Running for the School Board are nine candidates who are vying for one of four available seats. They are (in alphabetical order): Kelly Asseff, Tom Chavez, Jammie Esker Schaer, Kelly Henry, Beth Hosler, Lan Li, Linda Nudera, Courtenae Trautman and Ben Zulauf . Voters will vote for four. Elected Board members will serve a four-year term.
Kelly Asseff
Ten years as an Elmhurst resident, Asseff and her husband Paul have three children — Yasmeen, 13, Eliza, 10, and Vale, 7. She is a full-time parent and D205 volunteer but was formerly a professional school counselor. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Indiana University and a Master’s degree in education with a School Counseling Specialization (M. Ed., S.C.E.), Florida Atlantic University. Her community involvement includes: Sandburg schools, PTA President-Elect at Sandburg Middle School, member of the D205 PTA Council, room parent for eight consecutive years and is a Girl Scouts troop leader. She is also a volunteer for DuPage PADS, The Night Ministry, We Pop Up and has worked with mobile food pantries during the pandemic to distribute food to D205 families in need.
Why are you running?
I bring to the D205 School Board the unique perspective of a K-12 professional school counselor with a Master’s degree in Education, a long-time D205 volunteer and a parent of 3 children in the district. There is no other candidate with all of these qualifications. I have the educational and professional mental health experience missing from the current board along with serving on the PTA Executive Board for 6 consecutive years. Next year I will have children in high school, middle school and elementary school giving me a long-term vested interest in the success of D205.
Biggest challenges facing the School District:
The mental health of our students is a concern, as students face everyday stressors and post-pandemic data from the CDC shows students are experiencing record levels of anxiety and depression. I will be the foremost and only mental health professional on the board and will advocate for strong mental health supports and resources. Improving proficiency and achievement is a priority. I will collaborate with administrators to continue the work of the strategic plan already underway, which has established benchmarks and learning targets to improve outcomes. Connecting and engaging with the community and ensuring comprehensive, accurate communication occurs is a priority.
What else should our readers know:
I am a dedicated professional, volunteer and D205 parent. I have proven over my 25 year career working with children and adolescents that I am committed to bettering their lives and our community. My long history of working with diverse communities such as teen mothers, HIV/AIDS patients, homeless veterans, adults with disabilities and children and adolescents in school settings shows I am uniquely equipped and qualified to be a well-rounded school board member. I will bring my expertise in child and adolescent development and student mental health to the board and be an asset to our district.
Tom Chavez
Along with Suzanne Walsh Chavez, his wife of 30 years, Chavez has lived in Elmhurst for 17 years and raised three children: Olivia, 22, Marissa, 20 Andrew, 17. Having earned a BA from DePaul University, Chavez works as a commodities broker and risk analyst. He listed no community involvement.
Why are you running?
Public education systems across the United States are failing a generation of children. This is a cultural crisis that is impacting historically top tier school districts, including Elmhurst D205. For the past 18 months, I’ve demonstrated through action, not words, my commitment to understanding the mission critical issues impacting our students. I’ve spent countless hours identifying problems, learning about potential solutions, and advocating for parents and their children. I’m motivated by the challenge of restoring excellence to District 205 by prioritizing academic achievement, and giving teachers the tools, policies, and resources, they need to better help our students.
Biggest challenges facing the School District:
The three biggest challenges are reassuring parents that academic excellence is being prioritized; ensuring curriculum is aligned with the district’s student academic success goals; assuring teachers have the tools, policies, and resources they need to better help our students. In recent years, merit and rigor have been supplanted by a new educational mindset that has jettisoned curriculum that has worked for decades in favor of producing equal outcomes. Last April, parents were surveyed by D205, and 70% of respondents said they wanted more academics. A year later, test scores are still far below D205 historical community standards.
What else should our readers know:
I am an engaged parent and have enjoyed every minute of raising my kids in Elmhurst. Our experience in D205 has been overwhelmingly positive. I want all families to experience the Elmhurst community the way that my family has. If elected, I will always advocate for students, parents, and stakeholders. I will hold myself accountable to produce strong academic results and student success for every child in our community.
Jammie Esker Schaer
For 23 years Schaer and her husband have called Elmhurst home, along with their five sons: Nolan, 21, Caden, 19, Gavin, 17, Warren, 14, and Colin, 9. She holds a bachelor of science in accounting. She listed no community involvement.
Why are you running?
