Election 2013: Timothy Frederickson

Campaign Info

• Position Sought: Community Consolidated School District 146
• Website: Planning for Progress; Planning for Progress on Facebook; Twitter: @PlanProgress
• Email:  ConnollyFrederickson@gmail.com 
• Phone:
• Hometown: Tinley Park

Personal Info

• Family: Heather wife, Olivia daughter, Liam son, Max son
• Education: BA from University Of Illinois at Chicago, MA Educational Administration from Governors State University
• Occupation: 6th grade teacher at Downers Grove District 58
• Political Party Affiliation: Democrat

Candidate Questions

Why are you seeking office?

I am seeking a seat on the school board because I have three small children who are either currently attending District 146 schools or will be within the next few years. I am a career educator and I feel that I have the expertise and experiences, which make me uniquely qualified to continue the tradition of success and progress here in 146.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?

My single most important priority when elected will be to make sure that our learning community continues to progress towards the expectations of our families, community and high schools that we feed. We need to ensure that our students are prepared for the world of tomorrow and in order to do this we need to embrace the instructional technology and strategies on the cutting edge of educational innovation.

What sets you apart from other candidates? 

I believe that my unique position as a father of three young children, an educator, and as a former employee of the district will give me insights beyond that of the other candidates. I have created and maintained relationships with stakeholders (parents, teachers, administrators and students) within the district which will provide valuable insights into the decision making process here in 146.

What is your opinion on the current testing schedule our students are placed under? Do you believe these high-stakes test are educationally viable?

District 146 currently uses a very forward thinking battery of tests called MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing. They are administered in the fall, winter, and spring. They provide extremely valuable insights into the learning that is occurring within our schools, at regular intervals, for each student and they offer the results almost instantly. In fact, the replacement that is coming for the ISATs, the PARCC assessment, is based on the same model and technology. I think that we will always need a snapshot of the learning that occurs within our schools in order to continue to improve. Stakeholders demand that there be a metric to see the progress being made and as long as we continue to make good authentic teaching and learning a daily priority, we will be proud of our results.

Where does music education and fine arts education fit in your educational priorities? What does an ideal fine arts curricula look like to you?

I consider myself an artist and a musician. The experiences that I have had in my life as a result of my education have created many opportunities for me. Extending those opportunities to our students here in 146 is very important to me. An ideal fine arts curricula would allow all students an opportunity to explore and discover within themselves unique talents as often as district resources would allow.

What are your thoughts on the district's wellness policy? Would you change anything?

Our district’s wellness policy is a model of what all school districts will be moving towards. Districts around the country are finding themselves walking a thin line between liability and expectations with a growing number of concerns bubbling up. Food allergies within a classroom or even a school beg us to be extremely cautious because the health, or even survival, of more and more students are at risk.

Revenue from the state continues to dry up, while residents are also dealing with rising costs. Please rank the following in the order you feel the district should be focused on for meeting the district’s costs in light of these issues. 1) Staff Cuts 2) Contract Renegotiations 3) Operating Expense Cuts 4) Tax Increases 5) Other Funding Sources. Please also explain your reasoning.

We already receive a small percentage of our operating budget from the state, and while I would continue to press the state for as much of the funds as they promise, I think that our district finances are very healthy. I think that making sure that the district continues its tradition of strategic use of funds and resources will be very important.

How can the school district best prepare students for the Common Core State Standards? How can the district also involve parents in the process?

Common Core are not state standards. There are a set of national standards that will provide a set of higher expectations which, when we achieve them, will produce a cohort of graduates with the skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace. They are a common set of standards, which will make the field level so that we will be able to compare our progress with that of other schools across the state and the nation. Parents can be involved in the transition to the Common Core by continuing to embrace their children’s educational opportunities and by working with the teachers and the schools. Parents should continue to model the importance of life long learning by reading to, and with their children and by talking with their children about what is happening in the classrooms across the district.

Have you ever been charged with a crime? Were you convicted? If yes, please say what the charge was, and what was the case's outcome as it stands.

No.

Are there any candidates in other races you would like to endorse here?

Amy Connolly, Ed Zabrocki, Pat Rea, Dave Seaman, Brian Maher, T.J. Grady, Larry Canning

Read about other D146 candidates running in the April election.