February 14, 2025 • 41 mins
Deadra Stokes and her husband, Paul, have three daughters and live in Frankfort. Along with being a member of the Lincolnway 210 High School Board, she is an attorney, the Chief Commissioner of The Police and Fire Board for the Village of Frankfort and more!
Deadra doesn't have a challenger this election but she was still nice enough to sit down with me. Get to know her and what she brings to our High School District.
Be sure to watch all of our candidate interviews and keep up to date on the upcoming election! Our website has a page dedicated to all things Mokena elections.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Alright Deidre, thank you very much for sitting down
and talking with me.
You are a current 210 schoolboard member and running again
for re election, so thank youfor talking to me tonight and
just start telling me a littlebit about yourself.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Okay, so well, you know my name is Deidre Stokes
and so I've been in thecommunity since I lived in
Frankfort since 2005.
Both of my youngest daughtersmatriculated through all the
school systems, started atChelsea.
They was at Chelsea, was atHickory Creek and high school as
(00:57):
well, Grand Prairie.
So we've been here since thattime.
I'm currently in an attorney,been an attorney practicing for
28 years, Um, and I'm currentlya professor at Chicago Kent
College of Law and I am over theclinical, the clinic for estate
(01:18):
planning, probate and realestate transactions.
So in 2023, I ported over myentire practice to the law
school and law students actuallyregister for my course and
assist me with my cases.
So our clinic is not a freeclinic.
It is a clinic where we bringin, you know, we determine what
cases we want to take, and thoseare cases that the students get
(01:40):
to actually work on those withme.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
So and what's your focus?
Your focus in law?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
It's estate planning, which is like wills, trust and
estate Probate cases, which isin the probate division.
You're usually eitherrepresenting someone who is
petitioning the court for aminor's estate or for a disabled
adult or for someone that haspassed away decedent's estate.
So in probate and real estateis basically real estate
(02:06):
transactional work.
So buying, selling of realestate, as well as some small
real estate litigation as well.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Okay, and what do you do for fun?
Any hobbies?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yes, I love to read, I like to work out as well, and
I love to travel.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
OK, any favorite travel destinations.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
No, I have some that that are coming up, so I'm
excited about going on a trip toPortugal.
So you know, I'm at this pointwhere close to being an empty
nester, because even though thelast one is still in college,
you know she's still.
(02:52):
She's not in the house, butshe's definitely on the house
budget.
So I don't know what the emptynesting really means.
It means they're not livingthere every night, but, yes, the
slow roll into empty nesting.
It is absolutely.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Okay, all right.
And are you besides schoolboard?
Are you involved at all in thecommunity or do anything else?
Speaker 2 (03:07):
So I'm currently one of the police commissioners for
Frankfurt, for the FrankfurtPolice Commission, and currently
I've been appointed as one ofthe chief commissioners.
Because we lost two of ourcommissioners.
They relocated to other areas.
I hate to know that, but wehave two great new additions
that are joining the policecommission, which is the former
(03:30):
Jim Holland, the mayor ofFrankfort, and also who's
joining is Carrie Landau, whowas a former FBI agent.
So the police commission isreally great.
We take pride in hiring andmaintaining and getting a great
police force.
(03:50):
So that's one of the things thatI do as far as community
service.
Some other things that I do isthat I'm an administrative
hearing officer as well, over inthe village of Mattson, and I
only do that once a month, everyother month and through my
sorority, currently I do quite abit of community service as
well.
(04:10):
So I'm busy.
I'm busy well-rounded.
Make sure that we're all herefor a purpose.
If it was just for us to takeup space, I don't think I would
be here.
So I think you, while you'reable to walk and talk and have
the ability to use your mind andyour intellect, you know, try
(04:32):
to make this world a betterplace for somebody else.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Very good, and how long have you been a school
board member?
Speaker 2 (04:39):
So I've been a school .
I was appointed the first year,so this will be my going into
my.
This is the end of my fifthyear, my first year that I was.
I was appointed.
The individual that I was, theappointment that I was.
I interviewed because there wasa vacancy on the board and at
(04:59):
the time it was right after anelection, and it's my
understanding that the vacancythat I filled, that individual
ended up getting a job promotionin a very demanding job, and so
they elected to step down andso they posted that there was a
vacancy and I applied and therewere several candidates and went
in and interviewed and so theboard appointed me, they voted
(05:23):
me on, and after the first year,when you fill a vacancy, you
then are required to run.
So I ran for a four-year term,actually along with the current
board members that I'm runningwith currently as well, and we
were successful during thatparticular race.
So this is the end of my fifthyear and you know I like being
(05:44):
on the board.
We have a very.
We have a lot of great synergy,we're very respectful.
We get a lot of things donetogether collectively, even if
we have difference of opinions.
We what I like about the energyand the commitment of the
different board members is thatwe know how to work together
(06:06):
well in order to get things done, and I really like this space.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
How do you feel your professional role as an attorney
helps you in your role as aschool board member?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
That's a good question.
One of the things that Inormally will tell people is
something a friend of mine saidyears ago when we were studying
for the bar.
She said I think everybodyshould go to law school, but
maybe everybody shouldn'tpractice.
I think going to law schoolallows you to identify and
identify issues differently,because you know that there was
(06:40):
a foundation and a theory behindthat particular rule and I
think that's what, that's howyou're groomed and that's what
you, that's what you're able toappreciate, you know as an
attorney.
So I think in the school, as aschool board, it allows me to to
realize that rules are in placenot because, not just because
(07:02):
they were done in a vacuum, arein place not just because they
were done in a vacuum.
There was a reason that thisrule was put in place and it has
some type of foundation as itrelates to that.
So I'm able to identify thosethings.
I think I wouldn't say quicker,but I guess, after being an
attorney for 28 years andutilizing those skills, it gives
me, I think, a little bit of anadvantage to actually
(07:26):
understand some of the rules.
I currently sit on the District210 Advisory, which is a
combination of teachers,administrators, parents,
students and I'm the board repon that one, and so what's
really great is that it allowsyou to see things from a
(07:47):
different lens and to know thatwhy something is put in place,
without maybe someone having toexplain it to you, because you
understand the law and know howthe law actually operates.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Well, because the law and rules and legislations that
are written play a huge rolereally in how the schools are
run Correct.
What do you see as the biggestchallenges, direct challenges
ahead for the school district?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Oh gosh that.
The integration of technology,because right now, with
technology there, we have AI,and one of the things is that
trying to identify, you know, isthis someone's work or is this
a student's work and so beingable to stay on top of that and
(08:49):
technology is advancing so fastand that a teacher has to also
advance as fast as thetechnology advances, it is.
It's very tough, and so, like,for instance, in my school right
now, we're making a change forall of our platforms and a lot
of the professors are having ahard you know, a hard time
(09:09):
grasping, moving from anotherplatform and moving to utilizing
different things that are goingto keep us abreast of and keep
us allowing us to advance withthe technological advances.
So I think that's one of theprobably bigger challenges that
we have, that we're going to befaced with is keeping up with
technology.
We've been doing a great job,we have a good, a great system,
(09:32):
but I think that is one of thebigger challenges going forward.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yeah, I mean that that is across the board,
especially, though, foreducation, as it becomes easier
and easier.
How do you think the board ofeducation can best communicate
with the constituent groups?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I think the best way for us to actually communicate
is to be visible is for the, thecommunity, to.
