Jonathan Feryance: 2025 candidate for Wauconda Unit District 118 board

Bio

Office sought: Wauconda Unit District 118 board (Vote for 4)

City: Wauconda

Age: 54

Occupation: Project manager senior — technology

Previous offices held: Wauconda Unit District 118 board member since 2010

Why are you running for this office? Is there a particular issue that motivates you?

I love my community, which motivates me to donate my time and expertise to the development of our children's education. The opportunities I have as a school board member provides another opportunity for me to help and support our children.

When I was Pack 290 Cubmaster, my focus was to bring a quality scouting program not only to the scouts who were in the program but also to the families of those scouts. When I was on the Wauconda PTO board of the middle school, the same was true, working to build a program that supported not only the experience of the youth attending the school but also the families and teachers.

As a Wauconda Lions Club leader, I look for ways the club can help support families in the community by bringing together different groups to work together for the common goal of building our community.

I am running for school board to continue working on bringing together our community. I am motivated by the need to see our communities continue to come together for our students and their families. We build not only schools that are safe but communities that are safe.

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

The role of any school board member is to approve textbooks that comply with the district curriculum plan, but it is more than that. The role of each board member is to work collectively with the board to set the expectation that any district curriculum is educationally balanced, that it takes into account the different interest levels and skills each of our children bring into the classroom.

Curriculum should not only provide the basics in developing skills needed as adults, but also provide opportunities for our children to be challenged at multiple levels of interest.

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

Over the past several years, Wauconda school board has given guidance for the district to develop and deliver curriculum that provides the academic rigor our children need for their adult futures in the technologically changing world we as adults have developed.

We have seen great strides to implement text book content with online curriculum offerings. Our district has implemented additional technology tools that have helped students to be ready for the workforce in whatever capacity they enter.

As we transition to more technology-based curriculum tools, there is evidence that reading from a book, or writing on paper has tremendous advantages in learning. I feel the school board should not overlook the advantages non-technology tools such as hard cover books, or hand written exercise have for learning.

Non-technology based skill building should always be part of our curriculum in addition to current technology advances.

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?

My view as a school board member is to verify a policy or curriculum item is equitable and provides a balanced quality education our children should depend on. There can be situations where laws are passed or community voices ask for policy’s or changes to curriculum that cause controversies.

I always start by understanding concerns with policy or curriculum. I build my understanding by getting feedback from concerned sources. I work to understand the arguments and work with board members to determine the best policy or curriculum for our district.

Describe your experience working in a group setting to determine policy. What is your style in such a setting to reach an agreement and manage school district policy? Explain how you think that will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions for your school board.

Having been a school board member since 2010, I have had several experiences working with school boards to review, determine, and implement the oversight of several policies.

A Wauconda High School soccer coach told me the best players are the ones who participate in more than one sport. The same has held true for me regarding leadership positions. My time in leadership roles such as Scouts, PTO, Lions Club, Bulldog Nation Foundation as well as other experiences have built my skills and served me well as a school board member.

There have been several board meetings where the board has had to work to reach agreements over difficult matters. I feel my experience has helped produce effective actions and decisions for the school district.

My efforts to listen to the other board members and the community serves me well gaining a good understanding of differing sides to a topic.

My calm execution in presenting my views helps effectively build on the board's understanding on a topic. My willingness to work with others to come to an equitable consensus helps build a strong board.

What is your assessment of the school district's diversity and equity efforts? Do you support the continuation or enhancement of such programs, or would you rather see them diminished? Please explain your reasoning.

From Island Lake, Volo, Lake Barrington to Wauconda, our community is composed of several diverse groups and families. Our schools do a great job at recognizing the diverse groups in our community. Our children benefit when they learn and understand each other’s backgrounds, history, and family traditions.

I will always support and defend district programs that promote a balanced representation of our community. Diversity and equity should always teach our children to share and listen to each other, learn each other’s backgrounds, heritage, and experiences.

The willingness of our children to learn from each other costs nothing to our district but is priceless for our children's future.

In many cases, our children naturally share their diverse backgrounds, all we need to do as a district is give them a safe place to share with each other.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I view the role of a school board member not to be a job, or a role to help my own aspirations, but as an honor and a privilege.

As an effective leader, I combine my deep understanding of history with a professional approach that fosters collaboration among board members to find equitable solutions that align with our community’s values.

I ask thoughtful, probing questions to ensure that board policies are implemented with precision and quality. I strive to consider all perspectives before presenting arguments and remain open to adjusting my viewpoint based on strong, equitable reasoning from others.

The continued growth in test scores and athletic achievements reflects the leadership I’ve contributed, and I am committed to furthering that success.

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

There are unrecognized resources that help our student body. Alumni and businesses have been known to provide such unrecognized resources such as involvement for our students through volunteer opportunities and support that fosters an improved school culture.

I would like to see a district-wide program put into place that formally coordinates volunteer opportunities across District 118’s activities and ensure as a district we recognize such efforts.

I, along with fellow board member Vincent Torossy, are spearheading in leading such efforts with our work on the Wauconda Bulldog Nation Foundation. We are working to bring together businesses, along with reaching out and involving alumni across our community — trying to better coordinate volunteering opportunities and positive partnerships for our students, alumni, and business community network.

I am confident that it will only grow from the building blocks we've begun to lay. Although we are in the early phases of this concept, I am optimistic about our future as a district with relation to this.