Kimberly Rich: 2025 candidate for St. Charles Unit District 303 board

Bio

Office sought: St. Charles Unit District 303 board (Vote for 4)

City: St. Charles

Age: 46

Occupation: End of life companion/grief partner and educator

Previous offices held: School board in Phoenix, Arizona

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

I am running for school board because I want to give back to a school system that has been home to my family for 40 years. I grew up in St. Charles attending Munhall, Thompson, and St. Charles High School. My mother’s career was spent as a second grade teacher at Wasco Elementary School. I have served as a teacher in District 303 working at Davis, Richmond and Norton Creek, and as a girls cross country and track coach at St. Charles East. My children also attend District 303 schools. I am deeply proud of this district and want to be a part of the team that builds District 303 up to be the envy of public and private school systems across the state of Illinois.

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

School board members establish policies that describe what the district is expected to accomplish in the area of curriculum. Although school board members will look to the superintendent and district leadership team for guidance, school board members must know enough about the standards, the curriculum being used, how students in the district are performing in relation to the standards, and ask questions to seek understanding when needed.

It is also the role of the school board to analyze data to ensure that policies are being implemented and to determine whether or not they are successful.

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

I believe that the district would benefit from the board having conversations about how to better support scaffolding within the curriculum. We need a plan in place to help students to be able to access the information they need, especially in math and ELA. The range of abilities within each classroom is expansive and teachers need resources to help them in planning and teaching to all abilities.

In addition to scaffolding within the core curriculum I believe that we need to explore high quality social and emotional curriculum. Childhood anxiety is on the rise and having an impact on learning.

We need to provide classroom teachers with the training and materials to help students learn how to problem solve, identify and communicate their feelings, self-regulate, and make responsible decisions on their own.

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?

I think that serving on the school board and having policy discussions is going to naturally be met with some difficult conversations. When having these conversations it is important to be a good listener, one who is willing to hear and consider all sides.

It is also important to stay calm, focused, and solution oriented. I would approach these conversations with a mindset of collaboration, aiming to brainstorm solutions together, hopefully solutions that will serve as a comfortable resolution for both sides (should people disagree).

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 have previous experience working as a member of a school board and really enjoy working in a group setting. I believe that in working together we become better informed. Each individual should be invited to come to the table with their unique expertise, experience, and perspective, then, when combined, the board as a whole is able to make informed decisions.

I believe that a quality that I have that will contribute to success in producing effective actions and decisions will be my ability to calmly and clearly communicate. I enjoy talking to others and learning about them and their passions, and sharing my knowledge, experience, and education with them. It is then, through this combined knowledge, that we will be able to recognize the best path forward.

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 believe that the district is doing a good job with diversity and equity efforts. The focus of “We Belong” in District 303 aligns with their stated core values of belonging, perseverance, and achievement.

The district website states that “We honor the dignity of each person by accepting, validating, and appreciating them, and by treating every individual fairly” and I see work being done to ensure that these are not simply statements, but the known expectations of district leadership and staff members.

I do support the continuation of such programs. The state of Illinois’ compulsory education laws mandate that children between the ages of 7 and 16 must attend school. If attendance is mandatory I believe that all students have the right to feel safe and comfortable while at school (also research shows that students learn best when they feel safe and comfortable).

In order to feel safe and comfortable you must feel that you are a welcome member of the organization.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

As a 24-year veteran teacher and school administrator from the east side of St. Charles, I would come to the board with a deep understanding of how the education system works. I have advanced degrees in education and/or leadership, including my doctoral degree in organizational leadership.

I am a dedicated community leader who understands the unique challenges that our schools face and I am deeply committed to District 303 and want only to be a part of the team that will make this school district shine bright.

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

I don’t know that I have an idea that no one is talking about yet, I believe that our current board and school administration are doing a good job of having conversations about the topics that are most pressing. That said, I would like to further our conversations on school safety.

I still see areas of weakness, things that we would deeply regret not addressing should anything unspeakable happen. It is a difficult conversation as many solutions would require funding, but a topic that we need to continue engaging with.