Meet the Seventeen Candidates for District 65 Board

Welcome to the Thunderdome!!

I reached out to the candidates to ask for a quick blurb about themselves. I didn’t tell the candidates which tense to use and asked for 1-3 paragraphs, but some gave me more, which I just copy pasted.

If you’re running for the board and I screwed up your blurb below or you’d like to update it, email me. Coordination among >3 people is not a skill set I possess, so I’m pretty lost with 17 people.

After January, I’ll do more formal programming and give each person the opportunity to talk on the blog or on the upcoming podcast. At the end there is a link to survey to help me prioritize who you want me to talk to. Here’s the link now, just in case you want to vote early and often.

I honestly think this is a great list of people and we should be lucky to have so many folks willing to take on the challenges in District 65.

If you don’t feel like reading everything, here’s a word cloud of the general themes:

Let’s begin! These are in the order that the candidates filed with the County (I will use that ordering going forward).

---

Andrew Wymer

My family and I live on the south side of Evanston, and I have two children in District 65 at Oakton Elementary School. While I grew up on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington, I have deep Midwest roots, and I have lived in Evanston for ten years. I am a tenured professor at Garrett Seminary, a progressive religious graduate school here in Evanston, and before that I was an assistant professor and assistant dean at a seminary in New Jersey. I have an array of experiences in educational administration, graduate-level education, civic engagement, and nonprofit governance, and I volunteer on a number of boards and committees here in Evanston and beyond. I am "all in" on Evanston, and I care deeply about ensuring an accountable and sustainable District 65 in which we continue to grow into the mission of "every child, every day, whatever it takes" through sustained commitment to inclusion and equity. 

Christian Sorenson (website)

I’m married to Jenny, my ETHS ’05 prom date, and we live behind Nichols on Maple between Lee and Greenleaf. I’ve got two beautiful kids and my parents still live in the house I grew up in by Ryan Field. I’m a longtime campaigner for local, state, and federal Democrats and I was a commodity trader and financial advisor early in my career. You can call or text me at 847-231-2319 or email me at christian@sorensenfor65.com

Brandon Utter

Brandon Utter lives in Skokie with his wife and three children. Two of his children are in kindergarten and 3rd grade at the Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies. His youngest is in pre-K. He is committed to District 65 for the long haul. 

Brandon has been engaged with the School Board and School District since becoming a D65 parent and throughout the tumult surrounding Bessie Rhodes. He has attended and spoken at multiple meetings, is a Board Member on the Bessie Rhodes PTA, and is involved with the Bessie Rhodes caregiver community. Brandon is familiar with the key players in the District, the roles and responsibilities of the School Board, and the ways in which the Board and District interface. After watching the current Board and district administration repeatedly show a poor understanding of the data surrounding Bessie Rhodes and refuse to engage in meaningful community outreach, Brandon decided to run for the School Board. Brandon is committed to using data and evidence-based, transparent approaches as a board member so that the same low quality, non-transparent, chaotic decisions affecting the teachers and families of Bessie Rhodes do not happen to more children and teachers across our district. 

Brandon is a healthcare professional with clinical experience as well as policy and high impact board service experience. Through his direct clinical experience, he has honed his ability to work and partner directly with a wide range of people to solve complex problems. He also has experience serving as the leader of the Colorado Drug Utilization Review Board (DUR) serving the State of Colorado’s 1.4 million Medicaid beneficiaries. In this role, he used large data sets to influence health policy and medication use among Medicaid beneficiaries in the state. He organized, ran and participated in quarterly board meetings through this role. 

Brandon currently works as a mental health pharmacist for the Department of Veterans Affairs and provides medication management services to Veterans in Kansas and Missouri. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a Doctorate in Pharmacy and conducted multiple years of post-doctoral residency training to specialize in psychopharmacology and pharmacotherapy. 

Brandon served nine years in the Army National Guard and was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq. 