You know, we have a moment forpublic opinion, for, you know,
people to come out.
You know, I know it's limitedso that we can continue to
(10:15):
conduct business, but we have tohear from the community, and so
one of the things is perhaps wecould have, you know, some open
public forums or something likethat where people can possibly
voice their opinion, not wherewe can't have open meetings
where we're all like engaging inthem, but at least there could
(10:37):
be some type of platform or ifpeople were to come out.
Sometimes we have meetings andpeople don't come out at all.
Right, they don't, you know,take out the time to say.
This is a concern of mine.
When you come out and youactually decide to make a public
comment, we do take that intoconsideration, we do discuss it.
(10:57):
We do then meet with thesuperintendent and try to think
about ways to get back to thatgroup of individuals that has
that opinion.
I'm very, very proud of ourstudent body.
I want to say about a year orso ago, the student body
actually came togethercollectively and decided that
(11:18):
the dress code, basically, wasmore overbearing on females and
they, the students that came andspoke out, were both male and
female.
That spoke about, you know, thedress code as it related to the
young ladies and what wasreally.
I was so impressed by itbecause they made sure they had
(11:39):
an equal number of men the youngmen who that spoke about it as
well as young women, and thatthey were able to address the
school board in a way thatwasn't offensive.
They, you know, they were ableto articulate their position.
And not only that, what I lovedabout it.
(11:59):
I always tell when I had my ownoffice I would say you know,
you can bring the problem buttry to bring a solution.
But they actually had doneresearch and had gone to another
neighboring school that hadactually redrafted the dress
code for girls and say, hey,take a look at theirs, they're
like us there, they are verysimilarly situated, like we are,
(12:19):
they are a suburban school,they have great sports programs,
like we do.
Look at this, which waswonderful.
And so it's those types ofthings that you know really make
a difference.
And so if more people possiblycame out or just identify a
group and got together and madea public comment, we do, and
what happened as a result ofthat is that the dress code was
(12:42):
changed.
You know the advisory teamlooked at that and updated it.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Wow, what a great thing for those students to see
and realize because the schoolboard obviously represents their
governing body right now buthow important it is to be able
to go and in the future, talkbefore their village board or
before Congress or something.
It's a great lesson.
(13:06):
And to see a real change comeabout from it Absolutely, and it
was able to.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
the change took place during that school year because
the actual advisory committeewas reviewing it and tweaking it
, so it was very timely.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
How proud those kids must have been Absolutely,
absolutely.
Very cool.
Describe the time requirementsof a school board member besides
the meetings.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Besides the meetings, I would say maybe it depends on
the issues.
You know, sometimes we don'thave major issues, but sometimes
there are issues that we have.
You know where we're requiredto have emergency meetings.
So I want to say, inpreparation for the meeting,
because we, all of our documentsare uploaded, we're able to
(13:52):
actually see them, we're able toactually review them before we
come to the meeting as well, sothat if we have any questions,
we're prepared for it.
I would say anywhere from aboutfive to maybe six hours a month
is what it would take at theend of the day.
What is great about this schoolboard is it's really ran very
(14:14):
organized and well and I canappreciate that, especially when
I've heard of some otherdistricts and none in time for
you to review them.
Things are uploaded in time foryou If you have a question that
(14:36):
if I need to talk to thetreasurer and say I don't
understand what this expense is,so because things are uploaded
timely and provided to us in atimely fashion and it's
organized, it's not as time,it's not, it doesn't rob you or
take as much time because of theorganization of it.
So but I know it took a longtime to get there and I'm just
(15:00):
happy that it's where it is.
But it can take anywhere and ifwe're going to conferences, of
course during that time thatwe're attending conferences it's
more time, but I would sayanywhere from.
You know, maybe five to 10hours a month at the most,
depending on if it's a goodmonth.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
One of the one of the important things that's going
to be coming up in the nextcouple of years for the district
is a superintendent Tingley isgoing to be retiring.
What is the process leading upto that?
What would you see from nowuntil I think it's two years
until he retires?
What happens to prepare forthat?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
So we've already started preparing for that.
We've already startedidentifying their credentials
that that individual should have.
We will, of course, have tomake that announcement.
We will have to actually postit.
We will have to have a searchfor that, for that, for those
individuals, the candidates thatfit those different criteria,
(15:59):
there are certain things thathe's working on currently to
make sure that certain thingsare in line.
We're making sure that ourbudget projections are in line
and that we're staying on top ofthat so that when a new person
comes on, that they're nothanded, you know, something that
is not.
That is currently in process.
So we have a plan, we have afive-year strategic plan that's
(16:21):
put into place, which we'reactually in line with, and so
that's the type of organizationwe actually bring in a strategic
planning company that comes in,that comes in from the outside
and takes what our issues may beand help us to develop that
plan, and we're right on track.
At the end of the year we lookat that again and see where we
(16:43):
are.
Are we meeting those goals?
Are we exceeding those goals?
So the next superintendent isactually handed those things so
that they're given the necessarytools to actually be successful
.
So we've already started thatplanning in place.
As a matter of fact, that's aconsistent conversation that how
many years you know Dr Tingleyhas.
And where are we with this?
(17:04):
Are we online so that the nextperson that comes into play,
that they'll be able to justpick up the basket where you
left it and just take it toanother level?
So I think we're in a real goodplace, wow.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
The district in the last number of years had gone
through a lot of financialissues and now that the ship has
been righted so muchfinancially, what would the
future plans be for the schooldistrict?
Speaker 2 (17:32):
So there's a lot of renovations that are in the
plans as well, now that we are,and that are built into the
budget, because, you know, mostof the buildings are, you know,
different ages and so they, ofcourse, were built at different
times.
We've put those into theprojections as well as to
(17:53):
different renovations, that therenovations to make sure that we
can maintain the buildings orthat the buildings can possibly
(18:19):
withstand what you know, becausewe're in a climate where the
weather changes, so we need tomake sure that certain things
are done.
We're right now we're workingon, like, repaving the tracks
and so things like that, sothose are actually already in
line and already put into ourbudget.
As far as our projections, ourcurrent treasurer is excellent,
(18:42):
and what was great about that?
When we talk about succession,the prior treasurer, he was his
assistant at the time and so hewas able to move into that
position and he's just taking itto the next level.
So I think we're in anoutstanding position as it
relates to finances, which isreally comfortable.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
So along those lines.
For me, lincoln Way accountsfor about 27% of my property tax
bill.
So how can Lincoln Waytaxpayers be sure that the
school district is spendingtheir tax dollars in the most
efficient way possible?
Speaker 2 (19:17):
I would say come out to the budget hearings.
I would say review the budgetswhen because we're required to
post those budgets I would say,become very familiar with how
the money is being used.
None of that is secret.
It is there.
Sometimes, when people do comeout and they have public opinion
and it could be the same timewe're meeting about the budget
(19:37):
they'll get up after the publiccomment and we're and we're
we're now heading into talkingabout the budget.
So what I would say is thatpull, go to the Web site.
You know, I believe that DrTingley has the type.
He's the type of individualthat if there's a question,
(19:57):
he'll point that person into theright direction and align them
with the right person to getthose answers.
But it's all right there on ourbudget.
