Lisa Armonda was elected to the Community Consolidated School District 181 Board of Education in 2005 and has served a president of the board since 2007.

The board had an uncontested election earlier this month, but there will be plenty of new faces. After deciding not to run for re-election, she talks about her board tenure.

Q What was the biggest surprise you faced in office?

A When I was first elected, I walked into a situation in which the school district had incorrectly implemented a tax rate increase following a referendum in 2001. The board remained divided on what to do, and it was an extremely contentious issue. Also, discovering that within the district, while the education was excellent, we did not have a reading curriculum or assessment process that was consistent from one school to the next. Every school did their own thing. We eventually addressed that and developed a consistent reading curriculum for all schools.

Q What one thing would you like to have accomplished during your tenure?

A When we eventually developed a reading curriculum and intervention program that improved our assessment scores, our math scores went from 60 percent of students making Adequate Yearly Progress to between 80 and 85 percent. I really would have liked to see us do the same in writing and math throughout the district.

Q What advice would you give to your replacement?

A Listen. Never stop listening to administrators, other board members and parents. As a board president you are the spokesperson, but there is so much insight to gain from others.

Q What accomplishment are you most proud during your tenure?

A Probably the district’s investing in teacher training for across-the-board curriculum, and developing a program for gifted students to excel. Now all schools in the district have a gifted program.