Allison Fosdick: 2025 candidate for Indian Prairie Unit District 204 board

Bio

Office Sought: Indian Prairie Unit District 204 board (Vote for 4)

City: Naperville

Age: 47

Occupation: Adjunct professor

Previous offices held: Member, IPSD 204 Board of Education

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

My reason for running is two-fold. First, I was raised with the belief that we have a responsibility to give back to our community and to do our part to make where we live the best it can be.

Second, my own children have gotten an incredible education and as a family, we’ve had a wonderful experience being a part of District 204.

Volunteering my time to serve on the 204 school board is a beautiful blend of giving back to my community while trying to do my part to help ensure each student and family in our district has a great education and experience.

I’ve spent much of the last three decades in volunteer leadership roles, from PTA president to HOA director, and have served for almost four years on the 204 board of ed. As a longtime community member, parent and educator, I have a multifaceted perspective and am honored to be able to represent our community.

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

The role of the school board member in regards to curriculum is pretty straightforward. The board is responsible for clarifying the district’s purpose and goals, employing the superintendent, developing and reviewing policy, monitoring district performance, and delegating to the superintendent and administration to carry out the district’s mission.

We do not set curriculum; rather, we rely on the superintendent's leadership and administration’s expertise to create and implement curriculum best suited for meeting the district's goals for our students.

Board members serve as the voice of our community for the district and ensure that the curriculum reflects the values of that community.

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

I don’t feel there are any curriculum issues that are not currently being addressed by district administration, and as such, attention from the board is not necessary at this time.

I appreciate that the district is in the process of evaluating our gifted program and curriculum to ensure fidelity across our schools and classrooms, and other regular curriculum review and improvement is ongoing by our expert and dedicated staff.

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?

When confronting policy or curriculum controversies, the role of a productive board member is to provide leadership regardless of popularity, give a voice to constituents, and to defer to state authorities to some degree.

Servant leadership is my guiding philosophy as a board member and being a servant leader calls for recognizing and honoring the responsibility of being the voice of the community even when it’s unpopular.

Given that we receive roughly 13% of our much needed funding from the state, we do have some obligation to defer to state authorities; however, I also believe in local control, and will continue to advocate for that with our state and federal legislators.

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’ve had an excellent experience working with the current board to determine and review policy given our collective commitment to putting the needs of our students and staff first.

We work to truly listen and understand concerns and ideas and this allows room for discussion and debate that’s productive rather than disruptive.

Coming to a place of agreement happens more easily as a result of this mutual respect, and makes speaking with one voice a product of confidence and continued progress. I am exceptionally proud to be a member of such a board, and feel lucky to serve with my fellow board members.

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.

I am pleased by and very proud of our district’s diversity and equity efforts, and I wholeheartedly support their growth in our district. Our community is truly rich in diversity, and the district’s commitment to honoring and celebrating that diversity is critically important to raising well-rounded learners and citizens.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I am a dedicated and empathetic leader who prioritizes our students and staff well-being, and I am committed to doing my part as a school board member to secure a bright future for us all.

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

I would love for our middle and elementary school students have the opportunity to practice civic engagement and make their voices heard at the board level as we have had so much success doing with our high school representatives on the student advisory board.

Welcoming and cultivating student voice from even our young learners would help teach self-advocacy and engagement — both vital skills as we grow involved and caring citizens.