Seven candidates are vying for four open seats on the Thornton Township High School Board this spring, aiming to make a difference.
Thornton: A 22-year-old recent grad and a mother of a late basketball star are among the hopefuls for the Thornton Township High School Board this spring.
While folks are focused on the Thornton Township and Dolton elections in February, there are four school board seats up for grabs. District 205 covers Thornton High in Harvey, Thornwood High in South Holland, and Thornridge High in Dolton.
Incumbents Almetta Vasser-Moody, Bernadette Lawrence, and Ray C. Banks want to keep their spots, but they’re up against Sonja Kristen Bradley, Rory Lee, Kawania Caesar, and Annette Whittington.
Caesar, who’s from South Holland but grew up in Harvey, said, “It’s about time we get fresh new faces on the board.” She’s eager to work with the community and bring new ideas.
She’s a Thornton High grad, and her son goes to Thornwood. Tragically, her son Chelby Frazier passed away in 2018 while playing basketball. The district honors him with a yearly memorial shootout, the next one happening on January 19.
Caesar shared that her son’s death made her more connected to the district and inspired her to run. She’s been driving school buses for Harvey 152 for 25 years, getting to know many students along the way.
She wants to keep school board matters separate from local politics, saying, “This is the school board, this is for kids.”
Caesar aims to create more opportunities for kids through various school programs in the communities served by the district.
She’s running independently but hopes to team up with Lee and Whittington.
Bradley, another newcomer, believes her high school and college experiences make her a good fit for the board. Growing up in South Holland, she was part of the student board at Thornridge, advocating for her peers.
“I was very passionate about being a student advocate,” she said. After graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign last spring, she’s back home, eager to put students first.
Bradley wants to improve post-secondary prep, as she found it tough to keep up with peers in college. She’s focused on helping students build confidence and succeed after graduation, while also supporting their mental health and expanding extracurricular activities.
“We’re going to build them up so when they leave, they’re not worried about being from Dolton or South Holland or Harvey,” she said. “They’re just grateful they came from a village that supported them.”
