Current Job
Principal/Owner at EigenX LLC
Township or Borough of Residence
Manheim Township
Qualifications
Management consultant focused on higher education and healthcare; former Manheim Township School Director (2011-2016); frequest community volunteer
Facebook Page
Manheim Township Republican Committee and UNITE Manheim Township
Focus on the collective needs of key stakeholders like students, faculty and the community at-large and leave personal, political and ideological agendas out of the dialogue.
They are all a priority and the needs of each must be considered in each decision.
Emphasis should be on providing theappropriate academic opportunities for students to pursue their post-secondary interests, whether that be college, trade school, or the general workforce. Most of the "heated debate" issues surround non-important cultural issues that have little to no impact on the students ability to succeed.
Generally seems about right, although it should be scrutinized on an annual basis to ensure fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers.
Age
34
Current Job
Business Owner
Township or Borough of Residence
Manheim Township
I believe the most effective school boards function through trust, transparency, and shared purpose. I will foster collaboration by listening respectfully to all perspectives, focusing on data and student outcomes, and keeping our common mission at the forefront: doing what’s best for the students of Manheim Township. I’ll approach disagreements with a mindset of problem-solving, not politics, and will always work to build consensus so we can move forward together.
My primary responsibility is to the students, our youngest generation, who rely on us to ensure they receive a high-quality education in a safe, supportive environment. We also cannot serve students well without supporting teachers and staff, respecting families, and being accountable to taxpayers. I believe balancing those interests is essential, but my decisions will always be guided by what best helps all students thrive.
The school board should stay focused on policies and decisions that directly impact student learning, well-being, and equitable access to opportunity. This includes investing in academics, mental health, special education, arts and extracurriculars, and maintaining safe, updated facilities. We should avoid getting distracted by political culture wars or issues that do not truly reflect our local priorities. Our focus should be on students, not politics.
Raising taxes should never be taken lightly. I believe the community deserves transparency and fiscal responsibility when it comes to school funding. At the same time, we must ensure we’re making the right investments. Some of these investments include fixing aging buildings, supporting strong academic programs with updated curriculum in classrooms, and ensuring teachers and staff have what they need to support students in their roles. We need to continue finding a responsible balance: keeping tax increases limited and strategic while making sure our schools are positioned for long-term success. We can also remain accountable by sharing the strategy and sustainable goals with our taxpayers.
Age
47
Current Job
Homemaker
Township or Borough of Residence
Manheim Township
Qualifications
Physician, School District Volunteer
Facebook Page
SupportMTSchools
As school board directors, we need to remember that our role is to serve the students, staff and community of Manheim Township. We will best be able to do that by getting to know one another, by understanding each other's perspectives and by finding our common ground. In that way we will develop mutual respect and a desire to work together. School boards should not be about politics. They are about doing what is best for our school and our community. We need to rise above our political differences to get the important work done.
I think that one of the toughest aspects of being a school board director must be balancing the needs of each of these groups. They are each vital to our community and school district and their needs deserve to be considered. I truly believe that taxpayers, families, educators, staff and students should all have priority. It is the task of the school board directors to allocate resources in such a way that the needs of each group are met in the most complete way possible. I don't think it is possible to pick on group to prioritize, as we are all part of the greater community. These groups are not competing...what benefits one segment of our district will also positively impact the rest.
I am a firm believer that all means all. Student needs should be addressed in order to create an environment in which each student feels a sense of belonging; that they are welcome and they are safe. This type of environment fosters better learning. We need to make resources available to address special education, mental health issues as well as work toward accountability and consistency when it comes to student behavior problems and bullying. Additionally, I am in favor of keeping robust resources available to our students, including books and educational online literature. Finally, I am a strong supporter of music and the arts and will always advocate for these programs to continue and even expand within Manheim Township.
Millage rate increases have been the reality in our and neighboring school districts. That being said, the school board needs to work closely with the administration to create a sensible, workable budget that limits any rate increase to what is necessary to keep it balanced. We need to consider carefully what projects and expenditures are needed versus what is wanted. Some of the current needs are related to aging school buildings and athletic facilities. With fiscal uncertainty looming, it is vital that we are judicious with our allocation of resources and that we ensure we do not over burden taxpayers.
Age
39
Current Job
Stay-at-home dad and strategy consultant/leadership coach
Township or Borough of Residence
Manheim Township
Qualifications
Former non-profit CEO and COO and current consultant with experience in strategy, budgeting, and team building; extensive board experience; community volunteer
Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/people/Support-MT-Schools/61573980501929/?_rdr
Collaboration has been a key part of my leadership as a former non-profit CEO who has also served on many community boards. As a school director, I would foster collaboration through building strong individual relationships and encouraging effective tools for decision-making. I would strive to connect individually with each of my fellow directors, as well as key district and education association leaders. I want to understand their reasons for serving, the issues that are most important to them, and the areas of expertise they bring to our group’s decision-making. I would advocate for the use of tools like communication norms and a strategy screen (e.g. filter questions) rooted in the district's values to aid effective decision-making.
A successful school director is aware of and responsive to the interests, concerns and ideas of all stakeholders. Delivering the best results for our students (and by extension their families) requires intentional, consistent, and multi-faceted engagement with all of these groups. My goal is to foster an environment where all students can thrive and grow as whole people. In support of that end, I want to make sure parents, caregivers and families feel informed and supported as key partners in their child’s education and that staff also feel valued and empowered. With effective outreach and communication, all taxpayers/community members will hopefully see how the district’s performance and contributions benefit all residents.
