Dupage Policy Journal

Spencer Garrett has noted Wheaton Warrenville Unit School District 200’s “academic decline” in his reason for running for school board.

Emphasizing it is "an issue of great concern" to him, Garrett pledged to be "active on the Board to reverse this trend."

“I will support policies which make grade-appropriate homework and intensive study the norm, not the exception," Garrett said in the Parents for CUSD 200 Children Facebook post. "Failure to demand rigorous effort from our students is a significant factor behind why they are testing at 44% proficiency in English and Math. This is even more shocking in light of the fact that other Chicagoland districts are producing students who are at 80% proficiency in these areas.” 

He also promised to work "to ensure that the academic disciplines will receive the time they require." Garrett noticed that in some of the schools, "over an hour of this critical resource is being used in pursuit of social-emotional learning and other social issues," which results in a "severe misuse of time," when students become incompetent in academics. Garrett believes "students clearly need more, not less time spent in scholarly pursuits.”

“I will try to put a stop to our schools' current grading policy which is not based on merit," he said. "Grades should always be awarded according to the work's degree of excellence; hard-working students should receive the fruits of their labor, and students whose efforts are mediocre or worse, should feel the effects of that decision. This is real-world and promotes diligence. Teachers who assign grades based on merit are doing their students a service and should be praised. Inflating grades doesn't level the playing field, it cripples the players. Merit-based grading served us well in our youth and applying that standard to our children is common sense.” 

According to Parents for CUSD 200 Children's website, “Garrett grew up in Colorado Springs Colorado and came to Illinois in 1984 as a student at Wheaton College where he graduated in 1988. He has been a resident of District 200 for 32 years. He is a full-time mortgage banker and has lived and been involved in the Wheaton Community since 1990. He currently serves as the Board President of Camerata Chicago (3 years), Treasurer for Life in Messiah (30 years), Missions Board President and Board member for College Church (12 years), and Sunday school teacher (25 years). Through serving various positions of leadership, Spencer has developed a passion for preserving childhood and protecting children in and out of the school community.” 

Garrett, who is a Senior Loan Officer at Compass Mortgage, enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, and fly fishing. He and his wife Elaine have five children, who are all, in their 20s, but one. The youngest, Spencer Jr. is 17. “As a student growing up in a wonderful home with three other siblings; Spencer struggled tremendously with Dyslexia," the website further reads. "Learning to read was a great challenge for him specifically in elementary and middle school, but hard work and perseverance have turned this challenge into a blessing. Spencer has strong discernment for what is right and is not afraid to stand up for the disadvantaged, marginalized, or struggling student.”

State Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) is putting her support behind Parents for CUSD 200 Children. “I’m very happy about my local district 200 school board (candidates) “I'm just so excited, so happy that the parents have said, okay, enough with you lawmakers. We're not going to let you push us around. It's really great,” Grant told DuPage Policy Journal. “I think that they're upset pretty much about what has been thrown at them by the majority legislation as far as sex education. I think the school has now been able to opt out of this because they're putting their sex ed in the health class. And I think that the lawmakers are figuring this out and they're going to probably do something about that, too.”