Jennifer Kovar for D97 School Board

04/08/2021

The day after election day has been a great mix of emotions for me. First, I am exhausted! I put my heart and soul into this campaign for D97 School Board. It's felt like a run at full throttle for 10 solid weeks!

Second, I am feeling disappointed. I wanted so much to serve the community and really felt that, as a veteran teacher, this was the best way to do it. So, honestly, missing out on that opportunity stings.

Third, I am feeling inspired, humbled and hopeful. I was inspired especially by the young people who shared their voices with me during the campaign. We have remarkable kids in this community who have a lot to contribute if we set them up well to do so. I am humbled by the amazing and tireless work of my supporters who gave it their all for me. I hope I can one day return the favor and give my all right back to them. I am hopeful for our schools. We have weighty decisions coming soon - picking a new superintendent, getting back to full in-person learning as quickly and safely as possible, and pushing forward on implementing our equity policy. I feel like these were the consistent, top of mind themes throughout the campaign, which means we're a community focused on the right things.

Fourth, I am feeling grateful for my fellow candidates in collectively running such a positive, forward-looking race that focused on the future of our schools, and not on each other. From the start, we established a friendly rapport - from agreeing together as a group to not do yard signs (saving money and the environment!), to collegial exchanges during countless forums, to a noticeable shared sense of values for D97. We simply had a terrific set of candidates for D97 School Board this year and I think we all felt like our district would be in good hands regardless of the result.

On that note, I want to wish the soon-to-be new D97 board members - Jeremy Duffy, Venus Hurd Johnson, and Nancy Ross Dribin - the very best as they take on this responsibility. I'm eager to support you all. I know you will do great things for Oak Park.

Finally, I am feeling a strong desire to do more for my community. Oak Park is a special place. I have a lot to contribute. It won't be in the place I know best - overseeing our schools. But, there are lots of ways for me, and for us all, to stay engaged, give what we can, and make our community even better. I encourage you all to join me in doing so.

04/06/2021

Today is Election Day! Please get out and vote! This election matters. And remember--Jennifer Kovar for D97 School Board. Thank you for all your support!

04/05/2021

04/02/2021

I need you to vote Jennifer Kovar for D97 School Board on April 6!

While this might not seem as big as a November-style election, the election on April 6 is a big deal for the future of Oak Park schools. The D97 School Board will soon be faced with decisions that will have a great impact on our students, families, teachers and community. My voice as a long-time teacher will be valuable to these consequential choices.

First, we will be hiring a new superintendent. I feel more and more strongly that we should be looking at elevating the great talent we already have in the district to run our schools - someone who already knows us, has demonstrated their commitment to our schools, and has earned our trust. Finding the best leader for D97 is the most important decision the School Board can make, and that decision is before us soon. I will look at our choices from the lens of not only a mom of both a middle school and elementary school student, but also an educator who has seen first hand the kind of leadership that inspires teachers and principals and engages parents and families.

Second, our students will be back to full-time, in-person learning in the fall. (And increased in-person time this spring.) I've been teaching in-person in Riverside since September 2020. I know the complexities of teaching in this challenging environment and I can help the D97 school board stay focused on the right things and make good investments where necessary to keep students and educators safe while also making learning engaging and effective.

Third, COVID may have shifted our priorities in the near term, but we all know that our community can only build back stronger if we can ensure an equitable education for all of our students, regardless of their skin color, physical and mental abilities, or family income. Closing the opportunity gap is a must-do for our students, and it benefits all of us in the community. The D97 School Board will approve new strategies and resource requests from a new superintendent. I will keep us relentlessly focused on implementing our equity policy effectively, on supporting our educators doing the actual work of equitable teaching and learning day in and day out, and on measuring our success transparently.

This D97 School Board election matters. Your vote on April 6 matters. I will bring an educator's voice - my experience in the classroom, my knowledge of how schools work, my emphasis on listening to students - to these important decisions, and more.

Please vote Jennifer Kovar for D97 School Board on April 6!

04/01/2021

I was lucky to work with Scott Kozicki on the Village Board's Disability Access Commission and feel very fortunate to have his support for my D97 School Board campaign! Thanks for the endorsement, Scott!

I am thrilled that Jennifer Kovar is running for District 97 school board.

04/01/2021

I am grateful for Sue Tindall's point of view as she endorses my candidacy for D97 School Board. Thank you Sue!

I have lived in Oak Park for the last 43 years and have been Jennifer Kovar’s next-door neighbor for the last 14.

03/31/2021

Thanks for much for the positive words of support for my D97 School Board candidacy, Erin Fitzgerald!!

Jen Kovar is exactly what the District 97 school board needs. She is a longtime teacher with deep knowledge of education.

03/31/2021

Shout out to Forest Printing Company for their excellent work with my campaign materials!

https://www.facebook.com/ForestPrintingCompany

03/27/2021

Now that the election is drawing near, I know many Oak Parks are trying to figure out--who should I vote for? If you'd like to learn about the D97 School Board candidates, check out this video from the PTOC forum. (Huge thank you to the PTOC for hosting this event!)

If you'd like to hear about my candidacy specifically, go to 37:00. I also address one additional question at the end of the video.

Thanks for your interest!

Coming Soon!D97 PTO Council Virtual Candidates' ForumMarch 25, 20217:00 PM - 9:00 PM

03/27/2021

I'm not sure that my "teaching skills" (as this title indicates) are exactly what the Board needs, but I am 100% confident that my educational knowledge is just what D97 needs in a Board member.

Please vote for me on April 6. I promise to bring a teacher's perspective to the School Board's decision making.

Jennifer Kovar, a National Board Certified middle-school teacher in Riverside, said in a recent interview that she wants to bring the skills she’s honed in the classroom to the District 97 board table. “I know how schools work from the inside out,” said the mother of two D97 students. “I kno...

03/25/2021

If you're trying to get into the PTOC forum, they're having technical difficulties.

Join this Zoom instead:
https://zoom.us/j/92561785189?pwd=dmV5KzQwWTNEZE1uWHA1WStEU3Irdz09

Meeting ID: 925 6178 5189
Passcode: 440194

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