ENDORSEMENTS

Endorsement

The SEIU, Service Employees International Union, has endorsed Fred Arkin, Audrey Williams-Lee, Kathleen Odell, and Dave Schaafsma for the D200 school board.

Four for the OPRF school board

On behalf of the OPRF High School Faculty Senate, I would like to share we have decided to endorse the following candidates for the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education:

Fred Arkin, Audrey Williams-Lee, Kathleen O’Dell, David Schaafsma (write-in)

We believe all these candidates are well-qualified and merit our endorsement. They have reached out to the OPRF faculty and have demonstrated a sound understanding of the issues our school faces.

Sheila M. Hardin
OPRF Faculty Senate Chairperson

Endorsement

Audrey Williams-Lee is the exact type of leader we need on the District 200 high school board. As a parent of a 2023 OPRF High School graduate and a two-term OPRF High School Community Council member, I had a firsthand seat to the many opportunities that OPRF offers our children and community. I saw the types of challenges that exist in being able to give our children a first-rate, safe, inclusive, and holistic educational experience against the backdrop of our complex world.

I first got to know Audrey as a fellow Community Council member before she filled a vacancy on the D200 board. In our meetings, I saw her demonstrate thoughtful questions, constructive dialog, a commitment to creating an environment in which all students can thrive, and an ability to understand the different voices in a room.

Working with her and the OPRF administration to set up a High School Communications Committee, I saw her commitment to acting in the best interest of our students and community. Her various corporate leadership roles have instilled in her the mindset of being a good steward of the organizations she serves, leaving them better than she found them. She has overseen large budgets and teams, has a keen understanding of complex operating environments, and leverages her HR background to deeply understand people, what motivates them, and how to navigate conflict.

These capabilities and attributes make Audrey an ideal board member who will work to ensure D200 provides a leading educational experience, remains fiscally responsible, and provides an inclusive environment that serves all students and our community.

Michele Nazur
Oak Park

Endorsement

I wholeheartedly support Audrey Williams-Lee’s candidacy for a full term on the District 200 Board of Education and hope that you will vote for her.

I’ve served with Audrey twice, on the Imagine OPRF team in 2017-18 and for the past 18 months on the D200 board. In both settings, Audrey’s approach has been the same: to roll up her sleeves; engage with the community, stakeholders, and other committee members; and work hard to solve problems.

Both times, Audrey was quickly perceived by her colleagues as a leader. She has embraced that role. Her strong professional background as a C-suite-level HR executive has helped her contribute a valuable perspective. Her long record of service to both D97 and D200 have helped her to focus on practical solutions.

Simply put, Audrey is a serious and experienced leader. And in this election and at this moment, that’s important. Our high school is engaged in multiple ambitious initiatives that will have far-reaching and long-term impact on our communities, including our capital improvement plan, curriculum improvements, and embrace of equity. Managing the administration, managing our tax burden responsibly, and managing these initiatives to success requires just the kind of serious, sober, experienced leadership Audrey delivers.

We strive to make OPRF a safe, welcoming place for all students. Audrey has both the vision of radical inclusion we need, and the skills to support the many practical solutions and approaches necessary to ensure the safety and wellness of our students, families, faculty, and staff.

She’s a leader. She’s a hard worker. She’s the person we need to continue to lead the D200 Board of Education. I’m delighted she’s willing to continue to serve our community. I’m voting for Audrey Williams-Lee. I hope you will, too.

Tim Brandhorst
River Forest

Endorsement

During my 12 years on the District 200 (Oak Park and River Forest High School) Board of Education, the last three as president, I have been fortunate to work alongside many different board members, and Audrey Williams-Lee ranks among the best.

In 2023 we needed to fill a board vacancy, and Audrey was chosen unanimously from a wide, talented field. Since joining the BOE, she has exceeded all expectations I had. She came into office “board ready,” with prior professional and board experience. She has been a great contributor from the start. Audrey fully understands board work and is willing to put forth the effort needed for success. She has quickly jumped into a leadership role as board vice president. She has capably stepped in to lead the board on the occasions when I was absent.

Audrey has a very thoughtful but deliberate approach to our work, asking meaningful questions while providing her perspective in a tactful way. Her professional experience in Human Resources is invaluable to our board. She is passionate about ensuring that all students have meaningful experiences at OPRF and recognizes that each student has unique needs.

She wants to ensure that OPRF continues to offer a diverse, rigorous curriculum that is accessible to all students. Her platform — “A Safe and Inclusive School Climate and Culture,” “Continued Funding of Mental Health and Well-being Resources,” and “Excellence Execution of the District Strategic Plan” — are rooted in equity, academic rigor and sustaining an environment where students can excel.

As I prepare to leave the board, it is very important to me that we elect board members willing and capable to carry on the work of this district. Running D200 is a serious and complicated business, and we should look to serious and experienced leaders to do it. Audrey Williams-Lee is an excellent choice for the D200 BOE. She has been showing up to do the work of supporting our students for years and will continue to do so.

She will fervently support the needs of our students while faithfully supporting our taxpayers.

Tom Cofsky
D200 board president

Endorsement

Audrey Williams-Lee, District 200 school board candidate, is on a mission. The assignment: make sure every OPRF High School student receives the highest-quality and supportive educational experience the school and our communities can offer. This includes supporting the overall well-being of students, teachers, and staff. Audrey has imagined what we as a community could accomplish and more specifically what students can accomplish when they all have a strong academic foundation and the confidence needed to go out into our community and others to contribute. She imagined it and then she got to work.

As an Oak Park resident who has worked with Audrey in the past on D200 issues, I know firsthand she is values-driven. She has the experience, knowledge, stamina, and commitment required to fully engage and make significant contributions.

Community members, we are in a moment where positive, inclusive, strategic, dynamic, and courageous leadership is not only what we need, but also what we deserve. We’ve all worked too hard and care too much to go into our silos and have a narrow focus. The students in D200 are all our children, and we have the opportunity to do the best we can for each of them. Audrey’s been working for years on behalf of our children and will continue to do so.

Look, I could go on and on about my friend, my neighbor, my collaborator and advocate for our children. If you know Audrey, you know what I’m saying is true. If you don’t know Audrey, you can learn more about the work she’s doing to advocate for the students and families of D200 at her website, audreyford200.com.

It’s an honor to support Audrey and more importantly to support the community.

Bridgett Allen Hedgeman
Oak Park