I have known Jeff Weissglass since our now 18-year-old sons became fast friends at Beye Elementary School. I strongly support Jeff’s re-election to the OPRF High School board for three reasons. First, I know him to be a thoughtful and caring person and parent. Second, his depth of knowledge of, and experience in, issues of education and diversity is impressive and sustained over many years. Third, I have observed many board meetings and seen his focus on consensus and care for all of the students, families, faculty and staff of OPRF High School.
For many years, I knew and admired Jeff primarily as a fellow parent. He and his wife Jeannie have raised three bright, caring, thoughtful children. They have been role models for myself as a parent. Our children’s friendship was wonderful for the boys themselves, but it was also a joy for me to be brought into the Weissglass orbit.
Over time, I came to realize that Jeff’s life has been centered on issues of diversity and education, making him one of the most qualified people for any school board. His accomplishments are many, but include: president of Project Unity, leading the Culture of Inclusion team for the D97 Strategic Plan, serving on the boards of the Collaboration for Early Childhood and the national Education Re-Imagined project, and chairing the National Advisory Council of the Johns Hopkins School of Education.
Finally, I’ve had more opportunities than most to actually observe Jeff’s performance on the OPRF board. Due to my concern over the condition of OPRF facilities, I have regularly attended board and pool committee meetings for the last six years, across three school boards. So I have learned several things: board meetings are many and long, they discuss a dizzying array of issues, and the current board (led by Jeff) has been the most thoughtful, deliberative body I’ve witnessed in that time. Jeff’s leadership has been all about trying to achieve a difficult consensus through information gathering, discussion and debate.
For all these reasons, I strongly support Jeff Weissglass’ re-election to the OPRF school board.
Ellen Pimentel
Oak Park
