Candidate Profile: Lynne Woehrle For Wauwatosa School Board

WAUWATOSA, WI — The 2023 spring election is heating up in Wisconsin with several key local and statewide races on the April 4 ballot.

Among the races in Wauwatosa, people will be choosing new members for their local district's school board. Seven people are running for four seats on the board; just one is running unopposed. Those who are elected will serve a three-year term.

Patch asked all seven school board candidates to answer questions about their campaigns. We will be publishing profiles as soon as we receive answers from the candidates.

Here is what Lynne Woehrle told Patch about why she should be elected to the Wauwatosa School Board:

Age as of election day:

57

Position sought:

Wauwatosa School Board seat 6

Party affiliation:

Independent

What is your educational background:

PhD, Social Science, MA Sociology

What is your current occupation and work background?:

I am a full-time tenured faculty member at UW-Milwaukee in the College of Nursing, where I direct the Master of Sustainable Peacebuilding program. Previously, I was a tenured full professor of sociology and department chair at Mount Mary University.

What previous elected or appointed offices have you held?

I have held elected and appointed positions in national and state professional organizations. I have also served both elected and appointed board positions in nonprofits and community organizations, including as President of the Hartung Park Community Association and as a part of the leadership team for Tosa Together.

What is your campaign website?:

woehrlefortosaschools.org

Why are you seeking office?

I am the child of teachers who taught me that schools are the foundation of a free and fair society. Like them, I have dedicated my life to teaching. Students thrive when they are ready to learn; safety and a sense of belonging are critical to their success. I will work for schools that focus on academics, effectively managing conflict, and are truly inclusive of all students. I am the proud parent of students at Madison Elementary, Whitman Middle, and West High schools. We live on the West side of Wauwatosa, and I am a very active volunteer in the district and in the community. I have skills in curriculum development, program management, and in teaching violence prevention methods that give me a good knowledge base to serve as a school board member.

What is the most pressing issue facing your office, and how do you plan on addressing it?

Our schools have been seriously disrupted by both the impacts of COVID and the polarization of our society. Some students are dysregulated in their behaviors, and staff and teachers are exhausted and feel undervalued. We need to focus on supports and resources that get us to thriving classrooms full of students eager to learn. This means that we need safe schools where belonging and community define the climate and culture of the building. The district has already implemented behavioral expectations and behavioral supports, and this coming year is critical to moving our schools to where they are known for the academic success of ALL students. We need to continue to scaffold effective disciplinary interventions and use data to assess their impact and to check that they are implemented with equity.

What are the critical differences between yourself and the other candidates seeking this office?

Experience. I have worked in classrooms, partnered with the district on finding external resources to address classroom behaviors, have read widely and connected regularly to schools and school leaders. My competitor has only just started to reach out during his campaign to learn about the issues that face schools today. His professional work is distant from education. While he is a parent he does not have the broader experiences that I bring to the School Board. While I have experience running academic programs, budgets, grants and working with data analysis relevant to schools, his experiences have been in other work environments. I have been working with the district on Tosa-specific issues since 2016 as a co-leader of the Tosa Together schools committee.

I worked closely with the last superintendent and with district staff, teachers and the current superintendent on projects. I am known for asking tough questions and pushing for metrics, evaluation, and thoughtful decision-making on the school district policies and procedures. I am a longtime champion of racial equity in Wauwatosa, including supporting racial equity efforts in the schools. As a parent of children navigating special education supports, I have developed a deep understanding of what the staff can provide and where the district needs to do more. So that is really the key difference. Experience.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I have worked diligently in Wauwatosa to grow racial equity in a community that historically excluded Black, Brown and Indigenous people. Our schools have been one of the bright spots of the growing diversity in our city, and I look forward to contributing to policy and practices that make our district a destination for families who want their children educated for the global society of our now and of our future.

I am also a dedicated environmentalist. I believe that our schools can take some important steps toward energy efficiency and reducing negative impacts on the environment that will also meet our goals of financial strength. During the campaign I have met students, community members and school volunteers who are excited to work on sustainability measures that will improve our schools.

What is the best advice ever shared with you?

The students are our focus. Stay as a board member focused on the students as their future is our North Star. Their families and their teachers are our partners in our work. Listen, and then listen some more.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am approaching this opportunity to serve the community with a positive attitude. While school board members need to ask tough questions and have oversight on the district, our schools are best served by school board members who are interested in collaboration. I am positively excited about the potential and direction of our school district. I am prepared to listen to and work with those who do not agree with me to seek win-win outcomes wherever possible.

If you are running for a seat on a school board, do you have any children in the district?

I have three children attending West side schools (Madison, Whitman, West) in the Wauwatosa School District.