Exciting Changes Ahead!
Doug Shannon for Peoria School Board
My name is Doug Shannon, and my family has proudly called Peoria, Illinois home since 2013. When we moved here, we could have chosen any school district, but we believed in Peoria Public Schools (PPS 150). The test scores were solid in 2012, and as a product of public schools myself, I knew the value of that kind of education.
We wanted our daughters to grow up in a diverse and supportive learning environment, and PPS has delivered. From kindergarten through today, both of our daughters have excelled academically and in extracurricular activities. In the 2025–2026 school year, they will be a junior and a freshman at Richwoods High School.
My priorities reflect deep firsthand experience as a parent volunteer, substitute teacher across 15+ buildings, and engaged community members committed to making PPS stronger for all students and staff.
Doug Shannon
Key Priorities for Peoria Public Schools Board
Students
Students
Students
Create safe learning environments where kids want to come to school.
- Reduce disruptive behaviors that threaten safety & learning through clear, consistent expectations, & support for alternative programs (e.g., Knoxville Center, Rise, Day Treatment).
- Advocate for early intervention, proper staffing, and reduced social promotion mandates that perpetuate long-term problems.
- Ensure special education services are fully staffed, legally compliant, and truly responsive to student needs, supporting students’ social, emotional, and behavioral development so they can succeed in the classroom.
- Restore and strengthen Encore classes and advanced, career-focused, and specialized programs, including RGA, Woodruff, IB, and D2, so students with advanced or unique needs are challenged and supported.
Teachers
Students
Students
Empower teachers to do what they do best – teach!
- Push for more decisions to be made by teachers, building administrators, and parents rather than top-down from central administration.
- Give greater weight to teacher recommendations on critical issues like social promotion, retention, discipline issues, and classroom priorities and attendance minimums.
- Attract, Retain, and Support talented staff by maintaining competitive compensation, improving safety & working conditions, and empowering school & classroom level decision making.
Taxpayers
Students
Taxpayers
Steward our hard-earned tax dollars to ensure all children have the education they need to achieve their full potential.
- Base major changes (e.g., calendar, curriculum, grading) on solid research, educator input, and measurable outcomes—avoid unchecked fads or one-size-fits-all policies.
- Establish clear district policies and provide oversight of the superintendent, holding them accountable for measurable student outcomes, positive school climate, strong talent development, and operational excellence.
- Make PPS more attractive for area families by promoting consistent behavioral expectations, quality programs, and community feel to grow enrollment and secure additional resources.
Committed to Our Schools, Connected to Our Community
