Kane County Reporter

Batavia Public School District 101 Board candidate Gabrielle Fender discussed her motives for running and her capabilities for the position during an interview with the Kane County Reporter.

"My motivation is to get the focus back on academics and to get the students back on track," Fender said. "I feel I would bring some balance to the board. I'm really good at looking at both sides of things and seeing how certain decisions would affect people."

I have three [kids] in the district: a sixth grader, a junior and a senior," Fender said. "Our main jobs at the schools are to get them prepared for the real world and to be productive citizens, and I want that for every kid in the district. I'm ready to work hard for all of them."

BPS101 says its mission is "to help students learn and grow in all aspects of their development." The district's 700 staff members are entrusted with ensuring that its approximately 5,300 students' learning environments are productive, safe, and supportive, all while helping them discover their passions, take on challenging work, and grow into educated, responsible citizens.

Batavia is one of the oldest communities in Fox Valley, having been settled in 1833, a year before Chicago was settled. Once thought of as the fringe of Chicago's metro area, Batavia has since come to be recognized as one of the western suburbs' premier communities. BPS101 was founded in 1991 following the consolidation of Batavia's eastern and western school districts. It's also earned a reputation for excellence and has become a major cause for residential housing growth in the community.

BPS101 schools include the following: Alice Gustafson School, Batavia High School, Early Childhood, Grace McWayne School, H.C. Storm School, Hoover-Wood School, J.B. Nelson School, Louise White School and Rotolo Middle School. The district's administrative office is located in the Rosalie Jones Administration Center at 335 W. Wilson St.