Candidate Profile: Jean Lambert For Elmbrook School District

BROOKFIELD, WI—The 2021 election is heating up in Wisconsin and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Voters will also decide the outcome of state representative, senate seats and local government and school boards.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Jean Lambert a current Elmbrook School Board member , tells Patch why she should retain her seat as Board Member Area IV.

Age (as of Election Day)

64

Position Sought

Elmbrook School District School Board Member Area IV

Party Affiliation

N/A

Family

Married to Roger Lambert; 7 children - 4 graduated from BCHS; all college graduates

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Marquette University: MBA, Medical College of Wisconsin: BSN, Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing: RN

Occupation

Clinical/Financial Data Analyst; 40+ years healthcare experience at all levels

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

School District of Elmbrook Board of Education; elected 2009

Campaign website

www.facebook.com/jeanlambertel...

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking re-election to continue working on education excellence in Elmbrook. I believe the main work lies in the following areas:

* Address post-pandemic issues whether academic or social/emotional
* Improve K-3 literacy
* Improve the school experience for diverse groups of students
* Retain our incredibly talented staff
* Assure optimal levels of technology for all students
* Address social/emotional needs of our students

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

K-3 literacy is vital to success in grades 4 and beyond. During my tenure on the board, we've implemented science-based reading, the strong start program, the Raising a Reader program, a Reading Macrocredential for staff, and we just recently approved 4K for implementation fall of 2022. I will monitor the success of programs already in place and support the implementation of 4K.

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

I have many years of experience on the Elmbrook Board of Education, whereas my challenger will have a steep learning curve over the next 12-24 months. While I no longer have children in the Elmbrook Schools, I have the benefit of experience to better understand the needs of students at all levels - elementary, middle and high school.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

A 33 member task force of parents, staff, administrators, board members and community members was commissioned by the board back in June of 2020 to study the various aspects of reopening our schools and make a recommendation to the Board in August 2020. I’m proud to say the board adopted the recommendations of the task force to provide a continuum of instructional delivery options including full virtual and full face to face.

Families and staff were asked to indicate their preferences for starting school in September, as well as at the end of the fall and winter terms; adjustments have been made accordingly and we’ve been in face-to-face mode probably 90% of the time since September thanks to the efforts of 150-some Elmbrook staff members and district leaders who worked tirelessly to make it all happen. As the science and the data evolve, the board has authorized appropriate expenses to strengthen our response.

Recommendations around safety protocols, quarantine, moves to virtual and others are made by a talented and well-credentialed Medical Advisory Board consisting of parents of Elmbrook students. Those recommendations are reviewed weekly by Mark Hansen with Board President Scott Wheeler and me as Board Vice President and adjustments to instructional delivery are made as necessary.

Recommendations with district-wide impact are decided by the full board.
Vaccinations have been provided to those staff who requested them. I believe we have taken a thorough, science-based approach that has served us well. We receive feedback on a regular basis that is largely positive and in support of our approach. . We’re currently exploring safe adjustments to specials at the elementary level; we’ll continue to follow the guidance of the CDC and Waukesha Health Department moving forward through the pandemic.

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

As a current Board member, I am proud to highlight outcomes during my tenure such as our consistent and viable curriculum, the 4K and LAUNCH programs, diligent enrollment management, numerous capital projects completed within operating budget or fund balance, balanced budgets, and options of safe face-to-face or virtual learning during the pandemic.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm a fiscal conservative - sensitive to the financial impact on taxpayers of decisions we make and committed to providing excellent in education in Elmbrook.