April 22, 2022 Koppers Campaign Newsletter
Kristen Koppers for Regional Superintendent of Schools
Yesterday, I spent the early evening helping hand out free spaghetti dinners to those who lived in and in nearby communities as they pulled up to the church. Volunteering is not new to me as I’ve learned the importance of it since the age of 12.
Since then, I’ve committed myself to volunteering as well as teaching my son that it’s better to give than receive.
Commitment is a strong word that is used a lot but rarely ever meant. A person can be committed to their job, marriage, or even their beliefs. While others may not believe in this word, I hold myself accountable when I commit to a group, cause, or event.
My commitment goes even further when I committed to the education field in 2003 when I went back for a Masters in English degree with a teaching certificate. Even back then, I knew there was a purpose for me to change my career path. Despite what many believe, I believe education can be saved; however, we have one last shot at it in the state of Illinois.
When I was in elementary school, I remember playing on the most dangerous equipment (the metal slides that were hot during the summer, the merry-go-round that would throw a person off if it went too fast, and of course the teeter-totter that would slam down when a person jumped off). I remember playing in the dirt, swimming in the streets when they were flooded, and staying out until the street lights came on. I had chickenpox at the age of five (which was, and still is, a highly contagious communicable disease). But most importantly, my parents did not have any worries about what I was being taught in school because they trusted their children in the public school system. Unfortunately, times have greatly changed, as the educational system of what should be taught has changed.
This past week I was busy talking and meeting with parents from Grundy and Kendall Counties as well as nearby counties regarding their thoughts about education. It’s disheartening to hear all the concerns parents have regarding their child’s education and the negative impact it has on them.
Schools are the one place where parents should feel safe sending their child or children knowing that they are being cared for. They should not have to worry about what their child is learning in the classroom that conflicts with their religion or parenting style. It is NOT the teacher’s job to teach a child about personal pronouns relating to genders, Critical Race Theory (CRT), or abiding by the National Sex-Education Standards that recently passed the Illinois House and Senate and was signed by the current Governor.
It’s obvious that many educators and legislators have ignored the parents' wishes as they focused only on their own personal views. Social media erupted with the phrase, “I do not co-parent with the Government” since the Governor mandated the illegal use of masking everyone and quarantining them without due process. Yet, this phrase still remains the same. My husband and I do not co-parent with the government and they do not have the right to teach my child anything that goes against our views.
The role of the Regional Superintendent of Schools is the office between school districts and the state. This elected position has many different responsibilities. According to the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools, The ROE acts “as an intermediate agency between the Illinois State Board of Education and local school districts, the office of the Regional Superintendent performs regulatory functions as directed by the Illinois School Code.” Part of the code indicates that the Regional Superintendent of Schools supervises all school districts in the region and acts as an advocate for education.
When a parent feels that the school district morally and ethically violates a child’s right during his/her education, the parent needs somewhere to turn to for help and support. I will be there waiting.
It’s time that we Restore Illinois and Restore Education.
Donate / Volunteer: www.KoppersforROE24.com
Best,
Kristen Koppers, NBCT, MA.Ed.