Age
42
Current Job
Controls Engineering Manager
Township or Borough of Residence
East Petersburg
Facebook Page
Facebook.com/supporthempfieldschools
In both my personal and professional life I have experience discussing difficult topics with those with whom I disagree. I keep a cool head and explain my view calmly. But then I listen to the other side and re-evaluate with any new information that is presented.
The entire purpose of public education is to teach our children, and so they must be first, always. Students need a safe, welcoming place to learn. Each child has unique needs to be met in order for them to be successful.
However, in order to best serve them, we need to support those who are interacting with them on a daily basis. Teachers, support staff, and other professionals cannot do their job effectively if they are not supported or do not have the resources they need to be successful.
Public school is for everyone, and so everyone's needs should be met.
Unfortunately, I believe the current and previous boards have not been properly preparing for the on-going needs of the district and have been underfunding the district.
However, the root cause of the financial struggles of our district and others is that Pennsylvania has not been meeting their Constitutional obligations to provide for a "thorough and efficient system of public education." I believe that School Directors have an amplified voice as elected officials and should be advocating for fair funding from the General Assembly to reduce the burden on local property owners. Unfortunately, when presented with the chance to do so, some existing board members have watered down any resolution to advocate for better, long term funding.
Age
41
Current Job
Battalion Fire Chief
Township or Borough of Residence
East Hempfield Township
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/HempfieldStrong
As a current board member, I believe the top priorities of any school board must always be our students, teachers, and community equally. Every decision should reflect that focus. To be effective, a board must operate with mutual respect, valuing each member’s unique experiences, perspectives, and values. I bring a collaborative approach grounded in years of public service, where listening to others, building trust, and working toward shared goals are essential. Thoughtful, respectful dialogue helps us find common ground and make strong, unified decisions that move our district forward.
As a current board member, parent of two Hempfield students, and a battalion fire chief who manages multiple stations, crews, apparatus, and budgets, I’m committed to making our students' education a priority by ensuring their safety and a quality education while ensuring our infrastructure can support our present and future needs. That means supporting our teachers and staff while also being mindful of the impact on families, the community, and taxpayers. I will continue to approach every decision with a balanced, fiscally responsible mindset and treat every dollar as I would my own. We must balance student and teacher needs with our district, community, and taxpayer needs to succeed.
As a current board member, I am committed to fostering a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where every student can succeed. The school board must work to balance the diverse needs of our students, families, staff, and community while staying focused on the district’s core mission. That includes supporting students' well-being, partnering with the community to address challenges, and attracting and retaining high-quality staff. I will continue to prioritize safety, collaboration, and smart resource use to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive.
As an incumbent, I remain committed to maintaining a healthy balance between the needs of the district and the financial burden on our taxpayers. While the district faces significant challenges, including districtwide staff compensation and renovation of our high school, we continue to work hard to responsibly manage costs by setting aside funds and leveraging savings to reduce the impact on our community. With 70% of our budget tied to salaries and benefits, every additional expense must be carefully scrutinized while ensuring that our staff continue to receive the support they need to provide a high-quality education. I will continue to work to ensure that Hempfield remains financially secure without putting undue strain on taxpayers.
Age
42
Current Job
Communications Professional & PT Bank Teller
Township or Borough of Residence
East Hempfield Twp
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/supporthempfieldschools/
I plan to build relationships with fellow board members by getting to know them as individuals and learning what’s important to them. As a new board member, I will ask questions and be an active participant in my onboarding process so that I come from a place of understanding and preparedness when engaging with the board at large. When appropriate, I can also draw from my experiences as a communications professional to help facilitate consensus building. I will bring active listening and professional, respectful dialogue to my interactions with everyone while clearly conveying my “why” behind decisions.
I will prioritize students first, always. Children deserve to learn in safe, inclusive environments where they can focus and learn. If students are struggling, I want to know why. I will seek to amplify the voices of students and will consider their feedback in decision making processes. I will also prioritize the needs of our district staff. When our staff’s needs are met, they can better meet the needs of our students. When our students’ needs are met, we can more effectively create educational environments and opportunities where they can grow and excel.
Our district is one of those that has experienced heated debates in the past. Hempfield’s students need district leadership that will focus less on culture war issues and more on updating our buildings and facilities so our learning environments are modern and safe. They need leaders who will make data-driven decisions in a timely manner, not prolong the amount of time they’re attending schools that are falling apart. They need additional staff to address their needs for mental and emotional support (school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists). Our students need teachers who feel valued and appreciated by district leaders, and an overall atmosphere of restored pride in our school district.
