Women's History Month Spotlight: Dr. Jane Sandbank

When recalling the beginnings of their careers, some female superintendents, like this one from Massachusetts, travel back to memories of a time when school officials were nearly all male.

The same does not hold true for fifth-year Brewster Superintendent Dr. Jane Sandbank. While she acknowledges that the position has been traditionally male-dominated, she said there are “quite a few” female leaders in the lower Hudson Valley.

“Very honestly, I never felt it was an impediment or that there was a bias,” she said. “I really personally never experienced that.”

The memories Sandbank spoke of during a recent interview with Patch focused on three important role models and the values they helped to instill in her.

During the beginning of her career, which started in the early 70s as an English teacher in New York City, Sandbank established a relationship with Irma Weiss. Weiss was the head of the English Department at the Bronx High School of Science, where Sandbank worked.

“I don’t think they make them like that anymore,” Sandbank said with a laugh, adding that Weiss was an inspiration. “Her value of excellence in the classroom, of rigor in the classroom — she certainly mentored me.”

Sandbank eventually became Weiss’ assistant in the department, which consisted of roughly 30 teachers.

Later on when she worked for Ossining’s school district as an English director, Sandbank connected with then-Assistant Superintendent Dr. Phyllis Glassman because of a shared commitment to “issues of equity and social justice.”

A first-generation American, she was the first of 11 cousins to go to college.

“I understand the importance of education and public education as a great leveler in our society,” she said.

One of the reasons Sandbank believes so strongly in education as an equalizer is because she has witnessed it. Despite high poverty and high minority rates, officials cited Ossining as “high performing” in English when Sandbank worked for the district. The acknowledgement garnered a Channel 13 documentary at the time.

“I was very proud of that moment in my career,” she said. “It is evidence [that] when you have great teachers who really care about kids, they can perform and achieve at very high levels." 

But even before Sandbank developed her passion for teaching, an older sibling helped her progress as a reader. Her sister, who was eight years older, would bring home books from the library. On one occasion the literature was especially challenging for a 10-year-old Sandbank.

“I said to her, ‘I can’t read this, it has so many big words,’ and she said ‘Just keep reading, you’ll get it,’” Sandbank recalled.

Today Sandbank serves as a role model for many students and staff members in Brewster, the district that has provided the “best part” of her career.

Assistant Principal Elizabeth Higgins was an English teacher when Sandbank became superintendent in 2006. Both of them grew up in New York City and entered the same educational realm after college. 

Higgins said Sandbank has been a mentor for her, naming her ability to look at the whole picture rather than move straight to discipline or other actions when assessing a student situation.

“She advocates for the kids,” Higgins said.