LM Feb 2025

Message From the Executive Director

Public Education is a Vital Institution – That’s a Story Worth Telling

Dr. Brent Clark

One of the foundational principles of school communications is that if you are not telling your story, someone else will. School administrators know this firsthand. How quickly do community members create their own narratives about school safety issues when official communications lag? How easily can a referendum campaign derail without a solid communications strategy? With critics increasingly amplifying the sentiment of ‘failing government schools,’ my misgiving is that public educators have begun to cede influence of the narrative — a narrative that should rightfully emphasize how public education serves as the cornerstone of our democracy, economic opportunity and shared civic values. Thomas Jefferson, who advocated strongly for public education, argued that democracy couldn’t survive without educated citizens, famously stating that “an educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” Our public education system is the backbone of society, strengthening virtually every other social institution. In fact, approximately 90 percent of K-12 students in the United States are educated in public schools. As someone who has spent years of my life trying to create better opportunities for students, it pains me to watch this false narrative gain such traction. Without question, our public education system isn’t perfect. It needs to continuously evolve and be responsive to the rapidly-changing needs of the modern-day workforce and a student body who learns much differently than previous generations. However, critics want to point to standardized test scores as the end all be all for how our public education system is performing — as if it’s that simple.

When I look across Illinois, I see district administrators who have recognized that postsecondary success looks different for each child. They have transformed traditional learning environments by creating direct pathways for students to develop career skills and seamlessly enter the workforce. At high schools across our state, students can earn an Associate’s Degree before graduating high school — saving them thousands of dollars in student loan payments down the road. In addition, early grade levels now feature enhanced support systems, accompanied by a greater emphasis on whole-child development. As public education advocates, we must reclaim our narrative with both passion and evidence. The “failing government schools” rhetoric ignores the countless success stories unfolding in classrooms across Illinois daily. Our responsibility extends beyond defending public education—we must champion it as the vital institution it is. This means communicating our successes proactively, engaging critics honestly and continually improving our practices. Jefferson understood this truth over two centuries ago. Public education remains our most powerful tool for creating a just society where all children have the opportunity to thrive. That’s a story worth telling — and it’s one that only we, as education leaders, can tell with the authenticity and urgency it deserves.

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LM Feb 2025