Due to insufficient state funding, local districts heavily rely on local taxes. Hempfield's board historically implemented minimal tax increases, not fully utilizing the Act 1 index. As a large district with substantial facilities, staff, and services within a $150+ million budget, this approach has been a disservice to taxpayers. Gradual annual millage rate increases would have better prepared for building upkeep, contracts, and educational services, reducing the need for current borrowing for capital projects.
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Age
52
Current Job
Retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel
Township or Borough of Residence
West Hempfield
Qualifications
I served 20 years in the Air Force, and I believe my diverse leadership experiences as a Lieutenant Colonel prepared me well for many of the challenges School Board Directors face. These include leading large groups of people toward a common goal, developing a strategic vision and seeing it through to accomplish a purpose, constructing multi-million dollar budgets, resolving conflicts, analyzing large sets of data, creating training and evaluation programs and writing policies for large organizations.
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/HempfieldStrong
Students should always be the priority for every decision the board makes, and we need to focus on what brings us together. It is vital all board members come to the table with a collaborative spirit willing to listen to and learn from all perspectives before making decisions. I would approach the role of a board member in the same way that I did when I served on many committees in the Air Force, that is, I built relationships with committee members, sought out and listened to the opinions of others, treated each team member with respect and worked to find common ground in order to make the best decision possible to advance the mission.
Doing what is best for students needs to be the number one focus. While providing the resources for their safety and education, it is important to also balance the needs of teachers, staff, families, and community members. My three children attend school in Hempfield and are my prime motivation for serving. For them and for all students, I want to do my best to ensure they receive the best possible education. I would also work to ensure that our teachers and staff are cared for and have all they need. Additionally, every decision the board makes affects our community, especially when it comes to financial decisions, so I will treat taxpayer money like it is my own to maximize educational value for every dollar.
The school board must provide a positive, friendly and safe environment where all students can succeed, so aligning resources, programming, and training to ensure safety for all is a priority. This includes continuing initiatives that counter harassment, bullying, vaping and fighting. Additionally, we have many families in the district with specific needs, whether it is special needs in the classroom to trauma or hunger. We need to continue to look for ways to leverage resources in the district and community to assist these families. Additionally, we need to attract and hire the best staff to assist all students.
There must be a balance between district needs and the burden it places on taxpayers. The district is facing significant fiscal challenges, the most substantial is the much-needed renovation of the high school. The current board has diligently worked to bring the cost down significantly from the original estimate. I agree with the direction the board has taken by setting money aside over the past few years and obtaining bonds at the right time to leverage a higher savings rate to earn interest and save taxpayers’ money. 70% of the district’s budget goes to salaries and benefits, so every additional expenditure must be scrutinized to reduce the impact on taxpayers.
Age
51
Current Job
Training and Recruitment Coordinator, CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties
Township or Borough of Residence
West Hempfield Township
Qualifications
Educator, Educational advocate
Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/supporthempfieldschools
In order for a group to work together effectively, it is essential to find areas of shared values. As an educator, I have experience facilitating discussion and collaboration amongst groups with varied perspectives. I am committed to listening, asking questions, and seeking common ground so the focus remains on what best serves the needs of all. I believe when school leaders are united in the common goal of providing excellent educational opportunities, the entire community benefits.
I will put students first, always. Meeting the needs of all students is essential to the future success of our communities. Students that leave our district supported, well equipped, and prepared for future success are integral to our community’s future prosperity and well being. Additionally, when we address the needs of other groups a school district serves, students ultimately benefit. Strong school communities support the families in our district, creating environments where children can thrive and come to school ready to learn. Better working conditions for teachers and staff mean better learning conditions for students.
Rather than get embroiled in divisive controversy and ideological debate, a school board should instead focus on ensuring that all students are provided with a safe environment with sufficient resources to learn. One need that has not been sufficiently addressed in recent years is providing additional staff and resources for the social and mental health needs of our students. By proactively addressing these needs, behavioral concerns will lessen, and the overall academic performance of our schools will improve. Ensuring staff have adequate supports to do their job well is ultimately the responsibility of the board.