So and those things are postedreally wants, really is
concerned about the use of thefunds and the manner of the
funds and believe that maybesomething should be altered a
(20:18):
little bit or maybe we shouldhave more in this particular
line item or allocateddifferently.
Then what I say is that pullthose budgets down, review them
and actually come to the meetingand make those comments so that
we can take those intoconsideration, because we're
required to actually post thoseand we're required to ask for
public opinion and publiccomment as it relates to that.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Okay, Talk a little bit.
Maybe what you would like tosee happen with the Lincoln Way
North building.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Oh, wow.
So with the Lincoln Way Northbuilding, not so much what I
would like I don't have apersonal opinion as it relates
to what I would like but what itis such a beautiful property
that I hate that it's not beingutilized by or recognized by
(21:12):
some entity that could come into bring some more value to the
community, because it is abeautiful building it really is
and so I hate that it sits there.
I know that there were sometalks at one time of the state
of Illinois and differententities you know that want to
utilize it and there are someother things that are possibly
(21:33):
in the in the makings maybeanother school of some sort,
since it's already a school.
It's wired for that, you knowit's set up for that um, some
type of program of some sort.
We have a great theater there.
You know that is really.
You know that is that iscompletely built out for that.
So because of the way that itwas structured and because of
(21:56):
the way that it was constructed,I would hope that maybe some
type of be great if there was,if it could be used by a junior
college of some sort, some othertype of program like, currently
, the Lincoln Way School System.
We have a dual credit programwith Joliet Junior College and
(22:16):
we also, just in the last year,which I'm proud to say that I
helped put together we have adual credit program with
Governor State and I was able toat the time I was, I knew the
president of the university atthe time and I was able to
actually put together a meetingof the parties and we were able
(22:36):
to get that.
We were able to actually createthat dual credit program, which
I think is outstanding.
What it allows students to dois it allows students to
actually get some college creditin addition to, if they want,
to, take AP courses.
But they can also take somecollege classes that will, where
they're registered at thatuniversity or that junior
(22:59):
college and they're alsosatisfying a high school
requirement while they're alsogaining college credit.
And so they go into college andwith not only maybe some of
their AP credits, but they go inas well with these dual credit
classes, because they werecollege classes and every
(23:20):
student is not a great testtaker.
So you have students that takesome AP classes but they don't
necessarily get the score thatthey're looking for or hoping
for to get the college credit.
What I love about the balancewith dual credit.
Classes is taught at thecollege level and you're taking
your registered and you're onlypaying like a small
administration fee maybe ahundred dollars or something and
(23:44):
you're actually getting collegecredit taking this college
course, and both of my daughterswere able to benefit from both.
They took some dual creditclasses.
My youngest was able to benefitfrom the dual credit program
that we have with Governor Stateright now and she was able to
take honors accounting and itwas offered through the.
It was offered through GovernorState and it was at the school.
(24:05):
She's a finance major withaccounting one under her belt.
So I would love it if we could,if we could find maybe another
higher institution that couldoccupy that space, that could
help us even create more ofthose possibilities.
(24:28):
Because that's what I do loveabout Lincoln Way is that it's a
place where I think everybodyis something for everybody.
If you want to go into a trade,you want to go into traditional
college, that there's something.
We have the pathway for you aswell, and that's what I really
love about it.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Along the lines of my next question, talk a little
bit about Lincoln.
Way seems to have a really goodbalance of college prep as well
as trade school integration andprep.
Talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
So it's funny because that's what I started talking
about that because to besuccessful doesn't mean, does
not require you to have a, youknow, to have a bachelor's or an
associate's, of course, ifthat's the route you want to
take.
But what I love about LincolnWay is that there is a pathway
(25:27):
for those that want to dosomething non-traditional.
If you want to become afirefighter, you want to become
a paramedic, those are all verysuccessful opportunities that
you can.
It's the training ground.
So the relationships that we'veactually created with, like our
Joliet Junior College where youcan take some of those classes
(25:48):
to prepare you for the to becomea firefighter or to become a
paramedic, I think it's, it'sabsolutely great.
There's also what I also like is, or what I also love a lot, is
the level.
Love a lot about Lincoln Way isthe fact that we have great
programs for those individualswho may have some learning
(26:11):
disabilities as well, and wehave a great co-op program as it
relates to that.
So it's a huge school but underone umbrella, as far as I mean
different, the three differentschools, but under every
umbrella.
Under the umbrella of that wehave something for everybody.
We have something for everyoneto be successful and to have the
(26:31):
the necessary tools to besuccessful, be if they want to
to be successful, be if theywant to go to college or if they
want to actually go into atrade of some sort.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
I got to go through.
Damon Gast teaches the weldingat Lincoln Way East and I got to
go.
I took his class.
He does like an adult weldingclass in the evening and this
was a couple of years ago but Inever knew.
You know there's a machine shopin there, a wood shop, and you
(27:01):
know a mechanic and they'refixing cars.
I mean these are all reallyvaluable skills whether they go
on to college or not.
That students are leaving withAbsolutely that students are
leaving with.
That you see kind of goingalong the wayside in too many
schools.
So that is great to see thatthe schools are recognizing that
(27:24):
and embracing it.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
And there's actually.
You know what's also greatabout it?
Not only do they have fairs forlike different colleges to come
and to showcase their differentschools, for students to have a
car, for us, that we havedifferent college fairs, but we
also have a lot of occupationfairs, where we have different
trades and differentopportunities that are there's a
(27:51):
place literally for everyone.
If you have the, if you havethe desire, no matter what you
know, what your pathway may be,there is something for you and
but at the same time, you haveto take advantage of them, but
they're there.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Safety is something that's important to every parent
.
Talk about how, or tell us how,can parents be sure that their
kids are safe going to school.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
That's a hard one.
Yeah, that's a hard one.
I think that the to make surethat your child is being safe.
You know we have differentnotification systems that you
should sign up for.
You know that you can go ontothe website so that you will
know if there is any type of anissue.
(28:41):
There is a calling system.
You need to make sure that youlog in and put all your contact
information in there, as well asyour primary and secondary, and
if you're not available, who'sthe next person?
All of those systems reallywork.
You know myself having twodaughters that went through the
school system, when things wouldhappen, you know all of our
(29:02):
phones would ring because if youhave them there.
So I think that that's onething that's very important.
Talking to your children.
You know, going over some ofthe safety protocols that we
implement, that one of thethings that we realize is that
when students, one of thecomplaints that administrators
(29:22):
have shared with us is thatstudents will hear something but
they'll share it first withtheir friends before they share
it with administrators.
It's as though they feel thatthey have to share with the
friend first to warn the friend,but the person that can make
the difference is really theadministrator.
So the administrator sometimeshear the you know alleged threat
(29:44):
or whatever may happen, secondand third hand.
So I think as parents, parentsneed to make sure that they
communicate to students.
You know, if you hear something, first go to an administrator,
or first tell me and I'll go tothe administrator before you
tell your friend.
And then you realize after youtold four or five friends, oh, I
should say something to anadministrator.
(30:05):
So I think that's one of thechallenges, is that making sure
as parents, as a community, thatwe're all aware of the safety
protocols and that we followthem, because when we follow
them then it allows us to have asafe environment for our
students.
You know, unfortunately we're ina climate where it's just a
(30:26):
scary time.
It just is really scary there.
You know, when I grew up inschool I never had a drill like
the kids have today.