As a School Board Member, Brandon will ensure that the D65 board receives high quality information from the district and community to align with his campaign pillars:  

(i) Honest Partnership with the Community

(ii) Strengthening our commitment to equity focused educational programming such as two-way-immersion (TWI), and 

(iii) Keeping student and teacher needs at the center of all financial decisions

Ezra Shevick (Instagram, Facebook)

I live in Evanston’s 4th Ward with my wife and 2 daughters. My older daughter is in 2nd grade at Washington and is in the TWI program. My younger daughter will enter Washington as a kindergartner next year. My girls are the 3rd generation in my family to attend District 65.

For the last 10 years I have owned and operated a company with my brother manufacturing and selling natural mattresses. We have a factory in Niles that employs about 50 people. My responsibilities have included operations, accounting and HR.

If elected, I would work hard to rebuild trust with the community, ensure we are in a position to attract and retain the best teachers, shore up our short term financial position and create a long term facilities plan to invest in and maintain the schools.

Chris Van Nostrand

By way of background, I have two kids in D65.  My older son attends Haven, and my younger son attends Lincolnwood.  My wife was born and raised in Evanston, and my in-laws have lived in the community for many decades.  I run my own business as a strength & conditioning coach. 

Before that, I worked in higher education marketing and admissions (most of my career was spent at Northwestern and UC Berkeley). I earned my MBA at the Kellogg School and studied political science as an undergraduate.

Christopher DeNardo

I have two children, a first and a third grader, currently attending Bessie Rhodes, which probably sheds some light on why I am running for school board. The more I learn about the situation surrounding Bessie Rhodes, its planned closure and its relationship to the fifth ward school and the district at large, the more concerned I become. I am concerned not only about my own children but for a school district that is struggling under the weight of its own commitments, a district still reeling from high profile administrative departures. This is a district and community that is still recovering from a pandemic and is dealing with large budget shortfalls. It’s a lot.

I would be lying if I said I had the solutions to all the challenges facing District 65. What I do have is a background that puts me in a position to collaborate with my fellow board members to make the adjustments necessary to set the district on the right path.

I am an Evanston native with a masters degree in education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I have a broad set of professional experiences that have forced me to learn how to solve novel problems, learn new skills and pivot when a plan is not working. My most important job of the past decade has been stay-at-home dad to my two children. 

I have worked at Northwestern University, balancing departmental accounts at the business school. I worked as a preschool gym teacher for a year at the McGaw YMCA Children’s Center while my oldest child was a student there. I served as a long-term substitute teacher covering a maternity leave at Chiaravalle Montessori school here in Evanston. Right now I work at the McGaw YMCA as a personal trainer and small-group barbell/strength coach. (It hasn’t escaped me that this race has not one but TWO guys named Chris who work in the fitness industry as lifting coaches. I’m still not sure what the significance of that is but it’s kind of interesting)

Dan Kastilahn

I grew up in northwest Evanston and attended Willard, Haven and ETHS (Class of '97) before heading off to college at the University of Colorado. After returning to the Midwest and living/working in Chicago for a couple of decades, I moved back to Evanston with my wife and kids in late 2021, in large part for the public schools. Great timing, I know. We have a daughter in 1st grade at Lincoln Elementary and a son who will be entering kindergarten at Lincoln next fall. I have spent my professional working life in commercial real estate finance, primarily working on underwriting large mortgage-backed securities issuances. I am running for the school board with the primary goal of addressing D65's spending and budgetary woes. I believe my experience with finance and real estate would be an asset in the face of the challenging financial position into which the District has gotten itself. I also would like to prioritize transparency and communication between the school board/administration and the community at large.

Lionel Gentle

Lionel Gentle is a dedicated father, community leader, and advocate for equitable education, running for the District 65 School Board. A graduate of Loyola Academy and the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, Lionel shifted from a career in acting to become a stay-at-home dad, prioritizing family and community engagement. He met his wife, Tracy, at James Park, where their mothers played on a summer softball league—a connection that now includes two sons, a recent Evanston Township High School graduate and a fifth grader at Bessie Rhodes.