Currently, our district faces capital improvement and repair needs that require significant long term investments and strategic planning . Our district has recently established plans to fund these projects. However, the district would be in a more favorable position to maintain the robust programming our district is known for if incremental plans had been put in place years ago. Our district is fortunate to have a strong local tax base, but our current funding system relies too heavily on local taxpayer revenue. I will continue to advocate for our state lawmakers to meet their constitutional obligation to adequately fund public education. State and federal funding should prioritize public education as an essential need.
Age
20
Current Job
Student
Township or Borough of Residence
East Hempfield Township
Qualifications
Former student, student government member, youth mental health advocate
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/supporthempfieldschools/
I understand that effective leadership requires collaboration, not competition. While each member brings unique experiences and perspectives, our authority lies in our ability to act as a unified body. To foster a spirit of collaboration, I will prioritize open communication and actively listen to understand, not just respond. I’ll engage with my colleagues in good faith, seeking common ground even when we differ. I believe in data-driven decisions, transparency, and always keeping our focus on what’s best for students, educators, and families. By building trust and valuing each voice at the table, we can find solutions that reflect the diverse needs of our district and move Hempfield forward.
As a candidate for school board, my top priority is our students—because every decision we make should ultimately serve their growth, well-being, and success. But prioritizing students doesn't mean ignoring the needs of others. In fact, we serve students best when we also support the families who raise them, the educators who teach them, and the taxpayers who fund their education. It’s about balance, but the guiding question I’ll always return to is: How does this help our students thrive?
The school board’s primary responsibility is to ensure that every student in the district has access to a high-quality, safe, and supportive education. That means focusing on real student needs like Mental Health. Our students are quite literally calling out for help and support. Young people are struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, and a lack of access to support. This isn’t just a student issue; it’s a school climate, learning, and long-term success issue.
Annual millage rate increases place a real burden on families and community member. At the same time, I understand that our district faces rising costs.
We need to be honest: funding public education well is essential, but it must also be done responsibly. As a school board member, I would approach budgeting with transparency and a commitment to forward thinking fiscal stewardship. That means asking tough questions, looking for efficiencies, and exploring alternative funding streams like grants and partnerships before turning to taxpayers. The goal should be to meet the district’s needs without asking more of our community than absolutely necessary. We owe it to both our students and our taxpayers to be thoughtful stewards of every dollar.
Age
47
Current Job
Paramedic and EMS Sales Manager
Township or Borough of Residence
East Hempfield
Qualifications
Business Manager, Taxpayer, Father
Facebook Page
HempfieldRepublicans4SchoolBoard
The top priorities of any school board member should always be the students, teachers and community. To have an effective board, all members of the board need to be respectful of each other’s opinions, respect each other as individuals, and allow each other to have their own values and opinions. Personally, I would listen to all of the perspectives of the various board members and then thoughtfully analyze the various options so that a meaningful discussion could occur. Understanding that everyone has different life experiences and being able to use those experiences jointly to make decisions will enhance any team or board to perform at its best.
The top priority is the safety and education of the students, which includes continuing to support teachers and staff in their needs so that Hempfield School District can be the top school district in the county. This of course needs to be balanced by the effect on the community and the effect on the taxpayers. As a Sales Manager and a Regional EMS Chief for 3 EMS Systems who manages multiple budgets, I understand the importance of balancing all aspects of the budget and making sure that everyone is receiving what they need while at the same time being extremely financially responsible. Student and Teacher Focused! Community and Taxpayer Minded will always be my guide in making decisions.
It is the school board’s responsibility to protect our students, teachers and staff. Ensuring safety within the school district must always remain a top priority. This would also include strengthening the antibullying policies and procedures along with strongly addressing the vaping issues and fighting between the students. Additionally, the board needs to be mindful of the students that have special needs and what those needs are. The board needs to work together with the community to ensure that all family needs are addressed appropriately. As an EMS Chief who has worked with the PA Commission on Crime & Delinquency on cooperation between Emergency Services and School Districts, safety and students needs will be a top Priority.
There must always be a healthy balance between the school district needs and the taxpayer’s burden. The school district continues to face significant financial challenges, as all school districts do. However, there must always be a substantial consideration on what burden the increased tax hike has on the community. Without community support and involvement in the school district, the district will not thrive, and the board needs to be aware of that factor. I feel the current board has strived to do the best for both the district and taxpayer. As such I would vow to keep Hempfield School District financially secure, while at the same time not placing an undue burden on the community and taxpayer.
