McHenry County School District 47 (here’s a map) covers more than 1100 students in nine elementary schools, three middle schools and the Wehde early childhood center, including the communities of Crystal Lake, Lake In The Hills, Lakewood, and Ridgefield. The District 47 school board has four seats up for election on April 4, 2023. Fortunately, we’ve got some great candidates: Dr. Lisa Messinger, PaTrice Dewey, Laura Stanton, and Jonathan Norquist.
Dr. Lisa Messinger:
Email: lisamessingerford47@gmail.com
Website: lisamessingerforschoolboard.com
Facebook
Campaign contributions to Citizens for Lisa Messinger
Lisa writes: “Two years ago I started attending school board meetings. As a Pediatrician as well as a parent of a child in the district, I took a strong interest in how our schools were navigating the pandemic. I watched and advocated for our kids as the focus went from masking and covid mitigation, to CRT and finally anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. These attacks on our public school system have attempted to undermine our trust in our schools, teachers and administrators. What I have learned in speaking with parents over the past several months: the majority of parents want their children to attend schools that celebrate diversity and support inclusion.
“My husband and I moved to Crystal Lake 8 years ago with our son. We chose this community because of its excellent school system and we have not been disappointed. As a Pediatrician practicing in Crystal Lake for the past 7 years, I care deeply about the well being of our community. I would like very much to give back by serving on the school board. Together we will create a bright future for all our kids!”
PaTrice Dewey
Email: patrice@deweyvote.com
Website: www.deweyvote.com
Campaign contributions to DeweyVote
Facebook
PaTrice writes: “I’m a Crystal Lake resident for 30 years, graduate of D47 & D155 schools, and a Mom to two children, one in D47, one in private school. I’ve experienced what a fantastic education our local school system can provide. I went to college and the first year was shockingly easy because I had a sound foundational education from my years in Crystal Lake.
“Currently, I hear the complaints about the taxes, the lack of substitute teachers, and the rumblings of people who want to start banning books in our schools. I hear about new housing developments being planned near schools that are already full.
“I’ve decided to run for school board to be a part of facilitating equitable solutions and shifting community perspectives on these issues. I am learning more about the School Board daily and look forward to keeping our community’s majority voice of kindness and equality in this race.
“I believe kindness should continue to be taught and encouraged in our schools.
“I believe diversity, equity, and inclusion should be firmly integrated into the curriculum because to live in the broader world, children with these skills ingrained will be the new leaders. Teaching children now to include everyone means that no one will be left behind as the world changes.
“I want D47 voters to continue this choice in our schools. I want D47 voters to feel like their children are getting the best education with the best social learning we can provide.”
Laura Stanton
Email llwstanton64@edgogol
Campaign contributions to Friends of Laura Stanton
Facebook
I grew up in Crystal Lake and am a product of District 47, K-8. I loved growing up in Crystal Lake and have the fondest memories of my schooling. I graduated from NIU with a Bachelor’s of English and a certification to teach at the secondary level. I later got my Master’s in Reading. I have been teaching in Lake County for the past 12 years. I also had an opportunity, for about 5 years, to be an adjunct instructor at MCC for Reading.
My husband also grew up in Crystal Lake and also went into education. He is in his 14th year of service in education and is currently on the administration side of things.
We have four daughters who are all in the district currently.
To say I am invested in this district is an understatement. I see serving as a board member as a way to give back to my community while also providing my area of expertise to a board made up of other community members. My areas of expertise include the following: teaching and learning, intervention programs, literacy (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), aligning curriculum to standards, instructional coaching, professional development, student growth and achievement, Social Emotional Learning, differentiation, assessment and data. There is probably more that I can bring to the table, but that is it for now.
As a teacher, I am aware of the changing climate of teaching and education. There are many schools in our area that have unfilled positions. My goal is to participate on this board to help Crystal Lake retain teachers.
As a mom of 4, I am aware of the varying needs of kiddos, especially after being remote/hybrid/in and out of school. My second goal is to help our kiddos reach their personal excellence and to get caught up with any ground that was lost.
I understand that being a board member is complex, but by being a teacher and being someone who has been a part of this community my whole life, I have so much to offer. I look forward to having the opportunity to bring my areas of expertise to the table, but I also look forward to learning more about all the other aspects for district 47.
