the systems and nomenclatures associated with the profession of education in general. Further, I am familiar with the ever-increasing pressures faced by all stakeholders in education, from the Board level down to the varying levels of administration and passed down to the teachers/support staff, and ultimately students and parents. We all have a responsibility and vested interest in the success of our children when it relates to their education.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district?

I am not a current board member, but I have had the experience of having two children attend NP 117 recently and as such, I am familiar with its current state of affairs. I am not necessarily dissatisfied with the current direction that the school district is heading, rather I believe it to be important that an educator be represented on the school board. Teachers are the conduit between the decision-making process and its implementation, and understanding how the impact of some decisions on the classroom level is prudent.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

I have a strong concern about how we can continue to assist students with special needs to make the educational progress they need to be productive and contributing members of our community. As a special education teacher, this has been a passion of mine, and it is my core belief that all students are capable of achieving high standards in their learning given proper support and interventions. I also would like to monitor the safety protocols of our schools to make our schools as safe as possible.

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

I am very proud of my service as a member of the Lion's Club. I served over ten years as an active member, where I served as president for four years and chaired the main fundraiser for five years. I also have dedicated many years to raising money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation which funds pediatric cancer research. I strongly believe that the efforts in helping others make for a more caring community. These experiences have provided me with opportunities to engage with many of our local business owners in building partnerships that aided in the success of these activities.

Why should voters trust you?

I am a lifelong resident of Palos Hills and as such have a vested interest in its community as a whole. I firmly believe that strong schools are critical to keeping the overall health of a community. Some may ask why should I care about my local schools if I don't have children attending these schools, and I would respond by informing them that the strength of our schools directly impacts our home values. We want to continue to interest prospective families to choose our community, at least in part because of our successful school system.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

If elected, I would be proud to have our district on the path of offering full-day kindergarten. This opportunity should be offered to all children and will make our district in line with many other surrounding communities. Additionally, I also anticipate feeling very positive about the new leadership of our district, as a newly hired superintendent will be part of this elected board's responsibilities. I also look forward to negotiating with the teachers as well as the support staff to reach agreements that meet the needs of both sides. Much of our district's successes are due to their hard work, and we are all served best to have the staff feel valued.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending, and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

In these challenging economic times of rising inflation and uncertain market trends, fiscal responsibility must be front and center. Just as we see our budgets reflect compromises because of the rising cost of living, these same hard decisions need to be evidenced by the board's decisions. It is the taxpayers' money we are entrusted with, and it should be managed with the utmost oversight. We need to get the most out of our spending decisions, just as we try to make our own dollars stretch when we go buy groceries or other essentials. Transparency in spending and accountability for how spending decisions are made is paramount in my mindset as a candidate for NP 117 school board member.

What are your thoughts on how the district has handled the COVID-19 pandemic?

As an educator from a neighboring district, I have a unique view of what has been tried and how certain measures were met with varying success. My children were students of 117 during the pandemic period, and I believe their plan of action provided an educational option to all of our community's families. From in-person hybrid to remote learning at home, NP 117's plan included options for all in the wake of uncertainty. While all situations can be evaluated for improvement, it appears that 117's plan was an effort that identified the complex needs of our children with respect to learning as well as other social/developmental needs in light of the enormity of the health concerns of the time.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some school boards saw extremely heated disagreements during public meetings. If elected, what changes, if any, need to be made to ensure meetings are run efficiently while still allowing open discussions?

The experiences that local boards face as a result of the COVID pandemic were challenging, to say the least. It demonstrated in part that we all are very passionate about our children and want to feel that their best interest is being served. All of us felt a certain level of powerlessness during that time, and we found common ground difficult to find. Respect, transparency, and opportunities to listen to each other are essential to limit fears of hidden agendas. The education of our children is a responsibility that requires all individuals within the district to be working together, and when disagreements occur, we need to show ourselves as role models that our children can observe and learn from.

How do you feel about sex education being taught in school? Should an LGBTQ component be included, and why or why not?

I believe that our children need more comprehensive exposure to the core curriculum that will ultimately make them better prepared for their upcoming studies. As such, I will scrutinize any other non-mandated curriculum which may distract from this primary focus. I believe issues relating to these topics are leading the headlines of today, but it is our leadership that will keep the focus on what is important as our children grow academically and socially. We can make decisions that respect all individuals without excluding some. Every child should be valued as though they were our own, and our decisions should reflect this level of acknowledgment and commitment.

What are your views on critical race theory and whether it should be taught in the district?

I don't believe the topic of critical race theory to be an issue for our district. We have an exceptionally diverse population in which our students can proudly represent their cultures and backgrounds. I believe in ideas that advance this concept of celebrating differences, rather than questioning or blaming others.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

Racial equity is imperative in creating a safe/judgment-free learning environment. I have witnessed many activities of the district that advance the importance of equity for all and support the district's efforts moving forward. Initiatives of this kind need to be constantly evaluated for their appropriateness and quality of outcomes. I plan on being present and involved in the many activities our district has which have to do with all students having an appreciation of each other's backgrounds.

When it comes to student achievement, what are schools within this district doing well, and what needs to be improved? How can those improvements be made?

North Palos is recognized at both the State and National level for high academic achievement. North Palos schools are designated as Illinois Exemplary schools, have received the prestigious National Blue-Ribbon award 3 times, have received the National Distinguished award 2 times, and are recognized as a Model Professional Learning Community. If elected, I will challenge the district to raise our expectations of curriculum related to technology and STEM.

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: An education is something you will have for a lifetime and something that can't be taken away.