Andrew Fekete: 2025 candidate for Huntley Unit District 158 board (2-year term)

Bio

Office Sought: Huntley Unit District 158 board (2-year term)

City: Algonquin

Age: 44

Occupation: Director for innovation and technology

Previous offices held: N/A

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

As both an educator with over 20 years of experience and a parent of two Huntley 158 students, I bring a unique perspective to the school board. My professional background in educational leadership combined with my deep roots in this community since 1990 drives my commitment to ensuring every student receives an excellent education.

I’m running because I believe in Huntley 158’s potential to be a leader in innovative, student-centered education. My experience has shown me what makes schools successful: strong academic foundations, support for diverse learning needs, and active community engagement.

My focus will be on maintaining academic excellence while ensuring our resources are used effectively to benefit all students. I believe in focusing on what matters: providing every student with the tools they need to succeed on their chosen path.

As your board member, I will advocate for transparent decision-making while supporting programs that prepare our students for future success.

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

The school board plays a vital oversight role in curriculum by ensuring it meets our community’s standards and educational goals. We work with the superintendent and administrators to review curriculum choices, making sure they align with state standards while serving our students’ diverse needs.

When community members have questions about curriculum, the board serves as their voice. We hold district leadership accountable for demonstrating that their curriculum choices maintain high academic standards and support student success.

Our role is to ensure our educational environment encourages critical thinking and independent thought. We must create spaces where students learn how to think, not what to think, through meaningful experiences that develop their analytical and problem-solving skills.

The board’s responsibility is to balance community input, educational standards, and student needs when making curriculum decisions.

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

Today’s students face a unique challenge: they have unlimited access to information, but need skills to evaluate and use it effectively. As a district, we must ensure our curriculum develops critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy skills that prepare students for an evolving future.

I believe we need to focus on three key areas: First, teaching students how to analyze information and distinguish fact from misinformation. Second, developing essential skills like collaboration, communication, and adaptability that employers value. Third, supporting students’ mental health and well-being as they navigate today’s complex world.

Our curriculum should balance traditional academic foundations with modern skills that prepare students to be well-rounded, resilient members of society. As technology advances, we must regularly evaluate our curriculum to ensure it remains relevant for both college and career paths.

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?

As a board member, my role is to represent our entire community, not advance personal or partisan agendas. Our schools aren’t red or blue like political maps — they're a blend of all colors and viewpoints. Every student, parent, and community member deserves to be heard and respected.

My approach is to actively listen to all perspectives, even those I may disagree with, while making decisions that serve our students’ best interests. Leadership sometimes requires making difficult choices, but these decisions must always align with our district's mission and vision of supporting all students.

I commit to being a thoughtful decision-maker who considers community input, follows state guidelines, and focuses on educational excellence rather than political ideology. Our students’ success must always be the driving force behind our policies and curriculum choices. The board’s responsibility is to make informed decisions that benefit our entire school community.

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.

I previously served as a member of a select working group that met with Digital Promise — funded by the National Science Foundation — to advise on policy related to innovation and instructional technology in today’s classroom.

I currently serve on CoSN’s Driving K-12 Innovation Committee and the EdTech Innovation Committee, collaborating with a diverse group of educational leaders to shape national best practices in EdTech.

Additionally, I am on the governing board for the Illinois Digital Educators Alliance, which organizes a conference attended by teachers and educators from across the country, including Huntley School District 158.

In each of these roles, we bring together people with varied backgrounds and opinions, listen to all viewpoints, and work toward consensus. We align decisions with each organization’s mission and vision, striving to meet shared values and goals. My approach to the Huntley school board would be the same.

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

As a father of two Huntley 158 students and an educator, I know firsthand that every child's success story looks different.

As our community grows more diverse, what matters is that each student who walks through our school doors feels valued, supported, and capable of achieving their dreams. It’s about creating school communities where students lift each other up and celebrate what makes each person unique. Our district’s commitment to “All Students Always” has led to meaningful progress in supporting all learners, but I see opportunities to do more.

When students feel truly welcomed and respected, they're more likely to participate in class, join activities, and push themselves. Yes, I support continuing diversity and equity programs that help every student reach their full potential, because that’s what builds a stronger community for all of us. By working together — educators, families, and community members — we can ensure every Huntley 158 student has the opportunity to shine.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I am a parent of two kids in Huntley 158, and nothing is more important to me than our school system. It is why my wife and I choose to live in this community.

Over the past 21 years, I’ve immersed myself in public education: nine years as a classroom teacher, then a decade as an Instructional Technology Specialist, and now as Director for Innovation and Technology. I earned two master’s degrees, focusing on strong leadership in education. I am accredited as a Certified Education Technology Leader by CoSN in recognition of my proficiency in leadership and vision, strategic planning, ethics and policies, and business management. These are all attributes of a strong and successful board member.

I’ve lived here for over three decades, volunteering and staying engaged with our community. I’ve gained a deep understanding of our local values. I have the background and am prepared to represent our community on the Huntley School District 158 board.

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

I’m proud of our schools and proud to be part of the Huntley 158 community. As the world evolves, our school system must grow with it to meet future challenges.

Huntley High School has earned acclaim for revolutionizing the high school experience, but now we must extend that innovation to our elementary and middle schools. I propose developing a comprehensive K-8 media literacy program that equips students with critical thinking skills for today's digital world. This program would teach students how to evaluate information sources, recognize misinformation, and become informed digital citizens.

By integrating advanced digital tools and proven strategies early in their education, we can help students develop essential skills they'll need throughout their lives.

I've seen how the right tools and curriculum can transform learning. I want to partner with our superintendent and administrators to create innovative K-8 learning environments that prepare all students for future success.