Let’s create inclusive school communities where every student has access to high-quality education, feels safe, and belongs
About Me
I live in Wheaton with my husband and two sons; my first grader attends the SAIL program at Hawthorne and my preschooler attends Jefferson. I am a member of CUSD200’s Citizens Advisory Committee and the PTAs at Hawthorne and Jefferson. I co-organize Jets and Java playdates at Jefferson.
I grew up in Warrenville and attended Bower, Hubble, and Wheaton Warrenville South. I earned B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Biology from University of Illinois Springfield and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagin.
My professional background is in academic research studying microbial communities in lakes. I am skilled at visualizing and analyzing data. I enjoy creative problem solving and thinking outside of the box. I excel at logical thinking and testing hypotheses. Perhaps most importantly, I have the ability to change my position when presented with new information.
My Why
I am running for school board in CUSD200 because I want an inclusive future where every student has access to a high quality education, feels safe at school, and belongs in their school community. As a former student, I experienced the excellence of CUSD200 first-hand. As a parent with a child who has had a very different experience than mine, I know we need to do better.
Rooted in this Community
Sometimes parents relocate so their children will have better access to special education services, but I have deep roots in this community and am prepared to be a vocal advocate and champion for change to happen here. My four siblings and I are the fourth generation to be educated in our community schools. My mother, Cindy Paver, is a teacher's aide at Monroe. My father, Steve Paver, managed and upholstered furniture for Chase’s Upholstering, a family business started by my grandparents, Bob and Vivian Chase. My grandmother, Rosemary Paver, worked in the Dean’s office and nurse’s office at Wheaton Central High School. My great-grandfather’s brother, Charles Paver, was one of the first firefighters and the second fire chief of the Warrenville Fire Department.
Inclusion affects issues our community cares about
Evidence-Based Practice
Federal law and decades of educational research support creating more inclusive education opportunities for all students (Inclusion Research Fast Facts).
Fiscal Responsbility
Inclusive schooling reduces school costs through more efficient use of resources. It improves adult outcomes for people with disabilities and reduces reliance on government programs.
School Culture
Students educated in inclusive settings exhibit increased acceptance of individual differences and more empathy for other people.
Race and Intersectionality
Disproportionality is well documented in education. Students of color, particularly black students, are overrepresented in special education in separate settings (Jenna Rufo's explanation).