District 70 School Board Race: Evan Williamson Profile

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — After a year when school boards were tasked with making tough decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the spring election will feature many packed school board races featuring candidates with differing opinions on how we should be educating our children.

The Libertyville Elementary District 70 school board race includes several candidates who've pushed for a return to in-person learning. Like many school districts, D70 spent most of the year learning remotely.

There are nine people running for five open seats on the school board. Seven of the candidates are seeking four open seats for a four-year term on the board of education while two candidates are vying for a single two-year term.

Patch.com reached out to the candidates running for the school board race, requesting they complete a candidate survey. Here are the responses for Evan Williamson who is among seven candidates running for four four-year term seats on the school board:

Age (as of election day): 34

Town/city of residence: Libertyville

School district: Libertyville District 70

Family - Names, ages and any pertinent details you wish to share: Kristen (Wife), Shane (7), Colette (4)

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: BA, University of Notre Dame; MPH - George Washington University; MS - Georgetown University

Occupation - Please include years of experience: Healthcare Data Analytics (12)

Campaign website: parentsdeliveringleadership.com

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 current Board of Education has not represented the community and has failed in prioritizing the needs of students, parents, families, and taxpayers. They have failed in their duty to hold the administration accountable for developing and advancing a plan to return children to full-time instruction and neglected opportunities to question and challenge short-sighted and reactionary decisions from the administration that have set us further behind. As a result, our children will go more than a year without receiving a full-day of instruction. That is unacceptable. State and Federal authorities have been clear that the ultimate decision on the operation of schools rests with the local district leadership. Their guidance provides a framework and recommendation to inform these decisions but at few points are specific actions mandated or required. Strong leaders understand that it is impossible to make everyone happy all of the time and that providing a consistent, steady approach to weighing competing interests will produce the best decisions. This is what I will bring to the board if elected.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?: Local school districts face a great challenge in emerging from the events of the last year with a renewed emphasis on serving our children. Boards serve in an advisory and oversight capacity. It is their job to ensure that the administration operates the district effectively and serves the interests of their constituents. As such, a board member must take a critical lens to the decisions and expenditures of the district in furthering the education of the children in the community. It is not a board member's role to overstep the authority of the superintendent and administration but to ensure that a clear strategic direction is outlined and followed. Professionally, I have developed multi-year strategic plans and managed multi-million dollar budgets. I have led large teams of diverse professionals. These experiences have helped me prioritize important issues and learn how to ask difficult questions. Personally, I am an engaged parent, coaching soccer and baseball, as well as leading a Cub Scout Den. I am passionate about our community and will bring the same critical eye and energy to our school district.