For 17 years, Lionel has coached with the Fellowship of African American Men (FAAM), fostering mentorship and resilience in youth, and served as PTA president at Kingsway School in the 5th Ward. As creator of Our Unseen Roots, a podcast elevating the stories of Black women in the community, and Our Unseen Dads, which shares the experiences of Black fatherhood, Lionel amplifies voices often left unheard. He is running for the school board to ensure that every student in District 65 receives the quality education they deserve, in an environment that supports inclusion, equity, and growth.

What you can expect from me as a member of the board

• Transparency

• Directness

• Honesty

• Community Investment

Dan Lyonsmith (Email)

I am the parent of three children: two D65 scholars, one graduate of D65 (currently at ETHS) and was student in D65 myself.  This is central to why I care deeply for the quality and solvency of public education in Evanston.  As many people have, my wife and I relocated to Evanston for the schools.

For the past 10 years, I have worked in the administration of publicly funded workforce programs at the state and federal level. After witnessing D65 Board’s mismanagement of publicly funded education in Evanston, I decided to throw my hat in the ring.  I served as the Associate Director of Workforce Development for DHS, under the Pritzker administration, administering $40 million in state and federal funds for employment and training programs for low-income adults for nearly 7 years.  I now hold the position of Regional Director at the US Department of Labor where I oversee administration of nearly $6 billion in Workforce funding throughout the Midwest region.  

I believe that my experience in stewarding public funds, transparency and accountability in decision making along with experience navigating complex dynamics to deliver meaningful public programs is relevant to this moment for our District. There are difficult decisions ahead to be made by the D65 Board, and I believe that the balance of my experience and my role as a parent gives me a helpful compass to navigate the challenges ahead.       

Nichole Pinkard

I’m Nichole Pinkard—a former District 65 guardian, a Fifth Ward resident, a FAAM coach, and a Northwestern professor. I’m running for the District 65 School Board because Evanston is at a critical turning point. Our district faces a significant budget deficit, which demands immediate attention and innovative solutions to ensure our children receive the quality education they deserve. My experience creating sustainable learning opportunities through partnerships with District 65, District 202, the park district, the library, and the YMCA has equipped me with the skills to manage resources effectively and find creative ways to support our children. I understand how deeply connected Evanston's learning institutions are and the importance of collaboration for our children’s success.

As a computer scientist and cofounder of initiatives like the Digital Youth Network, STEAMbassadors, and Digital Divas, I'm passionate about fostering a strong STEM education for all students. I'm committed to working with the board and the community to develop and implement strategies that address the district's financial challenges while prioritizing our children's needs and preparing them for the future. Together, we can navigate this turning point and build a stronger, more sustainable, and inclusive educational ecosystem for Evanston.

Anita Opdycke

I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for the D65 School Board. I’m a proud mom of three—2nd-grade twins and a kindergartner—all of whom attend Kingsley Elementary. Our family is deeply rooted in the community, actively involved in both school and local initiatives. As a first-generation college graduate and the daughter of Indian immigrants, I grew up in Orland Park, relying on public education as the foundation for my opportunities. I understand firsthand the transformative power of a strong public school system, and I firmly believe that every decision we make as a board should put the best interests of all children first. That includes children from all backgrounds and academic abilities. Here is a short professional snapshot:   

• Public health and public service has been a cornerstone of my life, fueled by my near 20-year career as a nurse, nurse executive, public health advocate and advanced practice provider (I hold board certifications in both primary care and family psych). 

• I serve as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation at Press Ganey, a healthcare technology company, where I work to improve human experiences in healthcare. 

• I’m also honored to serve on the Board of the Nurse Alumni Association at Rush University

• I have been actively involved and continue to support the Center for Independent Futures, a nonprofit organization here in Evanston.

I’m running because I believe we can transform our district where every child feels valued and challenged academically, every educator feels supported, and every family feels connected and safe. While that isn't the case today, I'm confident, together, we can champion equity, foster innovation, and rebuild a district that reflects the strength and diversity of our community, while also being fiscally responsible. 

Peter Bogira

Hello, fellow Evanstonians and FOIA Gras readers! First off, I'm impressed and excited at the unprecedentedly long list of candidates who have thrown their hat in the ring for this upcoming election. The stakes are incredibly high given both the challenges this district has faced in recent years as well as the ones ahead. The number of people in this race illustrates the energy to make positive changes and rebuild the connection between those who lead this district and the families, educators, and community members who care deeply about our public schools.

