Jared Ploger

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Jared Ploger earned a high school diploma from Somonauk High School, a bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University, and a graduate degree from Olivet Nazarene University.[1] His career experience includes working as a teacher in the Valley View School District 365U.[2] Ploger has served on the District Parent Committee and the Bilingual Parents Advisory Council, and he initiated a program called the Father’s Forum at Long Beach Elementary.[3] He has also coached basketball and received the “Coach of the Year” award from Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.[4]

State Senate

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State House

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a teacher, Union leader, parent, and former School Board Member fighting to bring affordability to Illinois and the 84th District.

We need to fight to make grocery, utility, and childcare costs more affordable.

Investment in PreK-Higher Education and other career pathways is an essential aspect of the health of the 84th.

Expansion of healthcare and senior care and support for caregivers remains a major priority.

Many of our District residents need a Representative who will fight for affordable housing and fair pay for good jobs.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Investing in strong Schools, PreK-Higher Education and career pathways.Fighting to lower every day costs like grocery, utility, and childcare costs.Affordable Housing for young families and those transitioning into smaller dwellings.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

School Funding

Healthcare and Senior Care

Affordable Housing

Fair Wages

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

AFL-CIO

IFT (Illinois Federation of Teachers)

IEA (Illinois Education Association)

Will Grundy Central Trades and Labor Council

Illinois Progressives

Planned Parenthood

G-PAC

Daily Herald

Personal PAC

AFT Local 604

Smart Transportation

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

Southwest Area Council-IFT

Illinois State Representative Stephanie Kifowit

Illinois State Representative Barbara Hernandez

Illinois State Representative Matt Hanson

Illinois State Representative Jay Hoffman

Illinois State Representative Amy Briel

Illinois State Senator Meg Cappell

Illinois State Senator Linda Holmes

Illinois State Senator Cristina Castro

Alderman Ed Bugg (Aurora)

DuPage County Board Member Dawn DeSart

Kane County Board Member Alex Arroyo

Ploger highlighted the following issues on his campaign website:

Increasing Transparency:

As I meet with community members throughout the district, a common theme in conversation is distrust in our school board. That bothers me. I believe the district administration should be willing to share information with the BOE and explain the process of how that information was created and obtained.

Open Communication:

As an educator, I have seen many changes in the district over the past several years. These changes have left many students, parents, and community members with questions. We can improve communication to those stakeholders in defining to them what are federal mandates, state mandates, and district initiatives. Leadership is needed which breaks those down for all stakeholders. A 1980s model on how to communicate with our community members is just no longer good enough.

Improve Efficiency:

As someone whose retired mother lives in the district, I feel that we owe it to taxpayers, especially those on fixed incomes, to be as efficient as possible with our finances. We need to improve academic achievement, and we need to do so without reaching into the purses and wallets of our taxpayers. That’s the reality of the situation. That is why it is imperative for us to focus on where we allocate resources and how we allocate resources.[8]

—Jared Ploger's campaign website (2015)[9]