Meet Jordan Rock: New School Board President
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Do you know who represents your family in our local school district? The Mahomet-Seymour Board of Education is made up of seven board members, elected by village voters for four-year terms, who work with school administration to set goals and adopt policies. The Board elects its own leadership each year. Meet our School Board below and read on for a Q&A with newly elected School Board President Jordan Rock.
Current Board members are:
JORDAN ROCK, President SUNNY MCMURRY, Vice President KYLE JORDAN, Secretary JUSTIN LAMB MAX MCCOMB REBECCA SEVERNS JEFF BANISTER
Jordan Rock, who has been a member of the Board since 2023, will now lead the Board as President. Continue reading for a Q&A discussion of Jordan’s history and his aspirations for the M-S Board of Education.
Q: What is your history in Mahomet, and why did you choose to run for the Board of Education?
A: I've lived in Mahomet for my entire life and attended M-S schools K-12, graduating in 2013. Currently, my wife and I reside and work in Mahomet. I ran for election in 2023 at a time when the Board was experiencing notable internal challenges and instability. I took it upon myself to be part of the solution and give back to a community that I owe a debt of gratitude to. Many school board members serve because they have school-aged children, which is a great reason to get involved. For me, it was more about giving back to the community that raised me. Professionally, I am involved in strengthening our local economy, and there is no denying that our schools are the crown jewel of this town – something we must continue to invest in. Beyond that, my wife and I hope to raise a family, so supporting the school district’s excellence is of direct interest to us.
Q: How are you feeling about being tapped to be President of the Board?
A: When I was first elected, I was worried about upsetting people. Over time, I have found my voice and grown more confident in our role as a unified Board that makes decisions collectively. That’s as true now as it was three years ago, so I am confident and optimistic going into my term as president. There will certainly be challenges during my term, but this school district is uniquely positioned for success. We have seven Board members who work well together, an extremely capable district office, building administration who have led the way towards all four buildings earning exemplary* status, and teachers and staff who consistently inspire our students to reach their full potential.
Q: What have you learned about our schools since joining the Board? A: At the beginning of every regular Board meeting, students and building staff present a "building spotlight" on each school in the M-S district. This helps the Board members reorient our perspectives before continuing with discussions and action items. We pack a lot of information into a Board packet, but these personal spotlights help us remember why we are all here: to serve the community and our kids. One thing I have learned from my service on the Board is how much teamwork is involved throughout the district. It’s something I took for granted as a student but have a much better sense for as a Board member.
A great example of this is the recent selection of our elementary reading curriculum. From identifying the need for a new curriculum to presenting a proposal to the Board, our district staff, building administration, and district office worked closely for months to vet and select the right program for M-S schools—and had fun doing it!
Q: What do you think are the most important issues facing our school district?
A: Capacity is the number one issue. It's a great problem to have because it means our school district is in high demand and our local economy is thriving, but it's a problem nonetheless. The outlook for state funding is another key issue that we're watching closely. The Board has discussed the possibility of running a referendum this fall. While no decisions have been made, we’re prepared to address school capacity concerns as soon as possible. Over the next month, we’ll disseminate information and seek community feedback.
Q: What do you want the public to know about you and your service as Board President?
A: That I'm committed to Excellence: Excellence for ALL Bulldogs to Achieve, Learn, and Lead.
Q: How can people contact you if they want to discuss school issues?
A: Please email me at jrock@ms.k12.il.us
*An exemplary school is one that “has no underperforming subgroups, a graduation rate of greater than 67 percent, and whose performance is in the top 10 percent of schools statewide.” (Illinois State Board of Education)