A bit about me: I am an Evanston native who grew up near James Park and attended Dawes, Chute, and ETHS. I loved my childhood experience here, and the schools I attended was an integral part. I moved back to Evanston in 2020 with my family and currently have two kids at Kingsley, with one more on deck for kindergarten next year. Local friends would tell you I'm an incredibly dedicated father who is both interested in and devoted to the betterment of our public schools as anchors of our communities across the district. My dream is to build the necessary trust and community connections to have the facilities and programs that live up to the potential of all our children they support. Most of my professional experience is in marketing and advertising, and I currently work for Roku as a Principal Account Executive in the Ad Sales division. While on paper that may not scream "future member of a school board", my success in a professional (and social) capacity carries a lot of overlap with the critical skills and attributes the community deserves from our new board members:

-Strategic thinking and vision--> We can't simply set the bar at balancing the budget, though that will need to be table stakes for our Board. The community wants more comprehensive action plans on issues (i.e. Master Facilities Plans) where we've kicked the can down the road far too many times.

-Self-awareness and accountability--> The first step is admitting you have a problem. We've missed a lot of opportunities to do that -- both historically and recently -- in part by riding the coattails of a generally strong reputation of our public school system. We're going to need to make massive changes that will extend beyond a few areas that have been identified by the current board and administration.

-Ability to work cross-functionally with various personalities and levels of proficiency-->There's a massive opportunity for our board and leadership to elevate our relationships with the City, D202, and Northwestern to build synergy and support, especially during a time when we're resource-challenged. We also need to listen to our educators -- the recent DEC contract was just a start, not an end, to cultivating a more collaborative relationship where our staff in the classrooms feel empowered and heard.

-Level-headedness in high-pressure environments--> The new board will undoubtedly have some difficult decisions, but we need to address more of them head-on and transparently with the community while actually listening and accounting for their concerns.

-Frequent, accurate forecasting to avoid financial surprises and address deficiencies early-->It starts with having a sound budget where we learn from the past and course-correct but requires frequent stewardship with a Board that sets high standards and holds an administration accountable to deliver on them. It also necessitates responsibly defining administrative roles and responsibilities to prioritize budgets that impact the classroom.

-Humility-->It is counterproductive when someone wants to ensure they're recognized as the smartest person in the room. We need a diversity of skillsets, visions, and personalities across this board, with people who know how to balance listening with offering input.

-Curiosity and creativity-->up until only recently, most references to enrollment among D65 leadership passively pointed towards declines driven by factors we have little control over. It's critical to the vibrancy of Evanston that we explore how we can take action to inspire Evanston families (current and prospective) to opt in, not out. Let's rightsize the district by making it one people are lining up for, not lining up to exit.

I know it will take more than a list to go beyond simply earning your support in the election but your trust in the days and years beyond it. I'm running for school board because I want to make a difference for the children here today while building a thriving district for the future. I look forward to hearing from many of you in the coming months and sharing more perspective on key issues -- for now, you can get in touch via email at peter.for.d65board@gmail.com.

Pat Anderson

Pat Anderson is a native Evanstonian having lived in the 2nd, 5th, and now the 9th wards with experience in District 65 as a student, employee, and parent. From a District 65 student, to being a parent and now grandparent of District 65 students, and as a 35-year employee from the 1986 to 2022, she is familiar with the evoluton of the District in recent decades.

As a physical therapist in D65’s Special Services Department, she worked in every D65 school, has intimate knowledge of each school, and worked with all levels and types of students from Head Start to 8th grade. She completed national SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) training and conducted virtual and in-person trainings for teachers, staff and parents of District 65. Her main office was located at JEH, providing a front row seat to the expansion of administrative positions and salaries, like those of Assistant Superintendents and a Deputy Superintendent. This expansion did not result in associated value to the service of District 65 students and families. As a parent and employee, Pat has also witnessed the exceptional work done by teachers and support staff in spite of the circumstances that have plagued District 65.

