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In the Nov. 8 school board election, each of us has the unfathomable power to help determine the future paths all Cook County children will travel.
Vote for the board member most capable of deeply understanding and deftly managing reality-based facts of 21st century learning and life. Vote to help prepare all children with the knowledge, imagination, cognitive skills, social connectedness and emotional grit it will take to live in an unstable world none of us could imagine—and who will live there, with the consequences of our decisions, longer than any of us will.
For me, the District 3 choice is clear: Only the incumbent candidate, Rena Rogers, meets this historic moment of educational challenge, as evidenced by her fulfillment of the three E’s of educational leadership:
EXPERIENCE–successful, high-performance professional experience. Rena’s commitment to public duty at the highest levels is clear and admirable. She served the state as a project and program manager for decades and was a key part of Cook County’s administrative and technology leadership for seven years. From this, we know Rena knows how to build coalitions, strategize around problem solving and implement actions that best serve the most people and the community.
EDUCATION. Rena prepared for a life in knowledge-based public service by developing expertise through three college degrees that are highly relevant to Cook County schools and the learning deficits they face in our tech-dominated 21st century. She completed an elementary education degree and taught in classrooms; she studied in two highly competitive graduate degree programs, completing a master’s degree in mathematics education and converting her graduate-level computer science program to a second bachelor’s degree.
EXPERTISE. Her expertise provides Rena with vital scientific fact-based infrastructure we need to help schools manage the impact of accelerated technology on schools, children and society. Soon, you won’t be asking kids to just help you set up a smartphone. You’ll be asking for help coping with machine learning, data mining, cybersecurity, management of your basic services by AI (artificial intelligence), video and image manipulation software, the rise of exploitive social media outlets for kids under age 13. Of the current candidate slate, only Rena is prepared to understand these and other tech issues—screen addiction, is in there––that dominate the 21st century. And importantly, only Rena has the proven track record of problem-solving success to help give children and community a voice in humanizing tech.
Re-electing Rena ensures us that the highest quality, reality-based decision-making process will guide Cook County schools during a tumultuous time of challenges. These include challenges to basic learning of subject matter, mental health, peer socialization and confidence in the future.
Rena will not be learning the job on the job. She will be leading. She will excel on the job as she always has by preparing children for success in school, family, careers, life, while also supporting teachers and staff to do the same.
Vote Rena. And hold all candidates in every election to the same high standards Rena Rogers meets for fact-based reality, public service and demonstrated achievement.
Anne Brataas, Grand Marais, District 3
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