D65 Meet the Candidate: Pat Anderson

Post 8/11 in a 10 day series on District 65 Candidates for Office

This is a post in a series that will run from March 7 to March 17th where I’ve given District 65 Board Candidates the option to post whatever they want on the blog. I gave them no limitations, except to follow the standard comment section rules and I do no editing, beyond formatting.

If you have questions for the candidates, please also follow the rules on the comment section.

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The “O” in Anderson in my campaign is a Sankofa. A Sankofa is a principle derived from the Akan people of Ghana, that one should remember the past to make positive progress in the future. This has been a guiding principle of my candidacy.

My D65 ‘past’ includes 3 generations of student experience. Myself as a student who attended Dewey and Skiles, my children and my granddaughter. My most critical experience is the 35-years I was employed in the D65 Special Services Department as a physical therapist. In my position I serviced students PreK through 8^th grade, including assisting students in their transitions to ETHS. I have extensive and holistic institutional knowledge with expertise in the provision of special education services. My approach as a special education provider was to ensure equal access to resources and collaborate with all stakeholders to generate creative, impactful and meaningful solutions. Working within each of the 18 schools, I recognized the importance of teacher and staff partnerships and how those partnerships are necessary in order to get the job done for our students. The vision was to prepare my students for success in District 65 and beyond and prepare their parents to be advocates for them throughout their education. This remains my vision for all students in District 65.

I have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly of D65 first hand as a student, parent and employee. I will use those experiences to create a brighter future for the District 65 community.

A benefit of this School Board election cycle has been the opportunities for community engagement. Candidates have participated in multiple community forums and completed various questionnaires. My responses to the community’s questions outline my views and visions on the full range of issues impacting District 65 such as: financial priorities, technology use, school climate, student achievement and student preparedness for ETHS. I have shared these on my website at patfordistrict65.com and social media platforms.

As a board member I commit to communication and collaboration within the educational and broader Evanston communities. I will actively participate in school and community events. I will maintain an emphasis on equity and the classroom experience when making financial decisions. I promote the development and execution of the D65 Strategic Plan through the lens of its evaluation and financial impact. District 65 has many challenges ahead that will require an elevated level of accountability, transparency and community engagement. Critical decisions regarding D65’s financial position, declining enrollment, school consolidation/closing and the new Foster School, will be made. In addition to financial threats, our national political environment has resulted in the targeting of multiple segments of our student/teacher population. My vision is to have a school district that is a safe learning space for all, is financially stable, and prepares students for high school success.

But I as a board member, the school board, and District 65 as a whole, cannot do this without continued community engagement. My ask of the community is, please, please, please sustain your engagement. Attend the D65 Regular Board Meetings or Committee of the Whole, virtually or in person. Express your views through public comment. Sign up for the SDRP Phase II Committee by applying now until March 24^th.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to reach out to me at patandersonford65@gmail.com

I would like to thank Tom Hayden for this opportunity to share with the Evanston Community. I would like to thank the Evanston Community for its engagement in this school board election!