Jennifer Marie Jensen is running for her second term on the Palos Dist. 118 school board in the April 1 election.
Lorraine Swanson, Patch Staff
PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — Jennifer Marie Jensen is running with the Baker, Jensen, Quinn & Szafranski 4for118 slate for reelection to the Palos Dist. 118 Board of Education in the April 1 election. Early voting runs from March 17 to March 31.
Jennifer Marie Jensen
4for118
Facebook: 4for118
Palos Heights
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Palos 118
I have been married to my husband Craig for 15 years, and we have 2 children. Amelia is 10 and is a 4th grader at Palos East. Nathan is 11 and a sixth grader at Palos South.
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for.
I come from a long line of strong women leaders. My aunt has served on the North Palos 117 board for over 12 years and my cousin is completing her first term on the Green Hills Library District board.
I have a bachelor's in Special Education from Elmhurst University.
I was a Special Education teacher for a total of 13 years, spending my first year in CPS and the next 12 in North Palos 117. In March of 2020, I decided to take a step back from the classroom to focus on my family. For the last 3 years, I have worked as an accounting assistant in an Orland Park tax office.
I am currently serving my first term as a school board member in Palos 118.
The reality of school board work is not very glamorous. The most pressing issues are not what facebook or the news would have you believe are the issue. Most of the issues the rest of the state are facing in education are not problems in Palos 118. This is the direct result of the collective efforts of all stakeholders. The parents are active in the schools, our teachers are top notch and our administration has high expectations and a clear vision for the district. This has allowed our students to thrive in the classroom.
Finances: Since 1982 the state of Illinois has passed 699 mandates. Only 0.5% of these mandates are funded. We have diligently worked with our Chief School Business Officer to achieve the highest financial rating from the state board of education. Just last spring we were able to successfully pass a referendum to ensure the future success of our school district. This is crucial for the long term success of our district.
We strive to maintain a delicate balance: providing every opportunity and support to every learner—understanding that this looks different for each student—while remaining financially responsible to taxpayers. Over the last four years, the board has worked with administrators to expand both our English Learner (EL) and Special Education programs, while providing coaches to improve math instruction for our elementary students. These measures have proven successful, not only because District 118 is one of the lowest-spending, high-achieving districts in the state, but also through the pride our students and community take in our schools.
We plan to continue this progress and find ways to serve all of our students, while balancing the many moving parts of running a school district.
Baker, Szafranski and Jensen have Board experience. They were elected to serve this community 4 years ago. In that time, two schools have won the National Blue Ribbon award. We passed a referendum to put our district on solid financial ground for the future. The district implemented professional learning coaches at Palos East and West to work with our teachers in math. The effectiveness of this endeavor is proven by our increased test scores. Baker, Jensen, and Szafranski also have a combined 50+ years of experience in education– everything ranging from special education to coaching and classroom teaching to administration. They all continue to work in education, whether it is in schools, as advocates, or working with educational institutions.
Quinn would be a first time school board member but he has worked closely with the board of directors at a financial institution serving as the Chief Information Officer. He currently serves as the chair of the Information Security Committee. He would bring a wealth of background in technology and cybersecurity to the board, which makes him stand out. Technology is an important aspect of education and his expertise would provide a unique and useful perspective to the board.
I am an incumbent.
The only agenda we have is to maintain the quality of schools that this community deserves.We fully understand that when you are sworn in as board member you are one of seven individuals that have to work together as a team for the good of the students. While everyone brings their voice and experiences to the meetings, board work is about building consensus. Personal agendas slow down the work. We are not involved in the day-to-day operations of the school. We trust and monitor the superintendent and his staff and set the direction for the district. Our main goal would be to work together to continue the momentum that we have going in this district. Providing opportunities and resources to our students is our first priority.
I feel that my record as a current board member is evidence of my commitment to the community. I am proud to sit on a two time Excellence in Governance Award winning board. During my first term, two of our schools were named Blue Ribbon Schools. Palos South was placed in the top 10% of Illinois Middle Schools. The district passed a referendum ensuring financial stability for our future. We presented a balanced budget while expanding our in house Special Education and EL services and renovating our classrooms to embrace 21st century learning.
As a current board member, I feel I have proven my commitment to serving the whole community. I believe in continuing to be transparent in our work while remembering our responsibilities to each stakeholder group. Most of all, I am a parent. I want the best for each and every student, just as I do my own. I believe strong schools create strong, supportive communities.
Schools should be a safe place for all students. Staff should be give guidance that follows state and local laws and be instructed accordingly. All students should feel safe and supported while in the care of the district.
Technology has become a part of our lives and it continues to evolve every day. We know there has been current legislation introduced surrounding this issue, but we maintain that school districts should maintain local control on making this decision. Technology, including phones, have a time and a place and schools should be able to address this on a case-by-case basis.
Students should be taught about their bodies, the changes that happen, and how to take care of themselves. When it comes to more complex and controversial areas of Sex Ed, we feel individual families should decide when and how to have the conversations. It is important to follow state mandates, but it is important to take into consideration the values and wishes of each part of the community and leave decisions to parents about whether their student receives instruction about matters they do not feel comfortable with.
We would all love to pay lower taxes. The current tax rate allows the district to keep quality programming, expand opportunities, and create welcoming environments for students to learn without overly burdening the community. We strive to efficiently spend tax dollars so we can continue to be one of the lowest spending and highest achieving districts in the state. Schools are integral to the community and only one piece that contributes to our taxes. Strong schools will help our communities thrive in many ways, but funding is needed to maintain its success.
The impact of TIFs in Palos 118 has been negligible, but we'd be open to exploring and if it became relevant to our district.
Every resident in Palos 118 should be proud of the students' level of achievement. Our students score above the 90th percentile in every subject. The district has prioritized quality, data driven instruction and provided support to both faculty and students to make sure each child is able to achieve and grow. In the coming years, it will be important to continue collaboration across grade levels and schools to ensure a consistent experience for each child. Professional Learning Communities within the schools will continue to help teachers evaluate student performance and design quality lessons based on current student proficiency. We will also continue to look at how we can enhance our educational spaces. We have a lot to celebrate in 118 but always looking ahead and considering initiatives moving forward is important for growth, so we feel creating roadmaps and goals will be key.
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