I am running for School Board for two reasons: fiscal responsibility and academic achievement. Our test scores are down and our property taxes are up. In my current employed position as a senior accountant at a multi-location medical practice, I manage a multi-million dollar cash flow and accounts payable. I have learned to recognize financial redundancies and cost savings with better use of current assets.
Biggest challenges facing the School District:
The single most pressing issue facing the school board is the continuing low scores of the children. According to Illinois Report Card in 2019 only 6% of Conrad Fisher students could do math at grade level. In 2022, 20% are at grade level. 80% cannot do math at grade level. While this is an improvement, Conrad Fisher continues to have a large gap between low income and non-low income students that remains an unaddressed root issue.
Our school board has been saving money for a decade to use during inflationary times like today and they still voted to raise our taxes by 5 %. This equates to roughly $8 million. Inflation was the reason behind their yes vote. Busing and other costs have increased; totaling $1.5 million. This can be taken from our surplus in lieu of raising taxes. The new school board needs to focus on NOT raising taxes.
Transparency – Parents and community members deserve to know what is happening within our schools. I support parental choice and for this to happen we need transparency from our administration and the school board.
What else should our readers know:
I am raising five sons. The wide range of their ages has developed my ability to communicate and lead in ever-changing and frequently challenging environments.
National Safe Routes to School – I was part of the founding group here in Elmhurst. Our group instituted bike to school programs at the elementary schools. We also applied for and received funding for more bike paths throughout Elmhurst. This program was an addition to the walk to school program through the PTA; of which I was in charge of at Lincoln for 7 years.
I initiated the lawsuit to have face masks removed at school. Our school didn’t exercise its local control when deciding on masks. Who you vote for is given that local control.
I will not vote for a 5% tax increase.
Kelly Henry
Along with her husband Christopher and twin second-grade daughters, Henry has lived in Elmhurst for five years. Her education includes a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and a B.A. in Spanish at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She did her residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at Loyola University Medical Center and took part in the Coleman Palliative Medicine Training Program. No community involvement was listed.
Why are you running?
I’ve witnessed how our children’s physical and mental health directly impacts their well-being and in turn, their academic success. My experience as a pediatrician and an associate professor makes me uniquely qualified to serve on the board. I’m committed to keeping our students at the center of all my decisions. I want to use my critical thinking skills, ability to manage complex situations, and effective communication to solve the challenges facing our district. As a mother of young children, I remain fully invested in the future of our schools and the work of the board of education.
Biggest challenges facing the School District:
The D205 district needs to focus on improving student academic achievement and growth. I will ensure each school has adequate resources to analyze student data and develop individualized plans for each student that address their needs and provide interventions when necessary. Our schools also need to further invest in mental health resources, faculty, and targeted school-based interventions to support our students in the classroom. Lastly, I believe we must work to improve communication with families and community members to listen and learn from different perspectives and collaboratively work for better solutions.
What else should our readers know:
Every day I advocate for quality care, effective communication, and patient autonomy. On the board, I will continue to advocate for our children daily. All our district children deserve the best public education possible. The role of the board is to guide the education of our children, monitor their progress and provide them with the tools they need for academic and life-long success. I believe we must always serve the whole child, the whole student. Our students’ physical and mental well-being will always be at the forefront of my mind when making decisions and setting policy for D205.
Beth Hosler
Hosler grew up right here in Elmhurst, attending District 205 schools. She and her husband have three children ages 15, 18 and 19. She currently serves on the D205 School Board and volunteers at a center focused on wildlife rehabilitation and conservation. Hosler holds an associate degree in science of COD. Her community involvement includes volunteering in D205 schools for 14 years. She has served on the PTA, on the board of the PTA Council, on special initiative committees across the district, as well as the committee to help pass the school referendum. In addition, Hosler has managed several youth sports teams.
Why are you running?
I’m invested in giving back to our community and I volunteer to enhance the D205 experience for students. During my first term, we brought in new leadership, worked diligently to complete the projects outlined in the referendum on time and under budget and put a comprehensive strategic plan in place to drive student success and improvements across the organization. We have elevated communication & community engagement to ensure decision making reflects the values of those who elect us. My commitment to strong leadership, establishing a strategic plan that monitors and elevates the core areas of the district, and collaboration to achieve growth, sets the district up for success.
Biggest challenges:
Our most important job as a school board is to address the needs of all students to ensure growth & academic success for everyone. It’s the highest priority we have. To ensure we achieve that goal, we established a strategic plan as a district that creates a pathway for achievement for each and every incredible student in D205.
