Rose Diaz: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: ElginWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Central Community Unit D301Age: 47Family: married, 2 daughters; Mya 9 and Piper 4Occupation: Life and Empowerment CoachEducation: Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, University of IL in Chicago, 2007Civic involvement: On board of YWCA Women's Information Network, and Central Education FoundationElected offices held: Current School Board, District 301 2007 - presentSchool Board President, District 301 2009 - presentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: noCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 I believe inspiring greatness in our children should be our overall objective. Of course we still need to teach them the basics of education; reading, writing, science and math, etc, Yet as an Empowerment coach, I believe it#146;s vital to engage them by showing them how to connect their daily learning to their passions, talents and their future.Key Issue 2 I believe we need to have higher expectations of each other; children, educators, and parents. I think we need to do this as a community and with support and encouragement. As a society, I believe there's too much judgment. This causes us to treat symptoms instead of creating solutions for the real issues. I think when we empower each other, ask for cooperation and expect more without judgment, that's when we'll see real improvement in education.Key Issue 3 I think we need to simplify our plan for education and begin changing the system. As a society, we're already too overwhelmed and distracted with the details and continue to add more complex rules. By simplifying our vision, and goals and keeping them in our view at all times, we can stop wasting time complicating issues. So that in every decision, we habitually ask ""how does this serve or support our overall goal of educating kids?"". That's when we'll be more successful.Questions Answers How satisfied are you that your district is preparing students for the next stage in their lives, whether it be from elementary into high school or high school into college or full-time employment? What changes, if any, do you think need to be made?Our current administration has done an excellent job to identify areas that really needed addressing and so in general, our district is being held to higher expectations and accountability at all levels; students, staff, administration and board members. As for college and career readiness, our plan includes goals such as having all students reading at grade level by 3rd grade, having the majority of students score in the #147;exceeds#148; category on ISATs, challenging students to experienced advanced level coursework; having them experience algebra in 8th grade, offering more advanced coursework in the high school and better monitoring progress with explore and plan tests prior to ACT testing. In regards to college readiness, we do a great job in collaborating with other districts and colleges. I would like to see us partnering more with local businesses to better prepare students for full-time employment.What budget issues will the district have to confront? What measures do you support to address them? If cuts are needed, be specific about programs and expenses that should be reduced or eliminated. Do you support any tax increases for local schools?Although we#146;ve been rather conservative for years with our budget, additionally we#146;ve cut programs, classes and administrative positions and are now discussing the possibility of salary freezes. I support being fiscally responsible and to me that means sharing that burden across the district. I feel we have an obligation as a school district, as a community, and as a nation to begin thinking about us, versus me. I feel that the economy is in the state it#146;s in exactly for this reason. The result is that we all get impacted by it regardless. So, when do we finally stop complaining as parents, teachers, administration or state leaders about our own agendas and begin looking at what's best for all of us and our future? When it comes to funding, no one wants property tax increases, no one wants to cut programs and no one wants to take a pay freeze, but how does that ""me"" thinking help our kids or #147;our#148; future? Our kids ARE our future economy. So it will come down to#148; what are we ALL willing to do to support our children and each other?#148;Is experience as a teacher or support from a union valuable because it suggests educational insights or detrimental because it creates pro-teacher bias? Please clarify whether you have such experience or would accept union support.When I began on the board, I spent about 6 months as a substitute teacher in all of our schools in our district just so I could get some small insight and understanding of what teachers may experience. So I believe having a teacher background could offer valuable insight, but it just depends on the person. I think you're either a person that is objective or you're not. Being biased has more to do with your personality than the experience.As contract talks come up with various employee groups, what posture should the board take? Do you believe the district should ask for concessions, expect employee costs to stay about the same as they are now or provide increases in pay or benefits?I think we all need to do our part. Of course we value our employees; we have some great talent in our district. I believe we can appreciate our employees but also be honest about our future. When we are discussing teacher union negotiations, any substantial salary increase could result in reduction in force later, that's the reality. Classroom size would increase and newer teachers would be out of work. To me we need to share the burden and remain conservative. Once again it's about what are we willing to do for each other and our future?If your district had a superintendent or other administrator nearing retirement, would you support a substantial increase in his or her pay to help boost pension benefits? Why or why not?Our superintendent is quite youthful so hopefully we won#146;t have to worry about that anytime soon. I understand the common practice; my mother is a retired school teacher and was in administration for her last few years. I understand the system and I also understand once it is in place, it's difficult to change it. But that doesn't dismiss our obligation to do what's right, versus what's always been common practice. I would only support a substantial increase for an administrator or superintendent, not to boost pension benefits, but if I feel my they deserve it and if the budget allowed it.