Hello! My name is Daniel Steven Kleinman. I have been proud to serve and represent Disney Elementary as a Community Representative to our Local School Council. Over the past term, it has become clear that our whole Disney family has become emboldened to push to even further heights of excellence. I have been an education advocate since Twenty Twelve, when I first served on the Local School Council for Senn High School in Edgewater, and our success at Disney is inspiring.

Our school, Disney Magnet Elementary, now more than ever, sets a standard that I have been proud to uphold. Our student body is more racially and economically diverse than our area, and I have worked to foster safe spaces in our neighborhood with local businesses.

As a former student with a disability, I was honored to make the successful motion to hire an additional Social Worker for the campus and have been a supporter of our diverse learners from the beginning. I have put our students first by working against dog waste on our grounds. I proactively networked with our Alderman and our Block Clubs to dialogue toward a better alternative: a real dog park not at our school. I have served you, your children, and your neighbors. I publish meeting notes, such as information on our recent parking lot votes, on my blog: vote.dankleinman.org. Thank you for taking the time to read to this. I am looking forward.

Dear Disney Elementary Community and Neighbors,

As you know, ever since our parking lot contract expired forcing CPS to idle it’s use, I have been striving for its greater utility for the community.

I have submitted to the Record my intent to work with out new contractor to provide great parking options for our neighborhood. Our area already has a lack of good parking options. A beneficial agreement only makes sense, and as an elected representative on this LSC, it is my obligation to push for it.

You remember that before, Because we could not offer it for car use, I proposed we use it for outdoor community dining and shopping space— a hopeful effort in the time of CoVID. Unfortunately, the planning and permits were not able to be directly pursued.

Now that we have a partner for our parking lot once again, we once again have the opportunity to make it the best partnership possible.

I am up for re-election on November 18, 2020. If you appreciate this advocacy, I would appreciate your vote.

Join me at the Virtual Forum! I love talking with voters. More than a chance to share my views, it is a chance for me to listen so I can enhance my views, growing based on our shared experiences and those that are unique. The forum is immediately following our virtual meeting that begins at 5:30PM. I am thrilled to reach out and earn your vote!

The Virtual Candidate Forum for Walt Disney Magnet Elementary Local School Council 2020 Elections Was Just Scheduled for Monday October 5 at 6PM!

I look forward to seeing you at the forum that is immediately following our virtual meeting that begins at 5:30PM. Thank you!

And Looking Forward!

Candidate Forum Monday, October 5, at 6PM.

Monday, October 5, at 6PM.

Accountability. No matter how big or how small an elected office is, they all are defined by their access of accountability.

It was the most unforgettable lesson I learned during my undergraduate time at Loyola Chicago more than a decade ago. There is something special about diving into an election as a candidate. It is an experience of immense vulnerability.

As a candidate, my sole objective is to put the policies I believe to be correct into practice. It is a moment of vulnerability because your most developed and held values are out in the open for judgement. If you truly believe you are correct (and I do not believe you should run for election unless you do believe you are entirely correct– for if not, perhaps someone else should assume the role) then you have the determination to defend them. It requires confidence, but also compassion and humility.

That is a most fundamental principal of accountability.

If a candidate puts no treasure into their own words, their own practices, their own worth, then any notion of accountability is lost, for someone cannot be accountable for their actions if they place no value in those actions.

Words matter in leadership. A leader’s words can inspire action. As such, the leader’s words can be the leader’s actions.

This is something to reflect in this election and those elections that cary much greater importance.

I strive to continue my constant pursuit of accountability in leadership and I am glad to be joining so many of you in that effort.

Thank you.

I am looking forward,