Primary election Q&A: Lee-Ogle-Whiteside regional school superintendent

STERLING – Paul McMahon will challenge incumbent Bob Sondgeroth Tuesday for the position of Lee-Ogle-Whiteside regional school superintendent.

The two Republicans agreed to answer a few questions in advance of next week's primary.

Q: Can you describe what the regional superintendent job is to you?

McMahon: The regional superintendent means helping as many students in the area as I can. I want to change the at-risk programs to reach more students.

It is about helping the schools educate our students. It means being a leader in education with the schools and community and leading discussions on topics such as school safety, the Every Student Succeeds Act, teacher evaluations, and other issues.

I will be a resource for everyone on education issues: educators, parents, school boards, county boards and community members.

Sondgeroth: The regional superintendent is in charge of making sure teachers get the professional development they need, and that they are properly licensed in order to make sure school districts comply with the law. We also work with at-risk youth through our alternative school office.

Every day I work with administrators, teachers, parents, and even students who call me or call my office and don't know where to go.

We navigate the state Board of Education for them or we'll find an answer for them

Q: What are your goals for the ROE?

McMahon: My first goal: I would change the philosophy for our at-risk programs so that more students could be served. For me it's hard to say you have a passion for students or a passion for education when we see this many students not being successful.

Another goal is to develop a committee for professional development across the Sauk Valley.

And finally, to develop a countywide teacher inservice and bring in speakers, and offer training for all of the teachers in the three counties. We had one back in Lee-Ogle a few years ago when I was the assistant regional superintendent.

Sondgeroth: I really like the way our alternative education is going. We have alternative education programs that we have expanded. We helped Morrison's school district set one up that runs through our office. We have an alternative school set up in Rock Falls.

I want to expand our FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) program back into Dixon next year, and I want to set one up in Sterling.

I'm really excited about our education options program, which has expanded to Oregon, and the adult education department at Sauk Valley College.

I also want to see through our involvement with the fire departments and get them in more schools.

Q: Why should people vote for you?

McMahon: I have a multitude of educational experiences, from grade school to junior college, private school to alternative school. I have a passion to have every child succeed in their educational endeavors. I'm not a career politician who has been in office for the last 15 years. I am a classroom teacher and I understand the day-to-day grind that educators are going through.

Sondgeroth: My experience – 15 years of experience with the regional office and the way that things have changed, even within the last year. Districts will face challenges with school funding, teacher licensure and school security. I feel that I, as the experienced leader who has been there, needs to be the one who helps them through this challenging time.

MORE INFO

Paul McMahon

Hometown: Princeton

Age: 57

Education: Manilus High School, Class of 1979; Sauk Valley Community College; Western Illinois University, degree in agriculture marketing; Western Illinois University, teachers certification; University of Southern Mississippi, master's; University of the Cumberlands School, superintendent license; Aurora University, doctorate of education, dissertation for what makes at-risk students successful

Professional experience: Cobane Air Freight & Express, Rock Falls; Newman Central Catholic High School, taught algebra and language arts; Malden Grade School, taught math and physical education; Sauk Valley Community College, taught technologies/electricity; Bureau County Alternative School, principal; Westmer Jr./Sr. High School, principal; Lamoille High School, taught algebra and geometry; assistant regional superintendent and later regional superintendent, Lee-Ogle Regional Office of Education

Family: Wife, Camela (Aggen) McMahon, 54; daughters Breelyn (McMahon) Seifert, 29, and Brooklyn McMahon, 23; son, Martin McMahon, 21

Bob Sondgeroth

Age: 61

Hometown: Rock Falls

Education: Newman Central Catholic High School, Class of 1974; Sauk Valley Community College, associate degree in education; Illinois State University, bachelor's in education; National Louis University, master's in school administration; Western Illinois University, superintendent endorsement

Professional experience: Former fire inspector, Sterling Fire Department; teacher at East Coloma School, Assistant Regional Superintendent for Whiteside County (2003-10), regional superintendent for Whiteside County (2010-15), Lee-Ogle-Whiteside regional school superintendent.

Family: Wife, Cindy (Martenson) Sondgeroth, 60; son, Ben Sondgeroth; daughter Jennie Sondgeroth, 28.