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Carmen Gioiosa

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This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Carmen Gioiosa
Image of Carmen Gioiosa
Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Graduate

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Personal
Religion
Catholic
Profession
Adjunct professor
Contact

Carmen Gioiosa ran for election to the Chicago Public Schools school board to represent District 4b in Illinois. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Gioiosa completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Elections

2024

See also: Chicago Public Schools, Illinois, elections (2024)

General election

General election for Chicago Public Schools school board District 4b

The following candidates ran in the general election for Chicago Public Schools school board District 4b on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ellen Rosenfeld
Ellen Rosenfeld (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
41.6
 
49,351
Karen Zaccor (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
30.2
 
35,825
Image of Kimberly Brown
Kimberly Brown (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
9.4
 
11,128
Image of Thomas Day
Thomas Day (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
7.7
 
9,126
Image of Carmen Gioiosa
Carmen Gioiosa (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
7.1
 
8,414
Andrew Davis (Nonpartisan)
 
4.0
 
4,719

Total votes: 118,563
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Gioiosa in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Carmen Gioiosa completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gioiosa's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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My education career and experiences have trained me for 23 years to earn a seat on the Board of Education. My own lived experiences have shaped me to have a public school soul with a Chicago heart. I came to Chicago as a non-English speaking student; I thrived in a learning environment with caring, supportive teachers all around me. Those same teachers are here in CPS. I was one of those teachers, and I want all CPS students to thrive today and be prepared for a successful future. I have a Doctorate in Education Organization Leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana, with a Type 75 administrative certificate. I am an adjunct professor educating future CPS teachers through a culturally responsive framework in the Teacher Residency Program at National Louis University. I started my CPS career at Schurz High School as a teacher for 8 years, and led a team to earn a $1.25M grant to reorganize our large, high school into Small Learning Communities (a Freshmen Academy and 4 career-focused academies for upperclassmen). I then worked at CPS Central Office, bringing an MTSS resolution before the Board of Education, with the accompanying academic and social-emotional interventions for students identified in need. I served my local neighborhood association and continued that service as an LSC community member to our neighborhood CPS school prior to having children in CPS. I have subsequently been elected to our LSC 4 times and nominated 3 years in a row as LSC Chair.
  • At this time in Chicago, leadership must be transformative. Three common elements that are central to transformative leadership are social betterment, equity, and a vision that reshapes belief and knowledge structures (Shields, 2010). Chicago’s Elected School Board has an opportunity to be transformative and inject CPS with fresh ideas from independent voices.
  • We need to have a laser focus on two core benchmarks (reading and algebra). First: Ensuring reading proficiency by the end of 2nd grade. This allows a timely shift from students learning-to-read to reading-to-learn by the end of 4th grade, and acquiring new information/knowledge. Second: Algebra proficiency in 8th grade. Algebra is a gateway toward more advanced mathematics courses in high school and beyond, and is often tied to successful high school graduation.
  • .Career exploration and developing a career portfolio in grades 4, 8, and 10 prepares students for a productive future. The path needs planning and for our students and parents to understand Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a very real and good option. CTE jobs are in high demand and will provide upward mobility. In addition, CTE pathways lead to post-secondary degrees. All students must leave their high schools with “the ability to select an occupation that does in fact have a career pathway associated with it rather than simply taking the first job that comes along” (Conley, 2010, p. 5).
I am focused on closing opportunity gaps in comparison to the achievement gap. Specifically, the opportunity gap is the space between having unequal educational opportunities (insufficient educational funding and inadequate school resources) and the difference in achievement among groups of students who do not have access to quality education (Darling-Hammond, 2010; Fine, 2004; Noguera, 2007).
Throughout my research and teaching, I reference scholars and researchers who challenge educators to consider the way education systems or schools access or restrict capital and the empowering role of educators and schools as institutional agents. We must focus on concrete, underlying obstacles to accessing high quality schools and instruction.
The most important characteristic is being authentic. The most important principles are: honesty, empathy, trustworthy, collaborative, understanding, observant, servant led, and outcomes focused.
Effective school board governance begins with the “why” and ends with the “how”.

School boards exist to improve student outcomes (the “why”) by progress monitoring inputs (the “how”) such as:
human talent (i.e., educators, leaders, students, families),
material resources (i.e., books, workbooks, smartboards, computers),
financial resources (i.e., dollars spent per student),
infrastructure (i.e., school buildings, property, mechanicals), and
basic needs and social services (i.e., breakfast and lunch, vision and hearing tests, dental and health screening).

School boards are not managers; they are the agents or stewards of educating all students within the parameters of federal laws and state school code. School boards are the eyes, the ears and the pulse of the community and must govern by incorporating the lived experiences of its community while monitoring its progress towards improving student outcomes.
The legacy I would like to leave is one of courage and perseverance. A legacy fulfilled by an immigrant, mother, educator, and champion of improving classrooms, schools, and academic outcomes for all students.
The primary job of a school board member is to improve student learning and achievement: It’s about improving student outcomes.

The school board members fulfills this role by: establishing the mission and vision of the district; adopting policies and rules; governing over operations and facilities; articulating academic goals and programs; monitoring progress and student outcomes; hiring and developing talent; including families and community in decision-making process; and adopting a budget aligned to the BOE’s mission and vision.

In fulfilling this role, the school board members must clearly state their goals and monitor progress towards achieving their goals so intentionality and accountability are transparent to all.
I envision hosting monthly or bi-monthly meetings with the community to share and report out on school research and policy matters. In addition, hosting forums and education leaders to directly engage with families, students, and community members. I will survey and discuss in an open forum proposed policy or changes and build consensus around solutions or needs and bring back to the Board of Education.
Communication is vital here! I envision this happening through my website and through community events. I commit to updating my website with all of CPS' information and any matters before the Board that can be disclosed. I will link Board Agendas and Minutes to my website.

I envision hosting monthly or bi-monthly meetings with the community to share and report out on school research and policy matters. In addition, hosting forums and education leaders to directly engage with families, students, and community members. I will survey and discuss in an open forum proposed policy or changes and build consensus around solutions or needs and bring back to the Board of Education.

Families, students, teachers, community members, leaders can also reach me directly through email or through my contact page on my website. I also will make myself available to attending community events such as monthly Local School Council meetings, events hosted throughout the aldermanic wards or local organizations.
Good teaching is one grounded in a culturally relevant framework and is constantly reviewed and revised to ensure inequities or structures are not restricting access to learning.
First, a needs assessment and an inventory must be completed. Next, an agreed upon definition of "funded" as it can be defined many ways. Efficiencies can be found in all systems.
The principle that all students and educators must be physically and emotionally safe.
I would support the mental needs of all students and educators with social workers, clinical counselors, and with a "calm" space in the building.
My family, friends, neighbors, and parents
The ideal learning environment is one rich in in the cultures and traditions of the students, families, and community. In addition, the ideal environment is joyful and one where the students and teachers are co-creators in learning.
Financial transparency and government accountability are paramount and the purest democratic principles and functions of our local and state government.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also


External links

Footnotes