Jared Branahl
Avoca District 37 School Board
candidate video
responses to voter guide questions
Introduction:
Please tell us about yourself, your qualifications, and what prompted you to run for School Board?
I have worked in education for nearly two decades, both as support staff and as a certified teacher librarian. During that time, I have served on school improvement committees, such as the Literacy Improvement Committee at Niles Township High Schools, and the Technology Oversight Committee at North Shore Country Day. These experiences have given me firsthand knowledge of what it takes to make the school day successful within the classroom. My committee work has given me insight to the important work that is done behind the scenes and far in advance of the school doors actually opening. As a lover of sports, I have enjoyed volunteering with the Wilmette Park District coaching soccer and basketball. I am the parent of one recent Avoca 37 graduate, and two current Avoca 37 students. I enjoy reading and writing, and my favorite thing about education is empowering students to find and explore the things they are passionate about. I am running for the school board because I want voters to see a ballot that is full of highly-qualified candidates who are ready to represent them.
Questions:
What do you see as the main priorities and challenges for the incoming school board?
One of the first priorities will be the process of writing, negotiating and adopting a new contract for Avoca 37 teachers. I think it is vitally important that we provide a contract that continues to enable our schools to attract and retain highly-qualified teachers. We want our teachers to come to school happy and confident that their work is valued and supported in meaningful ways. The challenge, of course, is finding a contract that achieves this, while also remaining sustainable and fiscally responsible amidst the financial realities of inflation and declining enrollments.
What, if any, specific educational goals do you have for D37 and how would you work to achieve them?
I see myself as joining a work in progress. I don’t think it’s realistic or helpful for individual board members to bring with them too much of a specific agenda that they expect to see implemented. Obviously, I will bring my own personal lens that will influence the way I look at things. As an educator myself, I value student-centered, inquiry-based learning. This very much aligns with the Avoca 37 mission to Inspire Curiosity, Cultivate Academic Growth, and Nurture Diversity. By empowering students to find and pursue things that interest them, we help them become lifelong learners who will continue to grow and develop long after they’ve left our schools. This brings tremendous value to everyone in our community, regardless of whether or not they have current Avoca 37 students in their household.
How would you improve the board’s transparency and community engagement?
As a librarian, I get to meet a fair number of published authors. I often hear them lament the constant struggle to gain visibility for their work. They work so hard to write and publish a great book. It might be available in bookstores and on library shelves, but if readers aren’t finding it, then it may as well not exist to them. This is also true with the board of education’s work. Community members are invited to attend board meetings, read board minutes, examine board documents, etc. As the second half of the question suggests, I believe what community members are feeling as a “lack of transparency” actually comes from a desire for more visibility and engagement. The recent bond referendum has presented the board with both a challenge and an opportunity. While it divided opinions and was ultimately unsuccessful, it did also raise the community’s awareness of the work of the school board. The new board will have an opportunity to seize on that momentum to build stronger engagement with the community. Social media is one area where more consistent and purposeful sharing could build those connections.
In 2024, the Avoca District proposed a bond issue to upgrade Avoca facilities that did not pass. What is your recommendation on Avoca facilities upgrades?
I’m sure there are a wide variety of reasons voters had for opposing the referendum. The two biggest factors that I consistently heard and read about were: 1) the overall price tag of the referendum (and the impact that would have on the affordability of housing in our district), and 2) the desire to keep Avoca West in its current location. The challenges with aging and crowded facilities that the bond sought to alleviate still remain to be dealt with in future years. Any solutions to those issues that the board puts forward should prioritize keeping the elementary school at 235 Beech Drive, and lowering the financial impact on Avoca 37 residents.
Please tell us about yourself, your qualifications, and what prompted you to run for School Board?
I have worked in education for nearly two decades, both as support staff and as a certified teacher librarian. During that time, I have served on school improvement committees, such as the Literacy Improvement Committee at Niles Township High Schools, and the Technology Oversight Committee at North Shore Country Day. These experiences have given me firsthand knowledge of what it takes to make the school day successful within the classroom. My committee work has given me insight to the important work that is done behind the scenes and far in advance of the school doors actually opening. As a lover of sports, I have enjoyed volunteering with the Wilmette Park District coaching soccer and basketball. I am the parent of one recent Avoca 37 graduate, and two current Avoca 37 students. I enjoy reading and writing, and my favorite thing about education is empowering students to find and explore the things they are passionate about. I am running for the school board because I want voters to see a ballot that is full of highly-qualified candidates who are ready to represent them.
Questions:
What do you see as the main priorities and challenges for the incoming school board?
One of the first priorities will be the process of writing, negotiating and adopting a new contract for Avoca 37 teachers. I think it is vitally important that we provide a contract that continues to enable our schools to attract and retain highly-qualified teachers. We want our teachers to come to school happy and confident that their work is valued and supported in meaningful ways. The challenge, of course, is finding a contract that achieves this, while also remaining sustainable and fiscally responsible amidst the financial realities of inflation and declining enrollments.
What, if any, specific educational goals do you have for D37 and how would you work to achieve them?
I see myself as joining a work in progress. I don’t think it’s realistic or helpful for individual board members to bring with them too much of a specific agenda that they expect to see implemented. Obviously, I will bring my own personal lens that will influence the way I look at things. As an educator myself, I value student-centered, inquiry-based learning. This very much aligns with the Avoca 37 mission to Inspire Curiosity, Cultivate Academic Growth, and Nurture Diversity. By empowering students to find and pursue things that interest them, we help them become lifelong learners who will continue to grow and develop long after they’ve left our schools. This brings tremendous value to everyone in our community, regardless of whether or not they have current Avoca 37 students in their household.
How would you improve the board’s transparency and community engagement?
As a librarian, I get to meet a fair number of published authors. I often hear them lament the constant struggle to gain visibility for their work. They work so hard to write and publish a great book. It might be available in bookstores and on library shelves, but if readers aren’t finding it, then it may as well not exist to them. This is also true with the board of education’s work. Community members are invited to attend board meetings, read board minutes, examine board documents, etc. As the second half of the question suggests, I believe what community members are feeling as a “lack of transparency” actually comes from a desire for more visibility and engagement. The recent bond referendum has presented the board with both a challenge and an opportunity. While it divided opinions and was ultimately unsuccessful, it did also raise the community’s awareness of the work of the school board. The new board will have an opportunity to seize on that momentum to build stronger engagement with the community. Social media is one area where more consistent and purposeful sharing could build those connections.
In 2024, the Avoca District proposed a bond issue to upgrade Avoca facilities that did not pass. What is your recommendation on Avoca facilities upgrades?
I’m sure there are a wide variety of reasons voters had for opposing the referendum. The two biggest factors that I consistently heard and read about were: 1) the overall price tag of the referendum (and the impact that would have on the affordability of housing in our district), and 2) the desire to keep Avoca West in its current location. The challenges with aging and crowded facilities that the bond sought to alleviate still remain to be dealt with in future years. Any solutions to those issues that the board puts forward should prioritize keeping the elementary school at 235 Beech Drive, and lowering the financial impact on Avoca 37 residents.