And now that I'm a professor, Ihad my first drill and it was
probably I would say that wasprobably a little bit more
intense because it's auniversity, but at the same time
(30:49):
it was intense and they'reliving in a different day and
age than when, you know, you andI went to school.
So I think we have to justcontinue to communicate to them
that it's OK, you know, to tellus, you know it's OK to talk to
us.
If you can't talk to me, talkto another administrator.
(31:11):
Let them know what you heard.
If you see something, literally, say something.
Let them know what you heard.
If you see something, literally, say something.
And I think that that is one ofthe things that social media
makes desensitizes, hasdesensitized our youth,
unfortunately, and so I think wejust have to continue to
communicate to them so thatthey're not desensitized.
(31:31):
So I would say, as a parent,communicate to them that they
must speak up, they must saysomething to someone that they
trust, who's an administrator ora teacher in the school.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
And that's a really important distinction too, which
you know, yeah, you don't thinkabout.
You probably get so quick toshoot out a text or send it, but
who to say it to is important.
What do you feel is the bestway to address differences of
(32:07):
opinion on the board, or even adifference of opinion between
the board and administration?
Speaker 2 (32:11):
When you say what is the best way to voice who?
Speaker 1 (32:14):
So say, you have a differing opinion from another
board member on an issue.
How do you express that betweeneach other?
Speaker 2 (32:22):
I think the best way to express the opinion sometimes
is that to just like withanything is to maybe have a
sidebar conversation.
Maybe have a sidebarconversation because sometimes
(32:44):
we misunderstand what someone issaying and sometimes we're
quick to arrive at a conclusionthat could take you down the
wrong road.
So one of the things that I dolike about my fellow board
members is that I believe Icould have a side conversation
with them, and I've had sideconversations, and then what it
does is it allows you just likewith.
The communication is key.
(33:04):
That's the key to anyrelationship I don't care where
it is, you know, in your home,if you're in a work environment
is to communicate.
I will not understand if youmake a comment.
I won't really have the fullmeaning of that because I'm
going to interpret it based onmy experiences, and that's not
fair to you, because you're myexperience and yours is totally
(33:26):
different.
But at the same time, when youmake that comment, you don't
know my experiences right.
So the way that we actuallygrow and mature and work
together collectively for theschool or for any organization
that we work for is I may needto say, hey, can I have a, can I
have a conversation with you.
I want to better understandwhen you made that comment.
(33:47):
What did you mean by that?
Same thing with me.
Once I understand that thatdoesn't have to play out in
front of everyone, becausethat's part of communication,
but because that's not why I'melected.
I'm elected to make sure thatwe are looking at everything and
that we're protecting and thatwe're putting things in place.
(34:08):
That is, collectivelyrecognizing the people who are
our stakeholders, recognizingthe people who are our
stakeholders our students andthe faculty and administrators
and the community that we'redoing a great job there.
But not for you and I to playout our differences and waste
the time.
So what I do is that it'sbetter for me to pull you to the
(34:31):
side to make sure I understand,before I waste taxpayer dollars
with going back and forth witha disagreement and then you
actually understanding what I'msaying, and then I think we can
either agree to disagreecollectively and understand
where each other's where, wherewe each, what our comments and
(34:51):
where we stand with one another,and where we stand with one
another.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
As we sit right now, it doesn't look like there will
be any challenges, challengersfor the 210, just the three
incumbents.
So I appreciate you talking tome, but I'm a little curious of
why you would still talk to mewhen you don't have a challenger
no-transcript.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
We have our jobs, we have our families and different
things like that.
So I saw it as an opportunityto ask people to vote for me to
know a little bit more about me,to vote for me to know a little
bit more about me, and if I'mgoing to be a community servant,
why not?
You know?
You know?
You know, say yes to aninterview.
You know, I think that would bea little not.
(36:06):
You know, some people may notfind the time, but at the same
time, I think that it was time Ineeded to make.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
I think that's a great answer and I certainly
appreciate you doing it as well.
What advice would you give toanybody now or in the future
that's looking to run for schoolboard or public office?
Speaker 2 (36:25):
so I would say get to know the community.
You know I, like I mentioned toyou, I had lived here for a
while before I actually ran forthe school board or even
submitted my application for thevacancy.
Education is near and dear tome and I'm so happy now in my
career that I'm able to mergeboth of those, that I'm in an
(36:47):
academic environment but I'mstill practicing law because I
love education.
I grew up in a household ofprincipals and so educators, so
it is.
You know, it's something that'svery, very I'm very passionate
about, and because I live in thecommunity and I wanted to, I
(37:09):
felt that there was a need tomake sure that there was, there
was, I felt there was a need fordiversity as well, and I
believe that I'm level-headed asthe same, meaning that I'm able
to hear different opinions atthe same time and not
necessarily be offended and, youknow, and agree to disagree at
(37:30):
the same time, and that's what Ithink my law background allows
me to do.
So if anybody is looking to run, I would say become involved in
the community.
You know, before I ran, I wason the Economic Development
Committee, you know, with thevillage.
I had done some other thingswith the village and in the
(37:51):
community.
I had served on some of theparent handbook boards with
Chelsea, so I had done differentthings in the community and I
had become familiar with some ofthe administrators.
So if it's something thatyou're interested in, you know,
first get involved.
You know, go to some communitydifferent things, get to know
(38:12):
people that are there.
Both of my daughters playedsports.
So you know, when you havechildren that play sports, you
definitely get to know thecommunity as well, and so that's
what I would say and find outwhat is the responsibility of
the different positions.
(38:32):
What I found is veryinteresting is some people don't
really know what the schoolboard does.
You know they believe that theschool board, you know, selects,
you know all of the curriculum.
Well, there are directors ofcurriculum, you know they report
to us, but really our person isthe superintendent.
(38:55):
You know we're oversight, so wedon't get into the, we don't
get into the small details, andso I think some people really
believe that you know we getinto those things.
So what I would say is do theresearch on the roles and the
responsibilities, because maybethey're not aligned to what it
is that maybe something else isbetter for you.
(39:15):
Maybe they're not aligned towhat it is that maybe something
else is better for you.
I remember when I went to lawschool one of my peers said that
at the time her background wasin, she was an auditor for the
Chicago Transit Authority andshe was thinking about becoming
treasurer Cook County treasurerand she said, when she really
looked at the roles and theresponsibilities, because of her
audited experience, it wasbetter for her to become Cook
(39:37):
County clerk.
And she ultimately did.
And she said because the CookCounty clerk's office had to
audit a lot of filings andthings like that.
So what I would say is do theresearch behind the different
roles and the differentresponsibilities, because what
you think you might be good atit might be another position
that's better for you.
And also get involved with thecommunity and know the needs,
(40:01):
the pros and the cons, thosepositions as well.
Speaker 1 (40:05):
Before we wrap up, anything else you want to add or
say.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
I'm looking forward to the next four years.
I am I'm looking forward toseeing the growth that Lincoln
Way will have.
I believe that we're in such agreat position that now we're
just going to take things to thenext level.
So I'm very excited to see thatand to be in this space to see
(40:31):
that happened and to see thecontinued growth of all of our
programs.
Academically, you know, as wellas athletic.
You know athletics as well asyou know providing opportunities
for our students, which wecontinue to expand.
So I'm very excited about beingin that space.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
Well, that's great.