Jonathan Norquist
Jonathan writes: “My vision for the school district is to prepare students for the inevitable high tech future that awaits them. As a UX (user experience) Engineer that has built and worked directly with much of the current and upcoming technology, I believe our district can prepare students to navigate tech in a healthy way that enables them to treat technology as a tool, not a crutch. I believe in a back-to-basics approach for our curriculum that prioritizes literacy by returning to the science of reading, because reading comprehension is the most important precondition for a student’s development.
“I’m Jonny Norquist, and as a citizen and a father I’m concerned with what the future will look like for my child. I am a technology insider, a third generation programmer, and I have worked with state of the art technology across multiple industries; including the design and development of software, websites, AI & machine learning tools, and educational technology (EdTech). I am committed to using my professional insight to help inform curriculum decisions, negotiate technology contracts, and shape the role of technology in the classroom so that students are equipped to succeed in the high tech future.
“I am committed to ensuring that technology is used responsibly and ethically in the classroom. I know firsthand the risks that come with relying too heavily on technology, and I’m determined to find ways to balance the benefits with the potential downsides. I am particularly concerned about the issue of privacy, and I’m committed to working with schools to put in place safeguards to protect student data.”
District 155 School Board:
Stephanie O’Neill Macro
Website: www.friendsofmacro.com
Email: smacro@friendsofmacro.com
Facebook: Friends of Stephanie Macro
Stephanie writes: “As a parent of a current and a future D155 student, I have a vested interest in ensuring that D155 schools provide an excellent education to all students in a safe, respectful, and supportive environment. Like many, we moved to the Crystal Lake area, in part, due to the fact that the area schools had a good reputation. I hope to help D155 build upon what it does well, continue to evaluate where it can do better, and seek change where necessary to provide a 21st century education.
“I firmly believe every single kid has strengths AND challenges. Strengths may be academic, social, creative, or athletics. Challenges may come from learning or other disabilities, belonging to an underrepresented group, mental health conditions, or problems at home (death or illness of a family member, strained relationships with family members, etc.). I believe our goal as individuals and as a district should be to help students build and capitalize on their strengths and support them in their challenges, whatever they may be. D155 should not be solely responsible for this endeavor; it requires the dedicated involvement of families and the community. But, D155 must think holistically about these issues because if a student does not feel safe, respected, and supported, the student will not be able to be learn to their fullest potential.
“I want to see D155 build on its good reputation and continue to advance academic excellence for all students based on their needs. In order to prepare students for the world they will enter after graduation, D155 must ensure that it is providing a 21st century education. This requires continuous evaluation to determine what needs to be done new or differently based on research, science and best practices relating to education. Further, we must invest in our curriculum to ensure we are providing a balanced presentation of facts, theories, opinions and skills, while training students to analyze and think critically about that information. We also must invest in training and development for our teachers, counselors, and staff so they are well positioned to help students develop their strengths, support and address their challenges, and inspire and empower their passions. As the Crystal Lake, Prairie Grove, Cary and Fox River Grove area continues to grow and evolve, we must ensure that D155 does not become complacent but pushes to provide a 21st century education that values individuals and academic excellence.”
McHenry County College Trustees:
Suzanne Hoban
Website: Citizens for Suzanne Hoban
Facebook: Citizens for Suzanne Hoban
Suzanne writes: “I believe a community college should be a hub of lifelong learning in the community—a campus where students can pursue associate degrees and professional or technical certificates; a resource local businesses can tap to enhance employee skills, and a place accessible to any community member who wants to learn something new—from painting to technology to beekeeping. As a local leader, and the daughter of a community college teacher, I value the contributions that the community college brings to those it serves. I believe MCC plays an important role in making our community a vibrant, thriving and engaging place to live.
“I am a current McHenry County College Trustee, the Founder and Executive Director of the Family Health Partnership Clinic, and a member of the Leadership Greater McHenry County Board and the McHenry County Senior Services Grant Commission, and a former board member of the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and the Community Foundation for McHenry County Board. And I’m a proud product of the Illinois public university system, with a BA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and an MPH (Masters in Public Health) from the University of Illinois Chicago.”