Andrew Martin: 2025 candidate for Huntley Unit District 158 board

Bio

Office sought: Huntley Unit District 158 board (Vote for 4)

City: Huntley

Age: 39

Occupation: Firefighter/paramedic

Previous offices held: N/A

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

As a father of young children attending elementary school in Huntley School District 158 and community member, I have a vested interest in the safety, academic performance and fiscal health of the school district. It goes without saying that I am motivated by the future success of my children with the goal of creating caring, smart and resilient adults who are successful in whatever they may choose to pursue.

Education is one of the many factors in creating successful adults and as a board member I vow to keep the “All Student Always” focus at the forefront of all my decisions allowing stakeholders to have their voices and concerns heard. It is every parents right to help guide the further development of their children and I am determined make District 158 part of the successful foundation.

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

In my opinion, the school board needs to be one of the many voices at the table when it comes to setting and monitoring curriculum.

To ensure the school district’s curriculum is producing proficient students that are prepared for future endeavors, a collaborative effort that includes district stakeholders, educators, administrators and board of education members should be responsible for analyzing and adjusting curriculum.

It is of utmost importance that District 158’s curriculum is as accommodating as possible to a diverse student population with different needs and learning styles. No curriculum is perfect without consistent data analyzation, quality assurance and committee input.

I will add that District 158 is striving to engage all the mentioned groups though many different offerings including the parent teacher advisory committee, curriculum workshops, and upcoming vision & voice community engagement sessions.

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

To pinpoint an exact curriculum issue is tough because all students learn and process material differently. In my opinion finding a “one size fits all” curriculum is virtually impossible.

That being said, after attending District 158’s curriculum workshop and reviewing the state’s school report card the proficiency level of District 158 students in both literacy and math are in the low 50% range.

I understand that not all students will reach the highest academic achievement, but finding a way to raise the proficiency level of all students to ensure they are prepared to take the next steps after graduating is my primary focus. Adjusting curriculum, modes of instruction and continued quality assurance, a curriculum can be crafted to increase all student’s proficiency levels.

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?

Throughout my life and career, I have found it best to take controversy and conflict with a head-on approach. Ignoring controversy and not engaging in conversation leads to conflict escalation that can become unresolvable.

Finding common ground or goals, even with whom you disagree, is a bridge to getting around a fork in the road. District 158 policy and curriculum controversy is best handled at a local level, involving those who know our student population best.

Keeping the “All Students Always” approach set forth by District 158 should remain the focus of all parties involved during controversy, as the goal is to produce proficient graduates ready to achieve success in their future.

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.

As the current emergency medical services coordinator for my fire department, I have had the opportunity to work on many policy committees to ensure public safety and integrity is maintained in the most dangerous of working conditions.

I have found it advantageous when considering policy creation or change to hear all viewpoints, including the working group that must operate within the policy framework.

Once all viewpoints are considered and discussed by the policy group, clear expectations must be set to ensure the policy has validity, these expectations also help keep the group from getting off track and losing focus on how the policy may affect those who must abide by it.

As a school board member, involved in the policy process, I vow to consider all viewpoints of any policy and continue to monitor, review and adjust as necessary to maintain the “All Students Always” focus.

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.

District 158 should remain focused on providing the entire student population with equal opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities and improve academic skills and experiences of their choosing.

These opportunities should be offered to all regardless of any predetermined factors like those outlined in the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972.

Students who choose to participate in these opportunities will be treated fairly and provided with a safe atmosphere to gain the most from every offering.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

As a father of elementary-aged children I have a vested interest in District 158 that reaches far into the future. My career experience, which differs greatly from current board members and other candidates, has given me a unique perspective on problem-solving, crisis management, and teamwork — skills that are invaluable for a school board member.

I’ll bring those same principles to our schools — prioritizing safety, fiscal responsibility, and ensuring students receive a quality education that prepares them for success.

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

My focus for Huntley School District 158 is improved academic proficiency, which for me starts with a strong sense of security, the foundation for academic success and personal growth.

Maintaining safe, comfortable, and accommodating educational environments allows students to focus and achieve their highest academic potential.

Producing graduates, equipped with essential skills such as problem-solving, communication, literacy and creativity, will help all students take the next step whether attending college, vocational school or entering the workforce.