Well, be sure to check out ourwebsite and our Facebook page
and subscribe to our YouTube forall of the Canada interviews.
Deidre, thank you very much fortalking with me.
This was very informative andbe sure to vote on April 1st,
thank you.
Alright Deidre, thank you very much for sitting down
and talking with me.
You are a current 210 schoolboard member and running again
for re election, so thank youfor talking to me tonight and
just start telling me a littlebit about yourself.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Okay, so well, you know my name is Deidre Stokes
and so I've been in thecommunity since I lived in
Frankfort since 2005.
Both of my youngest daughtersmatriculated through all the
school systems, started atChelsea.
They was at Chelsea, was atHickory Creek and high school as
(00:57):
well, Grand Prairie.
So we've been here since thattime.
I'm currently in an attorney,been an attorney practicing for
28 years, Um, and I'm currentlya professor at Chicago Kent
College of Law and I am over theclinical, the clinic for estate
(01:18):
planning, probate and realestate transactions.
So in 2023, I ported over myentire practice to the law
school and law students actuallyregister for my course and
assist me with my cases.
So our clinic is not a freeclinic.
It is a clinic where we bringin, you know, we determine what
cases we want to take, and thoseare cases that the students get
(01:40):
to actually work on those withme.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
So and what's your focus?
Your focus in law?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
It's estate planning, which is like wills, trust and
estate Probate cases, which isin the probate division.
You're usually eitherrepresenting someone who is
petitioning the court for aminor's estate or for a disabled
adult or for someone that haspassed away decedent's estate.
So in probate and real estateis basically real estate
(02:06):
transactional work.
So buying, selling of realestate, as well as some small
real estate litigation as well.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Okay, and what do you do for fun?
Any hobbies?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Yes, I love to read, I like to work out as well, and
I love to travel.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
OK, any favorite travel destinations.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
No, I have some that that are coming up, so I'm
excited about going on a trip toPortugal.
So you know, I'm at this pointwhere close to being an empty
nester, because even though thelast one is still in college,
you know she's still.
(02:52):
She's not in the house, butshe's definitely on the house
budget.
So I don't know what the emptynesting really means.
It means they're not livingthere every night, but, yes, the
slow roll into empty nesting.
It is absolutely.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Okay, all right.
And are you besides schoolboard?
Are you involved at all in thecommunity or do anything else?
Speaker 2 (03:07):
So I'm currently one of the police commissioners for
Frankfurt, for the FrankfurtPolice Commission, and currently
I've been appointed as one ofthe chief commissioners.
Because we lost two of ourcommissioners.
They relocated to other areas.
I hate to know that, but wehave two great new additions
that are joining the policecommission, which is the former
(03:30):
Jim Holland, the mayor ofFrankfort, and also who's
joining is Carrie Landau, whowas a former FBI agent.
So the police commission isreally great.
We take pride in hiring andmaintaining and getting a great
police force.
(03:50):
So that's one of the things thatI do as far as community
service.
Some other things that I do isthat I'm an administrative
hearing officer as well, over inthe village of Mattson, and I
only do that once a month, everyother month and through my
sorority, currently I do quite abit of community service as
well.
(04:10):
So I'm busy.
I'm busy well-rounded.
Make sure that we're all herefor a purpose.
If it was just for us to takeup space, I don't think I would
be here.
So I think you, while you'reable to walk and talk and have
the ability to use your mind andyour intellect, you know, try
(04:32):
to make this world a betterplace for somebody else.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Very good, and how long have you been a school
board member?
Speaker 2 (04:39):
So I've been a school .
I was appointed the first year,so this will be my going into
my.
This is the end of my fifthyear, my first year that I was.
I was appointed.
The individual that I was, theappointment that I was.
I interviewed because there wasa vacancy on the board and at
(04:59):
the time it was right after anelection, and it's my
understanding that the vacancythat I filled, that individual
ended up getting a job promotionin a very demanding job, and so
they elected to step down andso they posted that there was a
vacancy and I applied and therewere several candidates and went
in and interviewed and so theboard appointed me, they voted
(05:23):
me on, and after the first year,when you fill a vacancy, you
then are required to run.
So I ran for a four-year term,actually along with the current
board members that I'm runningwith currently as well, and we
were successful during thatparticular race.
So this is the end of my fifthyear and you know I like being
(05:44):
on the board.
We have a very.
We have a lot of great synergy,we're very respectful.
We get a lot of things donetogether collectively, even if
we have difference of opinions.
We what I like about the energyand the commitment of the
different board members is thatwe know how to work together
(06:06):
well in order to get things done, and I really like this space.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
How do you feel your professional role as an attorney
helps you in your role as aschool board member?
Speaker 2 (06:18):
That's a good question.
One of the things that Inormally will tell people is
something a friend of mine saidyears ago when we were studying
for the bar.
She said I think everybodyshould go to law school, but
maybe everybody shouldn'tpractice.
I think going to law schoolallows you to identify and
identify issues differently,because you know that there was
(06:40):
a foundation and a theory behindthat particular rule and I
think that's what, that's howyou're groomed and that's what
you, that's what you're able toappreciate, you know as an
attorney.
So I think in the school, as aschool board, it allows me to to
realize that rules are in placenot because, not just because
(07:02):
they were done in a vacuum, arein place not just because they
were done in a vacuum.
There was a reason that thisrule was put in place and it has
some type of foundation as itrelates to that.
So I'm able to identify thosethings.
I think I wouldn't say quicker,but I guess, after being an
attorney for 28 years andutilizing those skills, it gives
me, I think, a little bit of anadvantage to actually
(07:26):
understand some of the rules.
I currently sit on the District210 Advisory, which is a
combination of teachers,administrators, parents,
students and I'm the board repon that one, and so what's
really great is that it allowsyou to see things from a
(07:47):
different lens and to know thatwhy something is put in place,
without maybe someone having toexplain it to you, because you
understand the law and know howthe law actually operates.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Well, because the law and rules and legislations that
are written play a huge rolereally in how the schools are
run Correct.
What do you see as the biggestchallenges, direct challenges
ahead for the school district?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Oh gosh that.
The integration of technology,because right now, with
technology there, we have AI,and one of the things is that
trying to identify, you know, isthis someone's work or is this
a student's work and so beingable to stay on top of that and
(08:49):
technology is advancing so fastand that a teacher has to also
advance as fast as thetechnology advances, it is.
It's very tough, and so, like,for instance, in my school right
now, we're making a change forall of our platforms and a lot
of the professors are having ahard you know, a hard time
(09:09):
grasping, moving from anotherplatform and moving to utilizing
different things that are goingto keep us abreast of and keep
us allowing us to advance withthe technological advances.
So I think that's one of theprobably bigger challenges that
we have, that we're going to befaced with is keeping up with
technology.
We've been doing a great job,we have a good, a great system,
(09:32):
but I think that is one of thebigger challenges going forward.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yeah, I mean that that is across the board,
especially, though, foreducation, as it becomes easier
and easier.
How do you think the board ofeducation can best communicate
with the constituent groups?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
I think the best way for us to actually communicate
is to be visible is for the, thecommunity, to.
You know, we have a moment forpublic opinion, for, you know,
people to come out.
You know, I know it's limitedso that we can continue to
(10:15):
conduct business, but we have tohear from the community, and so
one of the things is perhaps wecould have, you know, some open
public forums or something likethat where people can possibly
voice their opinion, not wherewe can't have open meetings
where we're all like engaging inthem, but at least there could
(10:37):
be some type of platform or ifpeople were to come out.
