Emily Whalen Rockford School Board

 First and foremost, I am a mother to my one and only son. Everything I do—at home, in my career, and in this community—is grounded in advocating for kids and the families who support them.

I am a longtime volunteer in our schools and community and a Certified Government Finance Manager with more than 16 years of experience working in federal and local government and non-profit organizations. I bring a professional background rooted in fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability.

I have been a Rockford resident since 2020 and a Rockford Public Schools parent since 2021.

Meadow Ridge (2021–2024)
For three years, I volunteered regularly at Meadow Ridge—reading in classrooms, supporting monthly Popcorn Fridays, walk-a-thons, field days, and book fairs. I also chaperoned field trips to Frederik Meijer Gardens and downtown Rockford.

During this time, I spoke up to school administration about the denial of religious and health exemptions during mask mandate implementation. I believe families deserve to be heard and policies deserve thoughtful, transparent consideration.

Between April 2023 and February 2024, I again advocated on behalf of families regarding an academic calendar that pushed the school year into mid-August and increased early-release days from 8 to 18. I met with Superintendent Mike Ramm to better understand Rockford’s teacher collaboration and professional development model while sharing concerns about the impact on working families. After more than a year of dialogue, I helped deliver a petition with over 400 signatures to the School Board—resulting in a more balanced academic calendar.

In 2024, I spoke publicly about the redistricting process, particularly the lack of movement for one neighborhood to Parkside and the need for grace with in-district transfers for families forced to change schools.

Parkside (2024–2025)
After redistricting, I chose an in-district transfer to Parkside to keep my son with his friends. He had already attended Summer BAC there for three years and loved the school.

At Parkside, I served as a room parent, class party planner, and weekly classroom volunteer. I helped organize teacher celebrations, decorated classrooms and the library for holidays and Reading Month, and served as PTO Mileage Club Chair—coordinating volunteers, tracking laps, maintaining leaderboards, and managing awards for students.

I also coached youth soccer through Community Services, chaperoned the Lansing field trip, helped with Teacher Appreciation meals, organized and delivered end-of-year t-shirts for the entire school, coordinated a Community Reunion and time capsule, volunteered for the year-end carnival, and served on the year-end party committee.

During this time, I was part of the original Parkside Parent Pack, which later became Organize Parkside (OP). Together, we:

• Collected over 1,000 petition signatures
• Participated in numerous media interviews
• Ran a sustained social media campaign
• Attended countless meetings—School Board, PTO, and public forums
• Helped prepare four formal presentations opposing the closure of Parkside
• Recorded and published PTO meetings on YouTube
• Sent more than 10,000 emails advocating for transparency and community voice

On March 10, 2025, during public comment at a School Board meeting, I stated plainly that decisions without community trust would cost Rockford students, families, and future support. Those concerns were not hypothetical.

Valley View (2025–current)
Valley View staff have been welcoming, and I am grateful for my son’s teacher and school community. I continue to serve as a room parent, plan class parties, and volunteer weekly for math games and reading. I’ve chaperoned Zoo School, plan to teach Junior Achievement, was invited to serve as an Odyssey of the Mind judge, and support parent-led green initiatives at the school.
Since March 2025, Rockford Public Schools has lost 238 students, multiple teachers have resigned, and the district proposed a $230 million bond.

In response, I helped form Transparency for RPS Taxpayers, where I served as Chair and a public spokesperson. Our work contributed to:

• Historic voter turnout
• The first failed school bond in Rockford since the 1990s
• Meaningful governance changes, including:
  • Public comment moved before action items
  • Later Board meeting start times
  • Removal of the five-hour advance sign-up requirement for public comment

I am running for School Board because Rockford deserves leadership that listens, explains decisions clearly, respects families, and manages taxpayer dollars responsibly.

I don’t just speak up—I stay engaged, do the work, and follow through.