In Their Own Words: Here's Why You Should Vote for School Board Candidate Kelly Nowak

Tuesday will be a very important day for the Geneva community. Six candidates are seeking three positions on the Geneva School Board. These individuals will serve as a voice for our students and for our taxpayers during what promises to be a challenging decade for public education.

In addition to being the mother of three daughters, I consider my service on the Geneva School Board to be my full-time job, and for the past four years, I have been privileged to represent YOU. I have voluntarily pursued countless hours of additional training in the areas of school law, student achievement, school policy development and school finance. I have been recognized as a Master Board Member by the Illinois Association of School Boards.

My experience as a former bank vice president, coupled with my school board service, has prepared me to understand the complexities of Illinois school finance. Significant limitations continue to be imposed upon us by this difficult economy.

To better assess our priorities, and to balance our program goals against our diminished resources, I have leveraged my strong relationships with our staff to work through a myriad of challenges, and to minimize the impact of budget reductions on student learning.  

In the very near term, our school board will be required to make decisions which may well impact an entire generation of Geneva students. I am prepared to represent you from the very first day the new Board is seated, and to provide intelligent solutions which will benefit our community today and for many years into the future.

During the past 11 years, I have volunteered hundreds of hours in our schools, developing close relationships, and working in partnership with parents, teachers and administrators to ensure success for ALL of our students.  

For 17 years, I have served in a number of different capacities throughout the Tri-Cities. I possess a demonstrated ability to work productively with others. My strong ties to the Geneva community have helped to strengthen the valuable partnerships between our schools and retired senior citizens, local social service agencies, other governmental bodies, and even local businesses, creating opportunities to enhance instruction, while assisting those most in need throughout the City of Geneva.

With your support, I pledge that: 

• I will continue to be an outspoken advocate for our students, focused on adapting our curriculum and policies to meet the evolving needs of our community. I want all of our children to enjoy a lifetime of success. 
• I will consistently demand that the delivery of our educational program is done efficiently, with an eye towards ensuring we remain good stewards of the resources entrusted to us by the community.
• I will continue to represent YOU, as an informed and thoughtful voice of reason, in an increasingly challenging environment, working hard to balance our commitment to our children with our responsibilities to our taxpayers.

I am well-qualified to continue to represent you as a member of Geneva's Board of Education.  

I hope you will vote for me on Tuesday.    

Editor's note: Geneva Patch invited candidates in contested races for Park Board, City Council and School Board to write their own autobiographical introductions and final essays. You can read them all in the Elections 2011 tab at the top of the home page.