Staff turnover can be challenging. Consistency is essential. Prioritizing culture and climate are important components of the strategic plan.
Finally, reaching all stakeholders with accurate information is difficult. We’ve taken great strides to find ways to engage with all residents. I’d like to see even more engagement to be sure all voices are heard.
What else should our readers know:
As a D205 School Board member, my focus is always, first and foremost, on kids. It’s vital that we give them every opportunity to thrive, both while they are part of D205, and after they graduate, as we teach them to be lifelong learners.
I believe the more opportunities we give students to explore different career paths, the easier it is for them to hone in on their passion. That’s why I support ways for students to fit more exploratory electives into their schedule, earlier in their academic journey. This gives them exposure to different professions and helps them make connections in the community.
Lan Li
After obtaining a Master of Science in computer science and a Master of Accounting Science in accounting, Li has had a career as a CPA. He is married with one child and has lived in Elmhurst for 14 years. His community involvement includes volunteering as a chess club coach.
Why are you running?
My family arrived in the U.S. as first-generation immigrants with limited resources and no social networks or inheritance. Education was the only way for me to achieve the American dream and a comfortable middle-class life. Running for office in District 205 was motivated by my son’s enrollment, which would allow me to directly impact his education and future. As a financial compliance professional, I have the expertise to safeguard customer funds and use this experience to protect Elmhurst residents’ hard-earned money. If elected, I would objectively evaluate the school’s financial condition, seek additional funds if necessary, and avoid raising tax levies to the maximum when there’s a surplus and reserve.
Biggest challenges:
The school board faces numerous challenges on a daily basis, but the most significant ones are the loss of trust from Elmhurst’s inhabitants, declining student achievement, and the need for fiscal responsibility. Rebuilding trust requires transparency about school performance, avoiding sugarcoating data, and providing clear information to residents. Declining student achievement calls for a focus on fundamental subjects like reading, writing, math, and science instead of teaching contentious subjects that should be the responsibility of parents. Lastly, fiscal responsibility entails ensuring that the District remains financially viable without placing undue burden on Elmhurst’s residents while using surplus and reserve funds wisely.
What else should our readers know:
I find solace in reading classic literature, unaltered by
sensitivity readers. These authors possess the power to take me on an imaginative journey with their characters and worlds. For instance, when reading Jane Eyre, I become a feminist, while LOTR allows me to inhabit the roles of a wizard, hobbit, elf, or even a king. Moby Dick transforms me into a whale hunter, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea makes me Captain Nemo. Introducing young minds to the vast world of literature is a wonderful experience. When I’m not reading, I’m running, having completed the Chicago marathon twice. Overall, I’m just an ordinary person, good at some things and bad at others. I hope that my son will have a better life than mine, being healthy, happy, well-educated, and fulfilled.
Linda T. Nudera
Married for 33 years, Nudera and her husband Jim raised four children who went to D205 schools and then went on to Big Ten universities. They have lived in their Elmhurst home for almost 24 years, also with a dog and a goldfish. She works on a career and technical education with an FACS endorsement and is ASEP certified to coach high school athletics. She holds a Master of science in Education from Northern Illinois University and a B.S. in Dietetics from Michigan State. Her community involvement includes 20+ years with the PTA, a board member and coach for the Elmhurst Eagles, a teacher and coach in D205. Nudera was also an RE teacher for 12 years at Visitation Parish, a Cub Scout leader, a YSET advisor and freshmen parent liaison for York, managed softball and baseball teams, taught at the Park District, supported ChildrenUP and the school referenda, and more.
Why are you running?
I am running to address proficiency scores. Many of our students have learning gaps in basic education and are being passed from one grade to another without firm foundational math, sentence structure, writing skills and spelling. I know how to analyze educational data. I will be
honest and direct about what is lacking and work with the teachers/admin/board to implement tangible solutions appropriate for grade levels. I will advocate for curriculum that will transition from year to year to solidify knowledge, build confidence, and initiate imagination. Also to uphold fiscal responsibility for the stakeholders in our community.
Biggest challenges facing the School District:
- Foundational curriculum, student confidence, and accountability need to be addressed.
2. Maintaining a financial balance between providing an excellent, well-rounded educational experience for students and cutting wasteful spending on “fluff” and outside contractors.
3. Providing a safe space for both students and teachers through well-staffed, secured buildings and respectful interactions that support a functional classroom dynamic.
