Raymond Doerner: 2025 candidate for Mount Prospect Elementary District 57 board

Bio

Office sought: Mount Prospect Elementary District 57 board (Vote for 4)

City: Mt. Prospect

Age: 48

Occupation: Superintendent of Recreation

Previous offices held: N/A

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

Our family moved to Mt. Prospect from the northwest side of Chicago in early 2020 and in our five years we have met so many wonderful people and families, become involved in the community, and our experience with the caring and dedicated teachers, staff and administrators at each of the District 57 schools has been great.

The decision to run for the District 57 school board is primarily driven by a desire to give back to the community that has been so welcoming and kind to my family.

I believe that serving on the school board is a way to contribute to the future success of all students and the community, and with the passing of the referendum to expand Westbrook School and build a new Lincoln Middle School, I believe the next school board has a unique opportunity to impact future generations of District 57 students and families.

Additionally, I am running for the District 57 school board to continue the work of the board and district to be an advocate for all students and ensure that everyone receives a high-quality education and has access to the resources they need to succeed and becoming 21st-century learners.

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

The school board plays a crucial role in setting and monitoring the curriculum, in collaboration with the district staff, to ensure it aligns with state standards, district goals, and community expectations.

The school board serves as a bridge between the community and the district, considering public input on curriculum decisions. While boards set the broad framework, staff should be empowered and allowed to develop and implement the details of curriculum and instruction.

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

I believe that staff and board members from all school districts, including District 57, will need to grapple with the curriculum issue of how you create 21st-century learners and prepare students for a world and jobs that don't exist now.

Technology is changing at such a rapid rate that our school district will need to be routinely evaluating and adjusting curriculum to ensure the students are graduating with the necessary knowledge and abilities for the future, while also developing the skills our community prioritized in the “Portrait of a Graduate.”

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 view the role of the school board in confronting policy or curriculum controversies to be taking a thoughtful and informed approach to try and identify a resolution that will have the best educational outcome for the students, incorporate viewpoints and perspectives from all sides of the issue, and ensure it is grounded in factual data from subject matter experts.

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.

In my career working in public recreation, I have had many experiences working in a group setting to develop or update policies for the organization.

In my previous experiences, I have filled different roles in the group from being the subject matter expert and providing my perspective, to gathering and providing information from other experts, to being a sounding board for other group members, or leading the development of a policy and ensuring that we have the correct people in the group who can bring a variety of backgrounds or knowledge.

My approach to try and reach agreement and manage school district policy would be collaborative, data-driven, and community-centered. I believe this approach has been proven to produce effective decisions in any group setting, including school boards, because it prioritizes listening to different perspectives, using fact-based decision making, building consensus around share goals, and utilizing transparent communication.

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.

Upon review of the 2023-24 Illinois Report Card for District 57, I believe the district is doing a sufficient job in hiring teachers that are representative of the student body. However, like many other priorities for the district, I believe the ability to hire the highest quality teachers, support staff, and administrators that adequately represent the student body and community will be a constant goal for the district, and a significant one given the challenge of teacher shortages.

For students, the Illinois Report Card for District 57 indicates that while there continue to be gaps in the district’s equity journey continuum and those should continue to be reviewed and addressed by the district, the positive indicator is that those gaps have been decreasing over the last few years.

For diversity and inclusion, the district performs well to have inclusive policies and leadership, provide meaningful special education and individualized support, and works to have the curriculum reflect diverse cultures, I support the continued work to make sure that families from diverse backgrounds are feeling welcomed and involved in the decision-making process.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

My work in public recreation, which at times is closely related to and other times overlaps with public education, provides me with a unique perspective that I can bring to the school board.

I have a variety of work experiences that I can bring to the school board including working with both union and nonunion staff simultaneously, facility management, strategic and master planning, fiscal management, and the unique challenges working within a public institution.

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

One idea to improve the district would be having local experts co-teach lessons with the classroom teacher, bringing practical knowledge and experience into the classroom.