Nov 6, 2024
Topic: Meet our Alumni
Contributed by Thomas Parker, Communications Intern
Andrew Manuel Sanchez, a native of the northwest suburbs, has always felt connected to the community. During his time within District 21, Sanchez attended Twain Elementary School starting in second grade before moving on to Holmes Middle School, from which he graduated in 1999. Sanchez recalls being a very calm, but curious, child. Reflecting on his academic journey, Sanchez acknowledged the profound impact that District 21 had on his development. One aspect he didn’t realize the importance of until later in life was having the opportunity to attend schools with a variety of people from diverse cultural backgrounds. He states, “Now that I’m an adult, I definitely appreciate how impactful that was for me in a real positive way just to get exposed to people all across different spectrums. It’s something that I really appreciate and cherish to this day.”
Another one of Sanchez’s fondest and most important memories from District 21 is how supportive and uplifting his teachers were. One teacher he recalls being especially impactful was Greg Piecuch, who currently teaches at London Middle School. Sanchez remembers Mr. Piecuch as a very funny and outgoing teacher who always went the extra mile to engage students. Some of his favorite memories include the times Mr. Piecuch would stay after school to play basketball with some of the students, including Sanchez. He explained how important these instances are to him in his current role as clinical director with the Center for Emotional Wellness of the Northwest Suburbs. This role sees his days filled with providing children and families various counseling needs, along with mentoring new staff and interns, a responsibility he cherishes for its role in shaping future generations of counselors. The time spent playing basketball with Mr. Piecuch taught him to be engaging with the children he works with, as well as to have a better understanding of their experiences.
Sanchez had an evolutionary path to where he is today as a clinical director. After graduating from Wheeling High School, Sanchez attended DePaul University, where he initially studied business and marketing. He learned quickly that his interests lay more in psychology after taking a transformative introductory psychology course. He ended up graduating from DePaul with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Following graduation, Sanchez worked at a behavioral health hospital to gain real-world experience and discover more about what he wanted to pursue. He eventually decided to obtain his Master’s Degree in Counseling from National Louis University. After completing his education, Sanchez started working where he is today at the Center for Emotional Wellness of the Northwest Suburbs eight years ago as a child, adolescent, and family counselor, before taking on the role of clinical director.
As a father of two future District 21 students, Sanchez loves finding joy in his free moments playing games and hanging out with friends and family in the backyard. And as a self-proclaimed “pizza connoisseur,” he is always on the lookout for the next greatest pizza establishment. Sanchez’s journey serves as an inspiration of continuous growth and evolution, deeply rooted in the supportive environment of District 21 that serves him well in his current work. To learn more about the counseling services he provides, visit centerforemotionalwellnessnorthwest.com.