What else should our readers know:
I am a second career educator who loves going to work. I am approachable and open-minded.
I prefer conversation to texting & enjoy a respectful debate. Favorite activities: being a mom, contact sports (played rugby at MSU), gardening, cooking, designing & tailoring. I rely on faith and family to keep me grounded. I am thankful to those who keep us safe, our police and military. It is my intention to serve our community to the best of my ability.
Courtenae Trautmann
After growing up in the New York area, Trautmann moved to Chicago in 2003 and then Elmhurst in 2010. She and her husband Tom have been married 22 years and have two children, Jack, a junior at York and Hannah, an 8th grader at Bryan Middle School. After retiring from the FBI in 2017 with more than 26 years of federal law enforcement experience, she recently completed her fifth year as the NFL Security Representative for the Chicago Bears and Soldier Field. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Lawrence University and a Master’s in criminal psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Her community involvement includes the Lincoln PTA, as corresponding secretary and president, was co-chair of Book Fair, and co-chair of Talent Show. At Bryan, Trautmann served four years as co-chair of Dance Class, is president-elect of the PTA Council, and at York, she is PTSA chair of Young Hearts for Life and is co-chair for the D205 Referendum committee. She volunteers at Elmhurst Walk-In Assistance Network (EWAN), established a golf tournament to support No Frills Fun Run, and co-established Diamonds are Forever softball tournament to support community families.
Why are you running?
I am running for re-election because I want to continue ensuring that our district pursues academic excellence, prioritizes fiscal responsibility, & above all else, that every school is as safe as possible. In my first term, I worked hard to develop, communicate & implement solutions that focus on these priorities. I want to continue serving our great community by using my experience to make thoughtful, informed decisions that positively impact ALL students. As a parent of two D205 students, I am deeply invested in our schools & their successes. I am committed to focusing on clear communication & pledge to continue cultivating positive relationships with all stakeholders.
Biggest challenges facing the School District:
Two of our biggest challenges are closing our learning gaps & implementing curriculum changes as a result of reviews going on right now. The ELA, Math, Dual Language and EL curriculum reviews will provide the road map we need to close learning gaps and show growth. The targeted data we are utilizing will make sure all of our students, however they learn, are getting the tools needed to succeed in our classrooms. We have the right leadership in place to accomplish these goals and I am confident it will happen. The third biggest challenge is ensuring we stay on budget and are good financial stewards of our taxpayer dollars.
What else should our readers know:
I am an experienced and passionate leader who will continue to step up to represent our community. With my 26 years of federal law enforcement experience, no other candidate is more qualified to be a subject matter expert on school safety than I am. I think it’s important that I have students currently in D205 because I can bring the parent perspective and understand first-hand the student experience from start to finish in D205. You can count on me to make decisions in the best interest of our children and our community as a whole.
Ben Zulauf
A resident for four years, Zulauf works as a Literacy Diretor and holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from of U of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, a Master of education in Literacy and a Doctorate of education in Literacy, both from Judson University, and a Master of Educational leadership from National Louis University. Zulauf did not list any community involvement.
Why are you running?
I have experience in the education, specifically with curriculum, instruction, and assessment. This is year 14 in education, but since starting in Cicero just 18 months ago, we’ve taken several steps forward in improving our literacy instruction, including: providing sequential and cumulative professional development in literacy; training teachers to use a new instructional structure for foundational skills; implementing a universal screener and a diagnostic assessment; eliminating programs and practices that don’t align with research; launching an in-house literacy podcast; and creating our annual literacy institute. I’d like to use this experience in whatever capacity I can to assist D205.
Biggest challenges facing the School District:
While there is more to being a part of the school board than a focus on academics, I would like to see improved professional development for teachers, curriculum and instruction, and assessment practices. I believe that a plan for these things will assist with many issues that our community cares about, specifically our academic scores and students’ social emotional health. Beyond those, we need to make sure we are being fiscally responsible, and we need to determine how to effectively and efficiently monitor the numerous goals in the strategic plan.
What else should our readers know:
I’ve dedicated my life to helping students succeed. Much of what I’ve shared publicly has focused on academics, but I also recognize the important of being bilingual, which is why I’m working closely with the multilingual department in my own district to help ensure that students become bilingual and biliterate. I also recognize the importance of extracurriculars. I competed in sports during most of my academic career, which opened up doors after high school, and I immediately started coaching after graduating from college because I know the value that extracurriculars add to students’ lives.