She is currently seeking a position on the District 65 School Board in response to these experiences, to restore a growth mindset in the work of our District by prioritizing the needs of our students and teachers. It is critical that financial accountability be restored and the inequities promoted by the 5th Ward School Project be addressed.

Randall “Randy” Steckman

Randy is an engineer in the commercial construction industry, working on mechanical design, project management, and as an owner’s representative.  He has 20 years of experience and has worked in four counties. He has worked in Evanston for over 10 years and lived in Evanston for over 4 years. He is a single dad (50% custody) and his daughter attends Oakton Elementary.

Randy is running for election because he wants to bring his unique perspective, engineering experience, budget management experience, and construction experience to the challenging issues facing the school district. He understands that having great schools is not just about having great ideas, it’s about understanding the long-term social impact and financial cost of every decision.

Maria Opdycke

As a proud parent of three third-generation Evanstonians, I feel a deep sense of responsibility for our community's future. I believe a sustainable and outcomes-driven public school system is the cornerstone of building an informed and productive society. Aside from parenting three boys aged 11, 13 and 15, I am a community volunteer, small business owner and corporate executive. My 25 years of experience running operations and finance in people-centered organizations will provide the leadership our District needs to emerge from the current financial crisis with a strong path forward that celebrates our students' achievements and honors the diversity that defines Evanston. 

I have spent over a decade as a parent and volunteer in District 65 and I believe our community can thrive under steady, transparent and honest leadership. During my time as PTA co-president at Dewey School, I launched science fairs and pumpkin sales, and I collaborated with parents, teachers, and administrators to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic. In 2017, I passionately campaigned for the referendum to support our District's financial health. In recent years, the school board’s leadership has not given sufficient priority to strengthening the human and financial resources that drive educational outcomes, positive organizational culture and a strong school community.

As an operations and strategy executive, I've helped businesses grow and nurtured talented teams from start-ups to mid-market, high-growth ventures. My passion is developing leaders and creating strong, collaborative teams. My superpower is using agile, data-driven frameworks to drive operational efficiency. I believe that empathy and humanity in leadership fosters a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability. My combined life and professional experience bring a unique and steady perspective to successfully address the challenges ahead in District 65. I hold a B.A. in Economics from Miami University and an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Heather Vezner

I have lived in the Evanston/Skokie community for over 10 years. My two stepdaughters are graduates of King Arts. I recently retired from a 26-year career as a Quality Assurance Professional. I now have the opportunity to dedicate my time and attention to my local community and will be an active and engaged member of the District 65 School Board.

As a Member of the School Board, my focus will be on:

1. Fiscal Responsibility – Ensuring that our funding is spent efficiently, prioritizing programs that directly benefit our students while being transparent and accountable to taxpayers.

2. Building Stronger Community Connections – Engaging parents, families and local organizations to foster a positive, collaborative relationship between our schools and the community.

3. Promoting Equity and Inclusion – Creating a school culture where every student, regardless of their background or ability, feels supported, valued and empowered to reach their potential.

4. Improving Academic Excellence – Ensuring that our curriculum is both challenging and engaging while providing students with the resources they need to succeed.

5. Supporting Teachers and Staff – Providing our educators with the training, tools and recognition they deserve to create an inspiring learning environment.

Kimberly Fair

Kimberly is an experienced strategist helping guide companies and leadership in streamlining operations, optimizing processes, and designing strategies that maximizes growth and productivity.

As Co-Founder of BDPRecruiting with her husband, Kimberly leads the Fair Strategies Firm where she advises stakeholders on political and organizational strategy, coalition-building, fundraising, and campaign guidance. She has extensive policy experience in education, environment, community development, and several other areas.

Kimberly is running because her mission is to restore trust in our schools, amplify community voices, and work collaboratively to strengthen Evanston’s PK-8 education system for all of our kiddos.

---

OK now that you’ve read all this, you can take the anonymous survey/poll below to tell me who you want to hear more from:

I may publish the final results of the survey but your vote is completely anonymous to me.