Rola Othman

Rola M. Othman, candidate SD 220. | Supplied photo

Rola Othman

Email: othman@sxu.edu

Web Site: http://www.projectmobilize.org/candidates/rola-othman-reavis-high-school-district-220-school-board/

Education:

Current Doctoral student in Higher Education and Organizational Change at Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill,

MBA, Saint Xavier University, Business Administration

MACS, Saint Xavier University, Computer Science

BA, Saint Xavier University, Criminal Justice, Psychology with a specialization in counseling

Occupation, employer: Director of Technology and Computing Services at Saint Xavier University

Please list sources of income:

Work

Spouse, spouse’s employer:

Mousa Alshair, Contractor FedEx Ground

Children, age of children, children’s employer (if applicable):

Ahmad, 15

Kamal, 11

Please list any relatives, including in-laws, who are employed by a government agency at the federal, state or local levels. What are their job titles and with what agency are they employed?

Lina Zayed, sister, Teacher, Burbank School District 220

Abir Othman, sister, Assistant Principal, Consolidated School District 230

Rahaf Othman, sister, Teacher, Consolidated High School District 218

Ronza Othman, sister, EEO Specialist, US Department of Health and Human Services, CMS

Abe Othman, brother, Teacher, Consolidated School District 230

What other elected offices have you sought? What year?

None

Have you ever been arrested or charged with a crime? If so, for what? What was the disposition? No

Do you have any criminal convictions on your record? If so, for what? What was your sentence? No

Political (elected or significant appointment) experience:

No

In your view, what are the two most important issues facing your constituents? How would you address those issues?

Our children have fallen behind in reading and math skills

Budget conditions are deteriorating

I aim to refocus available funds on instructional and educational purposes, partner with area colleges to help us increase reading and math proficiency, and develop alliances with local businesses that will give our children hands-on experiences that will help them to prepare for the work force.

Please explain something significant you would like to accomplish within the next two years if you are elected to the office to which you aspire.

Partner with the community to better prepare our children for the future — introduce more programs that will help them get jobs and prepare them for success in college. Expand dual enrollment programs with colleges and universities to give our children a competitive edge.

Please explain how you believe the office you’re seeking can help in creating local jobs.

Since board members mission is to set school policies, I would not be in a position to hire or fire people. As the district transforms to meet a global economy, local qualified contractors should be given consideration in accordance to the bid process.

Do you believe the current way Illinois pays for education is working? If so, why? If not, why not? What would you change?

I would lobby to rely less on property taxes, especially for our seniors who live on fixed incomes. We were promised that lottery money would be given to our schools, What happened to that funding? In collaboration with other school districts, as a unified group, we would lobby the state legislature.

Would you make any changes to the budget of the governing unit to which you are seeking elected office? If so, what?

Yes, I would look at innovative ways to increase funding towards instructional initiatives. Leverage technologies to enhance the classroom learning experience. We always hear about doing more with less, I would like to see us do things differently with less.

Are there any other issues you want to bring to the public’s attention? If so, what?

It’s time to focus on putting our kids first — solidify our communities to bring back quality education that will prepare our children and the community for the future.

Growing up in Burbank, attending Maddock School and graduating from Reavis High School — a successful and proud product of District 111 and District 220 — I am not only passionate about education and learning for myself but for all of 220 district students and their families. With a Masters in Computer Science and a Masters in Business, coupled with my experiences as a director of technology at Saint Xavier University, a high school teacher at a private institution, a college instructor at Moraine Valley, and a case manager with Metropolitan Family Services/Chicago and Illinois Departments on Aging to provide services for our aging communities has led me to become an advocate and a committed leader in order to make positive change for the underrepresented. In the process of attaining my doctorates in education, I know that I possess the skills, knowledge, and experience that will take district 220 into the 21st Century. It’s time to put our children and Reavis ahead. Voting me, Rola Othman, into district 220 board, I aim to work passionately and ethically to rebuild our reputation as a model and aspirant high school for the betterment of our children and overall community. Go Rams!

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