Campaign Phone
8568899793
Neighborhood/area of residence
Foulk Woods
Are you currently a school board member? (Y/N)
n
How many school board meetings did you attend last year?
3
Frank has been an educator for 50+ years, as a classroom teacher, department chair, workshop leader, director of a teacher prep program, new teacher coach and college instructor. He has consistently advocated for all students and their teachers at the local and state levels and knows how properly supported educators can make a big difference in the lives of every student in their care. As a school board member, he will commit to serving all members of the educational community in helping to maintain safe and well equipped classrooms.
Frank is married, has two daughters, both of whom graduated from BSD, and has four grandchildren, two of whom attend BSD schools and two of whom live in San Diego.
Lagging academic performance by too many students, some of whom seem disengaged and/or distracted from learning, is a major challenge. Some, however, who are ready to learn complain of unengaging work. While we must commit to equal access to learning, we must also go further to find ways to attract and maintain fuller engagement in the learning process by every student. Post-pandemic reliance on technology seems to have replaced, to too large an extent, the interpersonal dynamic that powers good learning. While on-screen learning can work to some degree for many and for limited learning activities, it can never replace that vital dynamic.
School boards should be firm in protecting their students' rights to investigate and critically review for themselves a broad variety of curricula, subjects, books and programs. Parents, of course, should screen anything their children are exposed to but should not impose for other families their own restrictions.
I believe our district currently enjoys a good reputation and history for doing just that; however, school board members must remain vigilant in protecting that access and expanding it when appropriate, as when in recent years students have come forward with serious questions about gender identification.
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
No. Currently, more funding needs to come from the state. If that requires additional funding streams, then we need our legislators to create them. Also, the antiquated and out-of-touch referendum requirement for local schools should be replaced with the power for each school board to set local school taxes. Referenda are currently the only opportunity that citizens get to vote for or against a tax; and there are sometimes not enough families who send children to public schools to win the day. If citizens are unhappy with boards who set higher taxes, they can vote them out of office at the ends of their terms.
I believe, as I indicated in my earlier answer, that we need to set higher expectations for student engagement in every learning activity. That also means that teachers and administrators need to seek, select and tweak engaging learning activities to appeal to a wide spectrum of learners. That also means, I believe, in relying less on screens, both laptops and cell phones. I understand that those digital tools CAN enhance learning in some circumstances; but my observations have shown me too great a dependence on and abuse of those screens.
Campaign Phone
3027232892
Neighborhood/area of residence
WEXFORD / NORTH WILMINGTON
Are you currently a school board member? (Y/N)
N
How many school board meetings did you attend last year?
SIX
I am a 25-year experienced public-school educator at all levels that is two years into retirement. I want to run for a seat on the BSD School Board to improve schools (through improved climate and culture practices, parent participation, different teaching and learning methods research) and support teachers (by ensuring there is increased professional development, making certain salary increases do not take two years to complete and ensuring classrooms conditions are comfortable and safe). I have earned my bachelors degree in Science and Technology from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, my masters degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Delaware and my doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Wilmington Univ.
The single most important issue facing the Brandywine School district are the very low student test scores at all levels. The way to address this issue is by tackling one other issue which is poor attendance. These can be accomplished by garnering active parent participation. Teachers too need to participate in professional development in an effort to learn new skills to support them in this endeavor. Lastly, school districts must be open to supporting teachers via new technologies and resources for additional resources.
By addressing each curriculum, topic, subject, book and programs with the facts. Boards should respectfully listen to such calls, but stand with each and every teacher who supports these items remaining in the district and in every school. Removing these items are essential to a well rounded education of every child.
I would address the needs of those that are traditionally underserved, students of color, low income students, ELL students and students with special needs first to ensure there is equitable funding and their needs are met.
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
Delaware's educational system does not adequately fund the school districts it serves. Students with special needs, students that are ELL and students that come from low income communities do not receive the full funding they require. We can not say that funding is equitable when we speak about these students. I would improve these improvements by rolling all districts into the state budget and fund schools based on their respective needs.
The states national educational ranking will only improve if parent, student and teacher are ready willing and able to tackle the challenges of a students education together. All of the funding in the world will not begin to increase student test scores if these actions don't take place. All students can learn, but if one of these three things is not present improvement will not happen.
