Name: Randi Gauthier

Position for which you are a candidate: School District U-300 Board

 

Why are you seeking this position?

I believe in the power of having a good education and I am running for a seat on the board to protect our District. CUSD300 has provided my kids an excellent education in the last 8 years we’ve lived in District boundaries, but I believe there is room for growth and I want to be a part of advancing our schools. I believe that every individual should have the right to a safe and inclusive educational experience. I also love working with children, supporting schools, and assisting school staff. When an opportunity to run for the school board presented itself, I was eager to take it! I’m excited to serve the families, staff and administration.

What experience and background do you have which qualifies you for this position?

I’ve always had a passion for volunteerism and supporting my community. For this district, I volunteered on the PTO at Wright Elementary beginning in 2015. Over the next few years I became a Parent Representative on the PTO and then served two years as PTO Co-president. During that time, I also volunteered regularly in the school library. When my middle child entered 1st grade, I accepted a Para Professional position at an elementary school in neighboring school district, 301. I worked one-on-one with 3 and 4 year old preschool students and supported the teachers with classroom duties. I helped students work on the goals outlined by the teacher and helped them to successfully meet educational milestones. I was often moved around the school to support other students and got a first hand look at how a school functions.

Also, My husband and I were foster parents. We decided to become foster parents in 2016 and received training from DCFS on certain topics, for example, guiding children who have experienced trauma, how to support a Child’s emotional growth while coping with loss, and how IEP and 504 plans are best utilized to help the individual. Through classes on adoption, we learned about the effect diversity can have on children and how to advocate for inclusion at home and at school.

What will be your highest priorities if elected?

– I will work to ensure each and every student, staff member and admin is accepted, included, heard and valued. I am very close to members of the LGBTQIA+ community and will continue to serve on that Parent Advisory Committee dedicated to increasing ways to increase their safety, protection and inclusion.

– I will work to keep our schools safe for all students and staff.

– Visiting schools will be very important to me. I want to be able to visit classrooms so I will have first hand knowledge of current issues. Knowing what policies and protocols work and don’t work is vital to making sensible decisions.

– I will work with the district to strengthen our curriculum to ensure each student has the best education possible and is prepared for life after high school. My family sees the value in public education and has benefited from it’s structure, curriculum and diversity.

And

– I would like to fully support our district’s unions. Our staff must have the ability to negotiate from a position of strength to protect and increase wages, benefits, workplace health and safety, and adequate job training. Those things are vital in the retention of qualified teachers.

 

Will you be attending the Candidate Night?  Yes

 

Campaign Policy

Elections and voting are core concerns for the League of Women Voters. Year in and year out, Leagues are committed to providing fact-based information about issues and the positions candidates take on those issues to help voters make their own decisions and participate in the process.

The League of Women Voters never supports or opposes candidates for office or political parties. Any use of the League of Women Voters name in campaign advertising or literature has not been authorized by the League.