Sometimes we have meetings andpeople don't come out at all.
Right, they don't, you know,take out the time to say.
This is a concern of mine.
When you come out and youactually decide to make a public
comment, we do take that intoconsideration, we do discuss it.
(10:57):
We do then meet with thesuperintendent and try to think
about ways to get back to thatgroup of individuals that has
that opinion.
I'm very, very proud of ourstudent body.
I want to say about a year orso ago, the student body
actually came togethercollectively and decided that
(11:18):
the dress code, basically, wasmore overbearing on females and
they, the students that came andspoke out, were both male and
female.
That spoke about, you know, thedress code as it related to the
young ladies and what wasreally.
I was so impressed by itbecause they made sure they had
(11:39):
an equal number of men the youngmen who that spoke about it as
well as young women, and thatthey were able to address the
school board in a way thatwasn't offensive.
They, you know, they were ableto articulate their position.
And not only that, what I lovedabout it.
(11:59):
I always tell when I had my ownoffice I would say you know,
you can bring the problem buttry to bring a solution.
But they actually had doneresearch and had gone to another
neighboring school that hadactually redrafted the dress
code for girls and say, hey,take a look at theirs, they're
like us there, they are verysimilarly situated, like we are,
(12:19):
they are a suburban school,they have great sports programs,
like we do.
Look at this, which waswonderful.
And so it's those types ofthings that you know really make
a difference.
And so if more people possiblycame out or just identify a
group and got together and madea public comment, we do, and
what happened as a result ofthat is that the dress code was
(12:42):
changed.
You know the advisory teamlooked at that and updated it.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Wow, what a great thing for those students to see
and realize because the schoolboard obviously represents their
governing body right now buthow important it is to be able
to go and in the future, talkbefore their village board or
before Congress or something.
It's a great lesson.
(13:06):
And to see a real change comeabout from it Absolutely, and it
was able to.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
the change took place during that school year because
the actual advisory committeewas reviewing it and tweaking it
, so it was very timely.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
How proud those kids must have been Absolutely,
absolutely.
Very cool.
Describe the time requirementsof a school board member besides
the meetings.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Besides the meetings, I would say maybe it depends on
the issues.
You know, sometimes we don'thave major issues, but sometimes
there are issues that we have.
You know where we're requiredto have emergency meetings.
So I want to say, inpreparation for the meeting,
because we, all of our documentsare uploaded, we're able to
(13:52):
actually see them, we're able toactually review them before we
come to the meeting as well, sothat if we have any questions,
we're prepared for it.
I would say anywhere from aboutfive to maybe six hours a month
is what it would take at theend of the day.
What is great about this schoolboard is it's really ran very
(14:14):
organized and well and I canappreciate that, especially when
I've heard of some otherdistricts and none in time for
you to review them.
Things are uploaded in time foryou If you have a question that
(14:36):
if I need to talk to thetreasurer and say I don't
understand what this expense is,so because things are uploaded
timely and provided to us in atimely fashion and it's
organized, it's not as time,it's not, it doesn't rob you or
take as much time because of theorganization of it.
So but I know it took a longtime to get there and I'm just
(15:00):
happy that it's where it is.
But it can take anywhere and ifwe're going to conferences, of
course during that time thatwe're attending conferences it's
more time, but I would sayanywhere from.
You know, maybe five to 10hours a month at the most,
depending on if it's a goodmonth.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
One of the one of the important things that's going
to be coming up in the nextcouple of years for the district
is a superintendent Tingley isgoing to be retiring.
What is the process leading upto that?
What would you see from nowuntil I think it's two years
until he retires?
What happens to prepare forthat?
Speaker 2 (15:37):
So we've already started preparing for that.
We've already startedidentifying their credentials
that that individual should have.
We will, of course, have tomake that announcement.
We will have to actually postit.
We will have to have a searchfor that, for that, for those
individuals, the candidates thatfit those different criteria,
(15:59):
there are certain things thathe's working on currently to
make sure that certain thingsare in line.
We're making sure that ourbudget projections are in line
and that we're staying on top ofthat so that when a new person
comes on, that they're nothanded, you know, something that
is not.
That is currently in process.
So we have a plan, we have afive-year strategic plan that's
(16:21):
put into place, which we'reactually in line with, and so
that's the type of organizationwe actually bring in a strategic
planning company that comes in,that comes in from the outside
and takes what our issues may beand help us to develop that
plan, and we're right on track.
At the end of the year we lookat that again and see where we
(16:43):
are.
Are we meeting those goals?
Are we exceeding those goals?
So the next superintendent isactually handed those things so
that they're given the necessarytools to actually be successful
.
So we've already started thatplanning in place.
As a matter of fact, that's aconsistent conversation that how
many years you know Dr Tingleyhas.
And where are we with this?
(17:04):
Are we online so that the nextperson that comes into play,
that they'll be able to justpick up the basket where you
left it and just take it toanother level?
So I think we're in a real goodplace, wow.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
The district in the last number of years had gone
through a lot of financialissues and now that the ship has
been righted so muchfinancially, what would the
future plans be for the schooldistrict?
Speaker 2 (17:32):
So there's a lot of renovations that are in the
plans as well, now that we are,and that are built into the
budget, because, you know, mostof the buildings are, you know,
different ages and so they, ofcourse, were built at different
times.
We've put those into theprojections as well as to
(17:53):
different renovations, that therenovations to make sure that we
can maintain the buildings orthat the buildings can possibly
(18:19):
withstand what you know, becausewe're in a climate where the
weather changes, so we need tomake sure that certain things
are done.
We're right now we're workingon, like, repaving the tracks
and so things like that, sothose are actually already in
line and already put into ourbudget.
As far as our projections, ourcurrent treasurer is excellent,
(18:42):
and what was great about that?
When we talk about succession,the prior treasurer, he was his
assistant at the time and so hewas able to move into that
position and he's just taking itto the next level.
So I think we're in anoutstanding position as it
relates to finances, which isreally comfortable.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
So along those lines.
For me, lincoln Way accountsfor about 27% of my property tax
bill.
So how can Lincoln Waytaxpayers be sure that the
school district is spendingtheir tax dollars in the most
efficient way possible?
Speaker 2 (19:17):
I would say come out to the budget hearings.
I would say review the budgetswhen because we're required to
post those budgets I would say,become very familiar with how
the money is being used.
None of that is secret.
It is there.
Sometimes, when people do comeout and they have public opinion
and it could be the same timewe're meeting about the budget
(19:37):
they'll get up after the publiccomment and we're and we're
we're now heading into talkingabout the budget.
So what I would say is thatpull, go to the Web site.
You know, I believe that DrTingley has the type.
He's the type of individualthat if there's a question,
(19:57):
he'll point that person into theright direction and align them
with the right person to getthose answers.
But it's all right there on ourbudget.
So and those things are postedreally wants, really is
concerned about the use of thefunds and the manner of the
funds and believe that maybesomething should be altered a
(20:18):
little bit or maybe we shouldhave more in this particular
line item or allocateddifferently.
Then what I say is that pullthose budgets down, review them
and actually come to the meetingand make those comments so that
we can take those intoconsideration, because we're
required to actually post thoseand we're required to ask for
public opinion and publiccomment as it relates to that.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Okay, Talk a little bit.
