District 233 candidate Ariana Leonard moved back to Homewood from Florida so her two children would have great schools. She is a graduate of James Hart School and Homewood-Flossmoor High School. Today she works in neighboring Bloom Township High School District 206 as the Director of Language Acquisition.
She can’t help but applaud the school board for all the improvements that have been made to H-F since she graduated 25 years ago. “I feel like it shows students if you have a variety of passions and interests this high school’s going to nurture that, no matter what.”
Regular communication between H-F and the community “needs to be consistent and regular so people can see what’s happening at H-F. It’s important that people have input and are able to give instructive feedback. … We have to be transparent and open. It’s our community high school so we have to work together,” Leonard said.
H-F has the resources to serve all students, she said, recognizing that not every student will go to college. H-F is offering pathways through the Career & Technical Education programs. At the same time, H-F is “making sure kids that are college bound have the tools and resources and experience they need for their education.”
“I think a lot of that comes with collaboration and community engagement and just making sure we are providing all the equitable access to all different types of pathways. We need to make sure that all kids that go to H-F have a high-quality experience,” she said.
As she’s campaigned, Leonard said voters tell her “they just want to keep H-F excellent and make sure all our kids have the opportunity to have a really high-quality experience. I think people are excited for the new superintendent.
“There’s a lot of excitement and positivity right now. I think we can capitalize on that to propel us forward. The new science building, new culinary wing – there are so many really great things that have been happening. The kids are doing great. We have a state winning theater program. We’ve got to keep celebrating these things. All of these things are happening every day at the high school.”