My four primary goals for my district are to: 1) ensure that all students feel safe and can thrive; 2) prioritize appropriate resources for all students needs (including students receiving special education services or who come from economically struggling households); 3) foster an environment where all staff feel valued and appreciated; and 4) maintain fiscal responsibility with smart strategic investments. Implementing these goals can include work to reduce class sizes; expand staff capacity for navigating challenging behaviors/barriers (alongside teachers and parents/caregivers), facilitate the success of the new superintendent; recruit and retain top staff; prioritize capital improvements; and maintain local decision-making control.
All fiscal tools should be on the table at the start of each budget planning cycle to enable districts to deliver sustainable budgets. In order to maintain excellent quality, cover contractual obligations, manage inflation, and plan for future capital investments, MTSD will most likely need to continue the current pattern of consistent, small incremental tax increases. MTSD has an excellent fiscal standing, both in terms of its stewardship of the annual operating and capital improvement budgets as well as its credit rating and borrowing capacity. The district is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of students, families, and staff, even in the face of possible federal cuts and PA’s incomplete fair funding formula implementation.
Township or Borough of Residence
Manheim Township
To foster collaboration, I will prioritize open communication, active listening, and mutual respect in all interactions. I will work to build relationships with fellow board members based on trust and a shared commitment to what's best for our students. Even when we disagree, I believe in constructive dialogue and finding common ground. My goal is to contribute to a unified, informed board that makes decisions together with a focus on student outcomes. I will work tirelessly to build a positive environment.
While all these groups are essential to the success of a school district, I believe the primary focus of a school director must be the students. They are the reason our schools exist, and our decisions should always reflect what best supports their learning, development and well-being. That said, prioritizing students means also supporting teachers and staff who deliver education, listening to families who know their children best and being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers who fund our schools. Effective leadership involves balancing these interests with transparency and integrity with thoughtful consideration of all perspectives. Ultimately every decision should ask: "How does this benefit our students?"
The school board should stay focused on policies that directly support student learning, safety and well-being. I believe our responsibility is to ensure all students feel safe, seen, and supported - regardless of background - while upholding exceptional educational standards that will prepare them for the world. The board should not be used as a platform for political agendas. Instead we must focus on evidence-based strategies that improve student outcomes. My goals is to keep the board centered on what truly helps kids succeed. By nurturing all aspects of a student's growth in a supportive and inspiring environment, we help prepare them for a successful and fulfilling future.
I recognize that consistent millage rate increases can place a burden on taxpayers, especially during times of economic uncertainty. At the same time, our schools rely on stable, adequate funding to meet growing needs - whether it's supporting student services, attracting and retaining quality staff, or maintaining facilities. I believe it's the boards duty to scrutinize budgets carefully, ensure spending is transparent and efficient, and only support tax increases when there's a clear, demonstrated need tied directly to improving a well rounded education for students. It's about balancing fiscal responsibility with our obligation to provide every child with a high-quality educational experience.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Township or Borough of Residence
Manheim Township
Collaboration is a culture that must be cultivated with time and trust. It is crucial I enter in with an attitude and value system that is rooted in unified decision making. This will set an atmosphere for success for the students and our community.
Priority will be case dependent. Serving to educate the next generation requires all groups mentioned. I will listen to all parties to make an informed choice on how to handle matters. Diminishing any of the voices by assigning priority to one over the other would be injustice.
All needs will be welcomed for consideration. Choosing what policies will be heard is a very subjective approach. I wouldn’t restrict discussions or debates, as long as it is productive and meets the goal of academic success for our students. If school code and policies are being met, the school board’s purpose will prevail.
I am aware of the rise in taxation patterns in recent years. I do believe this is in the best interest of the district, to meet the needs of our schools. Responsibility lies in school board members to take action in screening all funding requests to ensure they are financially viable.
Age
46
Current Job
Senior Leader in State Government
Township or Borough of Residence
Manheim Township
Qualifications
Public Sector Strategist, Community Volunteer, Parent to 3 Children; Served as a public school district administrator for 8 years; Holds BA in Communications and Master of Public Administration
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/people/Support-MT-Schools/61573980501929/?_rdr
As an elected body that governs and guides at the strategic level, I believe that the Board of School Directors is key to shaping the culture and priorities of the school district. I have observed first-hand that school boards perform at their best and most productive levels when members collaborate with each other, as well as the superintendent. Collaboration engenders a healthy exchange of information and also shapes and models the desired culture. The collaborative behaviors and actions I will prioritize include active listening, respectful communication, and a commitment to working together towards the shared mission and goals of the school district.
School board members are elected to represent a large number of groups. It is important to seek out and listen to input from each of these groups. However, the critical work of a school board is accomplished within the context of what’s best for kids. I believe that decisions regarding programming, policies, and practices must prioritize the needs of students. This will ensure that school board oversight is committed to preparing all children for their futures, not our past.
The board of school directors has local governance responsibilities for efficient and effective school district operations that support all students. Governance includes reviewing and approving policies that foster exceptional public education, providing opportunities for all students.
One of my goals is to maintain fiscal responsibility with smart and responsible investments. The district must continue to prioritize appropriate resources for all students’ needs, address capital improvements for aging facilities, and invest in staff capacity that aligns with the district’s comprehensive plan. To ensure these budgetary needs, I believe that consistent, small incremental tax increases are required. Likewise, the community should expect the school board to strategically balance costs with long-term investments.
