Candidate: Saba Haider

Tell us about your high school experience. What clubs or activities were you involved in? 

My experience in high school was fun, formative, and challenging. I loved literature and science! I was part of many clubs and activities. I directed and choreographed plays and dance routines and organized many cultural and arts events. I was always on stage, singing, dancing, directing plays, choreographing, and organizing annual cultural and arts events at my school. I also led an environmental awareness club at my high school that proved to be a foundation for my Master’s degree in Wildlife Science later in life. Being a part of several clubs and activities ignited the fire of creativity in me that serves me every day as a business owner, teacher, trainer, mother, and community organizer. These experiences at school immensely helped me find a way to be a creative, collaborative, and compassionate member of the community.

As of March 5, Metea Valley had the highest number of positive COVID-19 cases in the school district. How would you help reduce the transmission and keep students safe?

The CDC guidelines say that universal and correct use of masks should be required and physical distancing should be maximized to the greatest extent possible. The CDC also emphasized the importance of prevention through testing and screening. Educating students on the importance of following the mitigation steps, such as correct use of masks, social distancing, and respiratory etiquettes, will greatly help in keeping positive cases low. Regular cleaning and disinfecting the school and providing adequate PPE’s will further help in keeping the students safe.

There has been discussion in the district about culturally responsive pedagogy. What steps should the district take to achieve equitable outcomes for all of its students?

Culturally responsive pedagogy is aimed at achieving a culture of safety, inclusion, and diversity in the school district. We have to continue to do that work and make sure that we take concrete steps to achieve equitable outcomes for all our students in District 204. We need to train teachers to weave the cultural stories of our diverse backgrounds in daily lessons and can be very helpful in achieving that goal. Making sure that they include authors of diverse races and backgrounds. The posters and visual arts display on the walls and bulletin boards, too, can help students feel welcome. These are all small changes you can make to your classroom more culturally responsive. Teachers need to work to build relationships with their students to ensure they feel respected, valued, and seen for who they are. Building those relationships helps them build community within the classroom so that students see the value in their education and thrive in school and outside.

What are the district’s biggest strengths and the biggest weaknesses?

Our district’s biggest strengths are our diversity and providing a safe and welcoming environment to our students and families. We have been a champion of equity in the state of Illinois, and we are thankful for our selfless leadership team who have made Equity a priority in the district. The district’s biggest weakness is our limited resources and budget cuts.

What is your vision for high school students?

My vision for high school students is to see all students learn, lead, and thrive. I envision our high schools to be places where we celebrate diversity and equity. I want to see our high schools strive for excellence in educational, social, mental, and emotional spheres for a well-rounded education for our students. I envision our high schoolers to be future and career-ready in various fields, such as the arts, science, technology, mathematics, politics, and environmental activism. Providing tools, training, skills, and guidance to make our high schoolers ready for college and beyond, keeping in mind various gifts and talents the students have.

What makes you different from all the other candidates?

My work and community service have given me the opportunity to teach and train kids and adults. I have worked with different groups of people from diverse backgrounds, socially, culturally, and economically. This experience of over a decade has given me the unique skills to be a patient listener, a collaborative leader, a creative thinker, and a problem solver.