Candidates for District 28 School Board

BETH BAZER

Beth Bazer, Ed.D. has spent two decades focused on improving educational programs, systems, and outcomes for students, teachers and parents in the Chicagoland area. Dr. Bazer has been a member of the District 28 School Board since her appointment in February, 2022. Beth is excited to run for a full term in Northbrook’s next local election and is honored to have been recommended to serve on the school board by the Northbrook Caucus. Beth and her husband, Adam, have lived in Northbrook since 2020 with their two children, who attend Meadowbrook Elementary School. Beth grew up in Northbrook in District 27, graduating from Glenbrook North too many years ago for her own comfort.

Dr. Bazer is an education nonprofit leader at OneGoal, dedicated to supporting the growth and development of secondary school and district leaders in creating and improving equitable structures that help students be successful after high school. Her role at OneGoal follows a position as executive director at Schools That Can Chicago, a nation-wide education nonprofit with offices in Chicago and around the country. Prior to her work in the nonprofit world, she spent fifteen years with Chicago Public Schools, serving as an elementary school principal and assistant principal, and as a middle school teacher on Chicago’s West Side.

Beth holds a B.S. in speech and hearing sciences from Indiana University, an M.Ed. in education from Northwestern University, and an Ed.D. in education leadership from University of Illinois Chicago.

CHRISTINE BEEFTINK

My name is Christine Beeftink and I’m honored to have the opportunity to run for the District 28 School Board. I have lived in Northbrook for the past 22 years with my husband Mike and our son who attends Northbrook Junior High. As a career educator, I am aware of and impressed by the high quality of our public schools and welcome the chance to support the efforts of our teachers, staff, administrators, students, and families. I started my career in education as a student teacher at Glenbrook North. I have recently retired from 30 years of service at Niles North High School as a School Counselor, English Teacher, Club Sponsor, Coach, and Union Officer. I’ve earned two Master’s degrees in School Counseling and in Speech Communication from Northeastern Illinois University and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and in Communication from Loyola University of Chicago. I have also achieved National Board Certification (NBPTS) in English Language Arts. At Niles, I’ve served on several district committees on Curriculum Standards, Professional Development, Educational Policy, Mentorship, Teacher Evaluation, and Contract Negotiations. I’ve taught courses and workshops to faculty and administration and have presented at national and regional events. In Northbrook, I’ve served five years on the Community Relations Commission where I co-planned the annual Celebration of Cultures (along with other cultural events) and participated on the Northbrook Cares Subcommittee. I am passionately committed to public education and as a Counselor I have loved being a strong advocate for students and families and I look forward to sharing ideas, collaborating with the Board and Administration, and learning more about how to best serve our students and community. I humbly ask for your support and for your vote for District 28 Board of Education.

MARA SILVER-SCHACK

I have been honored to serve as a board member of District 28 schools since 2019. In that time, the board partnered with administration and stakeholders to kept students and staff safe during the pandemic and at the same time minimized learning loss with an increase in student math scores. We remained responsible fiscal stewards of the district’s finances, and we undertook a search for and chose a new superintendent. Whatever challenges the next four years bring, I am eager for the opportunity to continue my service.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Missouri, I taught for six years at Vaughn Occupational High School, a Chicago Public School for students with special needs. This year I returned to my teaching career as a music educator at Hawthorn Elementary South in Vernon Hills, and I continue to run my own private voice studio.

I currently serve as the District 28 representative on the True North Leadership Council, a special education cooperative. I have also served on the buildings and grounds committee, the superintendent’s advisory forum, and the policy committee.

My husband and I have lived in District 28 for ten years and we are the proud parents of second and fourth graders at Westmoor and a seventh grader at Northbrook Jr High. I would love the opportunity to continue bringing my perspectives as an educator as well as a parent and a community member to the District 28 school board for a second term.