Sandra Muhlenbeck: Candidate For Glenbrook High School District 225

GLENVIEW, IL — Ahead of the April 4 consolidated municipal elections, Glenview Patch provided questionnaires to all candidates on the ballot.

Five candidates are running for a four-year seat on the Glenbrook High School District 225 school board, according to the Cook County Clerk's Office, with three seats up for grabs. Current members Sidney "Skip" Shein and Marco Sztainberg are running for reelection with their terms ending in April. Joel Taub is not running, leaving three seats up for grabs for the following candidates on Election Day:

• Sidney Shein, current member (term ends in 2023)
• Marcelo Sztainberg, current member (term ends in 2023)
• Jim Geldermann
• Paul Kelly
• Sandra Muhlenbeck

Patch is publishing all responses submitted by candidates verbatim.

Sandra Muhlenbeck

Age (as of election day)

52

Town/city of residence

Glenview

School district

Glenbrook District 225

Family

Husband, Matt Walch, 52. Son, Noah Walch, 2021 Glenbrook South graduate. Daughter, Audrey Walch, will graduate from Glenbrook South in June, 2023.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BA Politics, Wake Forest University, JD, Columbia Law School, MSN, Rush University College of Nursing

Occupation

Pediatric Registered Nurse, 5 years. Previously Attorney, 20+ years.

Campaign website

https://www.glenbrooksforstude...

Previous or current elected or appointed office

None

The most pressing issues facing our (board, district, etc.) are _______, and this is what I intend to do about them.

Societal stresses including the pandemic and increasingly polarized political discourse have impaired our ability to recognize our commonalities. When it comes to our schools, we all have a shared goal: to provide an educational environment that encourages every student to flourish. One of my priorities as a Board member will be to enhance our ability to make common cause by increasing effective and respectful communication between the District and the community. Timely, accurate communication of the Glenbrooks’ plans, policies and programs to families, as well as listening to and understanding stakeholders’ concerns, are essential to fostering a constructive working relationship with all community members.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As a pediatric nurse, I will bring to the Board the perspective of a dedicated advocate of the well-being of the whole child. While I want the Glenbrooks to provide our students with every opportunity to achieve academic and extracurricular success, I believe it is equally important that the Glenbrooks are places where students feel supported, included, and nurtured.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community or district?

I am running as part of a slate with two incumbent board members, Marcelo Sztainberg and Skip Shein; I am not a challenger to the current Board.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Mental health is a bedrock of our students’ ability to learn. I am deeply concerned about the large increase in adolescents reporting poor mental health in the past decade. Our District must reaffirm and expand its commitment to protecting students’ mental and emotional health by providing a safe and supportive learning environment, facilitating access to needed services, and fostering students’ sense of connectedness and inclusion at school and in the community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

After practicing law at multinational firms for two decades, I pursued a second career as a registered nurse, first on an inpatient pediatric unit, and currently as a school nurse in District 34. I am able to quickly synthesize and critically analyze information; objectively assess multiple viewpoints and offer constructive suggestions on reaching consensus; and effectively communicate with a broad range of stakeholders.

Why should voters trust you?

As a longtime resident of the District, I understand that our community views our schools as a reflection of our values and aspirations for our children. We rightfully take great pride in the Glenbrooks for not only their top-notch academic, athletic, and artistic programs, but also their caring, encouraging, and inclusive approach to education that gives all students the opportunity to grow and thrive. With my family having benefited personally from the Glenbrooks’ exceptional learning environment, I will be a strong advocate to continue and build upon this legacy for the benefit of the next generation of learners.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office a success?

I hope that all members of the Glenbrook community – students and families, teachers and staff, and residents at large – feel a greater sense of connectedness, inclusion and esteem when it comes to their relationship with the District.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

Prudent stewardship of District finances is essential to maintaining community support for our schools. I support the current Board’s efforts to strategically manage spending to achieve zero debt by 2028.

What are your thoughts on how the district has handled the COVID-19 pandemic?

Shepherding the schools through the pandemic was a tremendous challenge. I commend the District for navigating the ever-changing landscape of recommendations from the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Cook County Department of Public Health in devising a multi-layered COVID mitigation strategy that allowed for a safe and responsible return to fully in-person learning.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some school boards saw extremely heated disagreements during public meetings. If elected, what changes, if any, need to be made to ensure meetings are run efficiently while still allowing open discussions?

Common courtesy and mutual respect are baseline requirements for public discourse, even when tempers run high. Participants who are unwilling to abide by these norms should be treated as voluntarily relinquishing their privilege to contribute to the discussion.

How do you feel about sex education being taught in school? Should an LGBTQ component be included, and why or why not?

I agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ endorsement of age appropriate, medically accurate sex education in schools, including abstinence promotion and accurate information about contraception and sexually transmitted infections, to help adolescents make safe, informed choices about responsible sexual activity and reproductive health. LGBTQ sexuality is part of human sexuality; LGBTQ students attend our schools; including education on LGBTQ sexuality should be presumed, not questioned.

What are your views on critical race theory and whether it should be taught in the district?

Critical race theory is a framework for legal analysis that is taught at the postgraduate level, not at high schools. I believe that high school students should be educated about the whole truth of our history, including uncomfortable truths. I trust our education professionals to be responsible for developing curricula and selecting educational materials.

Do you think the current board has done enough to support racial equality, and if not, what specifically should be done to do so?

In 2022, the District committed to conducting an equity assessment and developing a 5-year equity plan. I will urge the Board to move this process forward quickly, and also to implement appropriate interim measures such as participating in the Central Suburban League “Building a More Inclusive CSL” project.

When it comes to student achievement, what are schools within this district doing well and what needs to be improved? How can those improvements be made?

The Glenbrooks provide students with an astounding range of opportunities in the 4 As – Academics, Arts, Athletics, Activities – and year after year, students seize upon those opportunities and excel at the regional, state and national level. However, the District also recognizes that there are gaps in student achievement. The Board has completed data analyses to inform initiatives to address these gaps; I am committed to implementing focused programming to increase achievement by student groups identified as underserved.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was ____________

The maxim that “this too shall pass away” has been a touchstone for me throughout my life. It is a source of comfort in difficult times and an encouragement to stay humble in moments of success. Most of all, it reminds me to accept that change is inevitable and to be prepared to adapt and grow no matter the circumstance.