D65 Meet the Candidate: Lionel Gentle
Post 3/11 in a 10 day series on District 65 Candidates for Office
This is a post in a series that will run from March 7 to March 17th where I’ve given District 65 Board Candidates the option to post whatever they want on the blog. I gave them no limitations, except to follow the standard comment section rules and I do no editing, beyond formatting.
If you have questions for the candidates, please also follow the rules on the comment section.
Thank you, Tom, for the opportunity to speak to our community. Here’s what I want folks to know:
Family and Community First: My most important roles are husband, father, and community member. As a first-generation American and the son of immigrants, I was raised by a single mother who worked multiple jobs to give me the best education possible. Today, I give back by amplifying voices through my podcasts, Our Unseen Roots (highlighting the impact of Black women) and Our Unseen Dads (celebrating Black fathers). I’ve coached in FAAM for 17 years and served as PTA president at Kingsway, experiences that have shaped my understanding of what it takes to build strong, supportive communities where kids thrive.
A Record of Showing Up: As a Bessie Rhodes parent and an engaged participant in district meetings, I’ve consistently pushed for accountability. I believe we can close the opportunity gap—if we commit to our priorities and stand firm in the face of challenges.
Building Stronger Partnerships: I will focus on strengthening collaborations with organizations like the Northwestern-Evanston Education Research Alliance, Evanston Public Library, and Oakton College. Our kids deserve the best, and we can create an ecosystem of excellence by working together and building on the great work already happening in our community. This includes Park, Rice, and JEH.
Financial Responsibility with Equity at the Center: How we handle our money reflects our values. Being financially responsible and equitable are not mutually exclusive. As tough decisions arise, I will approach them thoughtfully, seek input, and—most importantly—be transparent about how and why I make them.
Leading with Strength & Integrity: My StandOut strengths are Provider and Equalizer, meaning I fight for what’s right, take care of people, and stand firm on my values. I listen, I act, and I don’t back down when it comes to protecting our community’s interests.
I’m Not a Politician—I’m a Parent Who Cares: I’m not a professional academic or a marketing executive. I’m a concerned parent and engaged community member, and I want to represent those whose voices are too often overlooked. I hope to earn your vote.
Please email (lionelgentlefor65@gmail.com) me with questions or concerns you may have. You can also go to my website, lionelgentlefor65.com, I’ll be updating it at least twice a week.
Lionel, thanks for your post. I’ve been asking this of each of the candidates, One of the key jobs of the board is to hire a superintendent. After decades of conducting open searches where finalists were announced to the public and the district held open meetings with finalists, the current board conducted searches entirely in the dark, without public input.
Would you vote to continue this practice? Or go back to a public-facing superintendent search for the next vacancy?
Hi Lionel, I’m wondering if you think it’s a conflict of interest that your spouse is the admin for the “D65 parents” group on Facebook, where the group has been discussing the school board elections, including a post yesterday accusing one of your opponents of having ties to Homeland Security because her husband works there.