Maybe what you would like tosee happen with the Lincoln Way
North building.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Oh, wow.
So with the Lincoln Way Northbuilding, not so much what I
would like I don't have apersonal opinion as it relates
to what I would like but what itis such a beautiful property
that I hate that it's not beingutilized by or recognized by
(21:12):
some entity that could come into bring some more value to the
community, because it is abeautiful building it really is
and so I hate that it sits there.
I know that there were sometalks at one time of the state
of Illinois and differententities you know that want to
utilize it and there are someother things that are possibly
(21:33):
in the in the makings maybeanother school of some sort,
since it's already a school.
It's wired for that, you knowit's set up for that um, some
type of program of some sort.
We have a great theater there.
You know that is really.
You know that is that iscompletely built out for that.
So because of the way that itwas structured and because of
(21:56):
the way that it was constructed,I would hope that maybe some
type of be great if there was,if it could be used by a junior
college of some sort, some othertype of program like, currently
, the Lincoln Way School System.
We have a dual credit programwith Joliet Junior College and
(22:16):
we also, just in the last year,which I'm proud to say that I
helped put together we have adual credit program with
Governor State and I was able toat the time I was, I knew the
president of the university atthe time and I was able to
actually put together a meetingof the parties and we were able
(22:36):
to get that.
We were able to actually createthat dual credit program, which
I think is outstanding.
What it allows students to dois it allows students to
actually get some college creditin addition to, if they want,
to, take AP courses.
But they can also take somecollege classes that will, where
they're registered at thatuniversity or that junior
(22:59):
college and they're alsosatisfying a high school
requirement while they're alsogaining college credit.
And so they go into college andwith not only maybe some of
their AP credits, but they go inas well with these dual credit
classes, because they werecollege classes and every
(23:20):
student is not a great testtaker.
So you have students that takesome AP classes but they don't
necessarily get the score thatthey're looking for or hoping
for to get the college credit.
What I love about the balancewith dual credit.
Classes is taught at thecollege level and you're taking
your registered and you're onlypaying like a small
administration fee maybe ahundred dollars or something and
(23:44):
you're actually getting collegecredit taking this college
course, and both of my daughterswere able to benefit from both.
They took some dual creditclasses.
My youngest was able to benefitfrom the dual credit program
that we have with Governor Stateright now and she was able to
take honors accounting and itwas offered through the.
It was offered through GovernorState and it was at the school.
(24:05):
She's a finance major withaccounting one under her belt.
So I would love it if we could,if we could find maybe another
higher institution that couldoccupy that space, that could
help us even create more ofthose possibilities.
(24:28):
Because that's what I do loveabout Lincoln Way is that it's a
place where I think everybodyis something for everybody.
If you want to go into a trade,you want to go into traditional
college, that there's something.
We have the pathway for you aswell, and that's what I really
love about it.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
Along the lines of my next question, talk a little
bit about Lincoln.
Way seems to have a really goodbalance of college prep as well
as trade school integration andprep.
Talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
So it's funny because that's what I started talking
about that because to besuccessful doesn't mean, does
not require you to have a, youknow, to have a bachelor's or an
associate's, of course, ifthat's the route you want to
take.
But what I love about LincolnWay is that there is a pathway
(25:27):
for those that want to dosomething non-traditional.
If you want to become afirefighter, you want to become
a paramedic, those are all verysuccessful opportunities that
you can.
It's the training ground.
So the relationships that we'veactually created with, like our
Joliet Junior College where youcan take some of those classes
(25:48):
to prepare you for the to becomea firefighter or to become a
paramedic, I think it's, it'sabsolutely great.
There's also what I also like is, or what I also love a lot, is
the level.
Love a lot about Lincoln Way isthe fact that we have great
programs for those individualswho may have some learning
(26:11):
disabilities as well, and wehave a great co-op program as it
relates to that.
So it's a huge school but underone umbrella, as far as I mean
different, the three differentschools, but under every
umbrella.
Under the umbrella of that wehave something for everybody.
We have something for everyoneto be successful and to have the
(26:31):
the necessary tools to besuccessful, be if they want to
to be successful, be if theywant to go to college or if they
want to actually go into atrade of some sort.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
I got to go through.
Damon Gast teaches the weldingat Lincoln Way East and I got to
go.
I took his class.
He does like an adult weldingclass in the evening and this
was a couple of years ago but Inever knew.
You know there's a machine shopin there, a wood shop, and you
(27:01):
know a mechanic and they'refixing cars.
I mean these are all reallyvaluable skills whether they go
on to college or not.
That students are leaving withAbsolutely that students are
leaving with.
That you see kind of goingalong the wayside in too many
schools.
So that is great to see thatthe schools are recognizing that
(27:24):
and embracing it.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
And there's actually.
You know what's also greatabout it?
Not only do they have fairs forlike different colleges to come
and to showcase their differentschools, for students to have a
car, for us, that we havedifferent college fairs, but we
also have a lot of occupationfairs, where we have different
trades and differentopportunities that are there's a
(27:51):
place literally for everyone.
If you have the, if you havethe desire, no matter what you
know, what your pathway may be,there is something for you and
but at the same time, you haveto take advantage of them, but
they're there.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Safety is something that's important to every parent
.
Talk about how, or tell us how,can parents be sure that their
kids are safe going to school.
Speaker 2 (28:18):
That's a hard one.
Yeah, that's a hard one.
I think that the to make surethat your child is being safe.
You know we have differentnotification systems that you
should sign up for.
You know that you can go ontothe website so that you will
know if there is any type of anissue.
(28:41):
There is a calling system.
You need to make sure that youlog in and put all your contact
information in there, as well asyour primary and secondary, and
if you're not available, who'sthe next person?
All of those systems reallywork.
You know myself having twodaughters that went through the
school system, when things wouldhappen, you know all of our
(29:02):
phones would ring because if youhave them there.
So I think that that's onething that's very important.
Talking to your children.
You know, going over some ofthe safety protocols that we
implement, that one of thethings that we realize is that
when students, one of thecomplaints that administrators
(29:22):
have shared with us is thatstudents will hear something but
they'll share it first withtheir friends before they share
it with administrators.
It's as though they feel thatthey have to share with the
friend first to warn the friend,but the person that can make
the difference is really theadministrator.
So the administrator sometimeshear the you know alleged threat
(29:44):
or whatever may happen, secondand third hand.
So I think as parents, parentsneed to make sure that they
communicate to students.
You know, if you hear something, first go to an administrator,
or first tell me and I'll go tothe administrator before you
tell your friend.
And then you realize after youtold four or five friends, oh, I
should say something to anadministrator.
(30:05):
So I think that's one of thechallenges, is that making sure
as parents, as a community, thatwe're all aware of the safety
protocols and that we followthem, because when we follow
them then it allows us to have asafe environment for our
students.
You know, unfortunately we're ina climate where it's just a
(30:26):
scary time.
It just is really scary there.
You know, when I grew up inschool I never had a drill like
the kids have today.
And now that I'm a professor, Ihad my first drill and it was
probably I would say that wasprobably a little bit more
intense because it's auniversity, but at the same time
(30:49):
it was intense and they'reliving in a different day and
age than when, you know, you andI went to school.
