District 128 School Board Race: Sean Gay

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — There are 10 candidates running for four open seats this spring on the Community High School District 128 school board.

Patch.com requested information from all candidates through a survey. Here are the responses submitted by District 128 school board candidates Sean Gay:

Age: 49

Town/city of residence: Libertyville

School district: D128

Family - Names, ages and any pertinent details you wish to share: Two daughters 19 & 12. Two sons 16 & 14.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for: No

Education: Bachelors of Science Civil Engineering University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana

Occupation- Please include years of experience: 25

Previous or current elected or appointed office: None

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.:

The single most pressing issue facing our school board is the increased focus on indoctrination and not education. Too many subjects, such as history and literature, present topics that are unrelated to the actual subject matter that should be presented in those classes. The new ISBE Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards do not improve our student’s educational experience, nor will it lead to our youth’s ability to develop critical thinking skills needed in today’s very competitive business environment. Schools should be controlled at the local level with dedicated board members knowing what challenges students and educators face within their community. My plan would be to further evaluate the current curriculum, reintroduce concepts that promote objective academic learning and foster leadership opportunities for the next generation.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?:

The D128 school board should be compromised of leaders that are personally connected to the district with active kids or soon to be active kids at either VHHS or LHS. Successful leadership flourishes when a person is fully and truly invested with the performance and function of our schools.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district?: The current board has deeply failed our community and its students by keeping school away from our kids for over a year. While thousands of school districts across our nation have thrived with full in person or hybrid learning, D128 has been subjected its students to a remote learning environment that fails to deliver academic success. It’s also alarming how despondent the district leaders have become and how unaware they are of the disadvantage our kids now face academically, socially, and emotionally

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?:

I’ve built a successful financial advice practice and continue to build on that success today with hundreds of satisfied clients from across the country. Communication is key to success with everything in life. I hope to bring better communication between the residents and parents of D128 and school administration

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

First, see that D128 be the best school district in the state both academically and opportunistically for ALL of our students. Second, give the taxpayer a greater value for their hard-earned tax dollars. Third, I want every D128 parent to be satisfied with the quality of their child’s education.

When the vaccine is available to them, do you support mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for students and staff?

No, my body my choice.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No.

The best advice ever shared with me was ____________

Just be yourself and show up.