Dornetria Hemphill for CUSD 301 BOE

02/04/2025

Thank you to everyone who voted and supported me in this election. While the outcome wasn’t what I had hoped for, I respect the decision of the voters and congratulate the newly elected board members.

I wish them the best as they take on this important role, and I encourage our community to support their efforts. Though I won’t be serving on the board, my commitment to our schools remains strong, and I look forward to continuing my contributions to our district in other ways.

Thank you again for your support—let’s continue working together for the success of our students!

01/04/2025

Don’t Forget to Vote!

27/03/2025

Got Spring break plans?? Make sure you vote before you go!

11/03/2025

I recently completed a candidacy interview for the Daily Herald. The DH decided to only endorse non incumbent people. If you have a subscription to the Daily Herald please click on the link to see my responses to their questions.

Bio Office sought: Central Unit District 301 board (Vote for 3) City: Elgin Age: 44 Occupation: Director of global benefits Previous offices held: President of the District 3...

08/03/2025

It’s been a busy time in D301! We recently welcomed Dr. Powell and Dr. Schumacher as co-interim superintendents, and they’re already making improvements to enhance efficiency—exciting changes are ahead!

After an unexpected leadership change, I was appointed Board President and am committed to better communication and transparency, starting with revamping our board meeting agendas. Stay tuned!

We also filled a vacant board seat—welcome, Ryan Wasson! While I didn’t personally interview him, I trusted my fellow board members’ positive feedback and know he’ll be a great addition.

Most importantly—early voting has begun! This election is critical for District 301’s future. I fully support these much-needed changes and am committed to seeing them through. Make your voice heard—get out and vote!

I am always open to hearing from the community so feel free to email me! You insight is invaluable.

02/03/2025

I recently participated in a question and answer session with the League of Women Voters. Please take the time to listen to my perspective on the district’s triumphs and challenges.

League of Women Voters

13/02/2025

Don't forget we will be at Mott's tomorrow night!

Mark your calendars and join me to discuss the upcoming school board election! Come out, have a drink and let’s chat. Looking forward to seeing you there!

22/01/2025

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 - 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭’𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
Last night’s board meeting was intense, emotional, and mentally exhausting—but necessary.

I want to thank Mr. Vogt for attending and courageously sharing his truth. Mr. Vogt, your openness and willingness to speak with Mr. Afeef about what you endured took incredible strength. I also want to apologize for any perception that the board appeared complicit. While I wasn’t involved in the bullying or intimidation, I understand how it may have felt that way. As long as I’m on this board, I’m committed to ensuring this never happens to anyone again. Thank you again for your bravery Mr. Vogt.

𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧
I want to take a moment to clear up some confusion regarding a comment made last night about Dr. Mongan. It was mentioned last night that Mr. Afeef and I did not provide Dr. Mongan with an opportunity to share her side of the story regarding what happened to Mr. Vogt. I’d like to clarify what actually transpired. Mr. Afeef and I scheduled a meeting with Dr. Mongan for December 20th at 2:00 PM at the district office. However, on December 17th, Dr. Mongan emailed us stating, “As always, I am happy to address any questions you may have; however, I would prefer to avoid being unprepared or caught off guard. Please share the questions you intend to ask in advance. At this time, I am requesting the Board President, Eric Nolan, accompany one of you to the meeting.”

It’s important to note that there is nothing in board policy requiring the Board President to be present at meetings involving Dr. Mongan, nor does it state that all matters must go through the Board President.

For context, if my supervisor at work wanted to discuss something with me, I wouldn’t respond by demanding questions in advance or choosing who should be present. Doing so would be unacceptable in most professional environments.

Mr. Afeef and I extended Dr. Mongan an opportunity to meet and discuss the matter. However, she chose to impose conditions on the meeting, which we could not agree to. I hope this clears up any misunderstandings.

𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧
I also want to address another concern that came to light. It was revealed that Dr. Mongan has unfettered access to all board member emails. She stated that she believes she has the right to read any board member’s emails without prior authorization, based solely on her own determination of need. As someone who works in corporate and is part of a human resources team, I can confidently say this would not be acceptable in any professional organization I know of. Access to emails is typically restricted to HR and Legal departments and only permitted for specific, justified reasons. Arbitrary or unauthorized access is a serious breach of trust and protocol. I believe it’s essential for our board to establish clear guidelines to ensure privacy, accountability, and adherence to professional standards.

𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭'𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝
The censure memos referenced a breach of a student's record, which we take very seriously. As a board, we will consult legal counsel to thoroughly investigate this matter and ensure full compliance with state and federal laws. Protecting the privacy and trust of our students and their families remains our highest priority.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭’𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬
In regard to the censures that occurred last night, I voted for what I believe was right. I encourage you to watch the recording of the board meeting to gain a full understanding of what took place.

If any community members have questions or would like to share their thoughts, please don’t hesitate to reach out. One thing I want to emphasize is that I am always open and willing to hear the community’s ideas and feedback. This is a challenging role, and no one can do it effectively without the input and collaboration of others. Your voices are essential, and I value your engagement.

𝐈𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠
Some of you have questioned Mr. Afeef's and my motives for bringing so many issues forward to the community in recent months, suggesting it may be related to the upcoming election. I want to be clear: there is no guarantee that I will be re-elected. My actions are driven solely by a commitment to doing the right thing.

If these are my final months on the board, my goal is to leave it in a better position than when I began. I am determined to make every moment count and to continue advocating for what's best for our community.

#𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 #𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 #𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑

16/01/2025

Mark your calendars and join me to discuss the upcoming school board election! Come out, have a drink and let’s chat. Looking forward to seeing you there!

03/01/2025

My Commitment to Our District and Every Student

Having lived in this district for over 17 years, I've witnessed the incredible growth and opportunities that have shaped our community and families. As a mom of two students in District 301, I have firsthand experience with the educators and curriculum that have made a difference in my children's education. At 18, I was diagnosed with a hearing impairment, which I later learned I had been born with. I graduated high school with a below-average GPA and struggled to get into college. Had my school district had the proper resources to diagnose my hearing loss earlier, I believe I would have had a much easier time throughout my education. My personal journey, as a person with a disability, has instilled in me a deep commitment to ensuring that all students, especially those with disabilities, receive the support they need to thrive.

I was elected to the school board during the COVID pandemic, a time when our school community was focused on navigating challenges like social distancing, mask mandates, and COVID testing to ensure safety. Over the last year and a half of my term, I’ve been able to shift towards working on more typical school board responsibilities. I have been dedicated to fostering a more inclusive, supportive learning environment for all students. I have worked closely with educators and administrators as a member of the Central Education Foundation, an organization dedicated to raising and distributing funds across the district to enhance and support student education. Trivia with a Twist and Back to the Hill are a few events that have raised thousands of dollars for students in our district.

District 301 is an excellent school district with great potential. I remain committed to advocating for resources and services that ensure every student and educator has the support they need to succeed, especially students with special needs. I'm dedicated to increasing the transparency in our District by listening to families, teachers, and administration as we strengthen the partnership between all stakeholders in District 301 School District. My personal experience, combined with my current role on the school board, provides me with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

With my re-election, I will work hard to diligently ensure our educators have the training, resources and support they need to provide the best education to our students. In addition, I will focus on strengthening relationships between families, educators, and administrators that is essential to building a successful school district in our community.

I am excited to make a positive impact on the future of our students. I ask for your support in my bid for a second term on the District 301 School Board. Together, we can build a district where every student learns, and all educators are valued and empowered to reach their full potential.