So I think we have to justcontinue to communicate to them
that it's OK, you know, to tellus, you know it's OK to talk to
us.
If you can't talk to me, talkto another administrator.
(31:11):
Let them know what you heard.
If you see something, literally, say something.
Let them know what you heard.
If you see something, literally, say something.
And I think that that is one ofthe things that social media
makes desensitizes, hasdesensitized our youth,
unfortunately, and so I think wejust have to continue to
communicate to them so thatthey're not desensitized.
(31:31):
So I would say, as a parent,communicate to them that they
must speak up, they must saysomething to someone that they
trust, who's an administrator ora teacher in the school.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
And that's a really important distinction too, which
you know, yeah, you don't thinkabout.
You probably get so quick toshoot out a text or send it, but
who to say it to is important.
What do you feel is the bestway to address differences of
(32:07):
opinion on the board, or even adifference of opinion between
the board and administration?
Speaker 2 (32:11):
When you say what is the best way to voice who?
Speaker 1 (32:14):
So say, you have a differing opinion from another
board member on an issue.
How do you express that betweeneach other?
Speaker 2 (32:22):
I think the best way to express the opinion sometimes
is that to just like withanything is to maybe have a
sidebar conversation.
Maybe have a sidebarconversation because sometimes
(32:44):
we misunderstand what someone issaying and sometimes we're
quick to arrive at a conclusionthat could take you down the
wrong road.
So one of the things that I dolike about my fellow board
members is that I believe Icould have a side conversation
with them, and I've had sideconversations, and then what it
does is it allows you just likewith.
The communication is key.
(33:04):
That's the key to anyrelationship I don't care where
it is, you know, in your home,if you're in a work environment
is to communicate.
I will not understand if youmake a comment.
I won't really have the fullmeaning of that because I'm
going to interpret it based onmy experiences, and that's not
fair to you, because you're myexperience and yours is totally
(33:26):
different.
But at the same time, when youmake that comment, you don't
know my experiences right.
So the way that we actuallygrow and mature and work
together collectively for theschool or for any organization
that we work for is I may needto say, hey, can I have a, can I
have a conversation with you.
I want to better understandwhen you made that comment.
(33:47):
What did you mean by that?
Same thing with me.
Once I understand that thatdoesn't have to play out in
front of everyone, becausethat's part of communication,
but because that's not why I'melected.
I'm elected to make sure thatwe are looking at everything and
that we're protecting and thatwe're putting things in place.
(34:08):
That is, collectivelyrecognizing the people who are
our stakeholders, recognizingthe people who are our
stakeholders our students andthe faculty and administrators
and the community that we'redoing a great job there.
But not for you and I to playout our differences and waste
the time.
So what I do is that it'sbetter for me to pull you to the
(34:31):
side to make sure I understand,before I waste taxpayer dollars
with going back and forth witha disagreement and then you
actually understanding what I'msaying, and then I think we can
either agree to disagreecollectively and understand
where each other's where, wherewe each, what our comments and
(34:51):
where we stand with one another,and where we stand with one
another.
Speaker 1 (34:56):
As we sit right now, it doesn't look like there will
be any challenges, challengersfor the 210, just the three
incumbents.
So I appreciate you talking tome, but I'm a little curious of
why you would still talk to mewhen you don't have a challenger
no-transcript.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
We have our jobs, we have our families and different
things like that.
So I saw it as an opportunityto ask people to vote for me to
know a little bit more about me,to vote for me to know a little
bit more about me, and if I'mgoing to be a community servant,
why not?
You know?
You know?
You know, say yes to aninterview.
You know, I think that would bea little not.
(36:06):
You know, some people may notfind the time, but at the same
time, I think that it was time Ineeded to make.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
I think that's a great answer and I certainly
appreciate you doing it as well.
What advice would you give toanybody now or in the future
that's looking to run for schoolboard or public office?
Speaker 2 (36:25):
so I would say get to know the community.
You know I, like I mentioned toyou, I had lived here for a
while before I actually ran forthe school board or even
submitted my application for thevacancy.
Education is near and dear tome and I'm so happy now in my
career that I'm able to mergeboth of those, that I'm in an
(36:47):
academic environment but I'mstill practicing law because I
love education.
I grew up in a household ofprincipals and so educators, so
it is.
You know, it's something that'svery, very I'm very passionate
about, and because I live in thecommunity and I wanted to, I
(37:09):
felt that there was a need tomake sure that there was, there
was, I felt there was a need fordiversity as well, and I
believe that I'm level-headed asthe same, meaning that I'm able
to hear different opinions atthe same time and not
necessarily be offended and, youknow, and agree to disagree at
(37:30):
the same time, and that's what Ithink my law background allows
me to do.
So if anybody is looking to run, I would say become involved in
the community.
You know, before I ran, I wason the Economic Development
Committee, you know, with thevillage.
I had done some other thingswith the village and in the
(37:51):
community.
I had served on some of theparent handbook boards with
Chelsea, so I had done differentthings in the community and I
had become familiar with some ofthe administrators.
So if it's something thatyou're interested in, you know,
first get involved.
You know, go to some communitydifferent things, get to know
(38:12):
people that are there.
Both of my daughters playedsports.
So you know, when you havechildren that play sports, you
definitely get to know thecommunity as well, and so that's
what I would say and find outwhat is the responsibility of
the different positions.
(38:32):
What I found is veryinteresting is some people don't
really know what the schoolboard does.
You know they believe that theschool board, you know, selects,
you know all of the curriculum.
Well, there are directors ofcurriculum, you know they report
to us, but really our person isthe superintendent.
(38:55):
You know we're oversight, so wedon't get into the, we don't
get into the small details, andso I think some people really
believe that you know we getinto those things.
So what I would say is do theresearch on the roles and the
responsibilities, because maybethey're not aligned to what it
is that maybe something else isbetter for you.
(39:15):
Maybe they're not aligned towhat it is that maybe something
else is better for you.
I remember when I went to lawschool one of my peers said that
at the time her background wasin, she was an auditor for the
Chicago Transit Authority andshe was thinking about becoming
treasurer Cook County treasurerand she said, when she really
looked at the roles and theresponsibilities, because of her
audited experience, it wasbetter for her to become Cook
(39:37):
County clerk.
And she ultimately did.
And she said because the CookCounty clerk's office had to
audit a lot of filings andthings like that.
So what I would say is do theresearch behind the different
roles and the differentresponsibilities, because what
you think you might be good atit might be another position
that's better for you.
And also get involved with thecommunity and know the needs,
(40:01):
the pros and the cons, thosepositions as well.
Speaker 1 (40:05):
Before we wrap up, anything else you want to add or
say.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
I'm looking forward to the next four years.
I am I'm looking forward toseeing the growth that Lincoln
Way will have.
I believe that we're in such agreat position that now we're
just going to take things to thenext level.
So I'm very excited to see thatand to be in this space to see
(40:31):
that happened and to see thecontinued growth of all of our
programs.
Academically, you know, as wellas athletic.
You know athletics as well asyou know providing opportunities
for our students, which wecontinue to expand.
So I'm very excited about beingin that space.
Speaker 1 (40:52):
Well, that's great.
Well, be sure to check out ourwebsite and our Facebook page
and subscribe to our YouTube forall of the Canada interviews.
Deidre, thank you very much fortalking with me.
This was very informative andbe sure to vote on April 1st,
thank you.
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