After graduating from Graceland College, Sandee spent nine months living in Haarlem, The Netherlands, and traveling through Europe. She returned to the United States and began her career as an elementary school music teacher, which lasted more than 27 years.
Sandee is an elder in the Community of Christ. She has served the church in the areas of worship, pastoral care, music, and clown ministry. She was a senior high youth leader for 18 years. She enjoys traveling and reading novels of mystery and intrigue.
During the last 10 years of teaching, Sandee developed and coordinated a comprehensive conflict resolution program in her school. In 1990 Sandee and Diane Kyser helped to create the Community Mediation Center in Davenport, Iowa. Some of the areas in which they mediated were neighborhood disputes, small claims, victim/offender, parent/child, churches, and businesses. During her 10 years with the Community Mediation Center, Sandee was the co-trainer for all of the center’s training, a mediator, and case manager. They were responsible for training staff and children in conflict management skills at more than 30 schools. During the last 12 years, Sandee has received more than 275 hours of training in the area of conflict resolution and mediation.