Upper School history teacher Debbie Linder will bring her ample experience and enthusiasm to the role of student government advisor for the 2025-26 school year. Ms. Linder is succeeding Upper School English teacher and student government advisor Lenny Goldman, who is becoming ninth and tenth grade dean.

Ms. Linder has an extensive background as a student government leader, having previously filled the role for schools in San Francisco, Boston, and even Highland Park. “I have been a student government leader [for] probably half of my career,” Ms. Linder said.

As advisor, Ms. Linder will be responsible for facilitating student government meetings and will assist behind the scenes at Gatherings.

“I will make sure that everybody knows what their role is and what they are expected to do,” Ms. Linder said. “[I will] not just encourage them but collaborate with them, and ideally push them to go above and beyond. We can already see kids getting really excited about [student government.]”

Ms. Linder loves working with kids who are actively engaging in the community, so student government was a natural place for her to go.

Current sophomore grade representative and Communications Chair-elect Alex Stamos is excited about what Ms. Linder has in store. “She is very fun, but when she needs to be, she is very authoritative and is willing to get the job done, which is what we really need from a student government advisor,” he said.

He added, “I feel like she really embodies the leadership that we all seek to achieve in student government.”

In her new leadership role, Ms. Linder wants to work more closely with the Student Academic Board, as well as the We Will Vote Club and Model Congress, both of which she advises.

“I see this as a place where we can continue to develop kids in terms of learning how to express themselves, take initiative, and make change,” Ms. Linder said.

Ms. Linder also wants students in student government to be able to attend other clubs. She aims to schedule student government meetings every other clubs block, rather than every clubs block, so student leaders will be able to attend clubs, where they can engage with the school community outside of student government.

“If [student government members] are not connecting with students in other ways, other than their classes and student government, then they are missing out on connections. I think that they should be able to do both.”

As the club advisor of Model Congress, she sees firsthand the importance of student government leaders participating in other clubs and extracurricular activities.

“The types of kids who are running for student government oftentimes are involved in so many other [extracurriculars] as well,” she said. “I think one of the things that makes them so great is [that] they're involved in so many other things.”

Alongside her desire to advocate for well-rounded leadership, Ms. Linder has come up with more ideas on how to build off of what Mr. Goldman accomplished this year.

“I love what Mr. Goldman has done so far in terms of making sure that this is a really well-structured program to help students learn how to be strong leaders,” Ms, Linder said. “I want to continue what he has done, [and] I think it's going in a great direction.”

Despite her praise for student government’s current trajectory, Ms. Linder hopes to institute a few ideas of her own.

“I think there are a lot of kids who may not run for positions because they don’t feel like [it] is their space, and I want to make sure that they feel like it is their space,” Ms. Linder said.

Having felt this way herself, sophomore Sadie Cohen said, “I think it’s the fear of losing that makes me not want to run. It feels like a popularity contest sometimes, and I get a type of imposter syndrome where I feel like I wouldn’t be fit for a leadership position.”

Ms. Linder commented on this common feeling. “The biggest thing for me is inclusivity,” she said. “If [student government] models [inclusivity], then that becomes what the school is. I mean, they are representative of the school. They are the ones who affect so much of the social climate.”

In addition to strengthening inclusivity within student government, she will encourage students to strengthen their follow-through on their election promises.

“We want to make sure that they are actually engaging some of those hopes and dreams that they have,” Ms. Linder said.

Her vision for the year ahead has earned the confidence of students like freshman Arlo Heltzer, a grade representative and member of Model Congress.

“[Mr. Goldman’s] departure from this role will leave a huge hole in the student government team, but I think Ms. Linder is the person to fill that hole,” Arlo said. “I am so excited to work with her next year.”