Education
Graduate of Local 392 Apprenticeship for MES, Certified Liebert Technician, Graduate of Butler Tech
Qualifications for Office
25 years in HVAC Industry including Service, Management, Sales, and Contracts. Countless certificates and licenses related to the industry. Proven solution provider to many businesses, government facilities, hospitals, and military installations.
I’m running for Talawanda School Board to ensure our students thrive in a civil, politic free, student-focused environment. As a 20-year resident, with my wife Lisa, an Educational Assistant at TSD, and our two children who attend TSD, I’m invested in our community’s future. With 25 years in the HVAC industry, I have extensive experience in problem-solving, management, and negotiation skills, all while servicing major businesses, government, hospitals, and military sites. My Butler Tech background and blue-collar work ethic fuel my commitment to transparency, collaboration, and I will advocate for politics-free classrooms. I will look for inefficiencies, and advocate for fair funding, uniting our community for educational excellence.
My priorities for the Talawanda School District focus on putting students' wellbeing and education first. I’ll restore civility and a respectful dialogue to the school board, keeping discussions centered on student success, not politics. By removing political agendas from classrooms, we create a focused learning environment. Fiscal responsibility and transparency are key—I’ll push for accountable budgeting to maximize educational resources. I aim to ensure accountability district-wide, with decisions benefiting students and staff. By promoting solutions that unite our community, we’ll build a stronger Talawanda, where every student thrives in an education-first atmosphere.
To tackle Talawanda School District’s budget challenges, I propose a student-focused plan rooted in fiscal responsibility. First, a budget review targeting inefficiencies, looking for administrative overhead and excessive spending, redirecting funds to classrooms and student programs. Second, pursue grants and state funding to reduce reliance on property taxes, easing burdens on families. Third, ensure transparency with clear budget reports and community forums, empowering taxpayers' ideas. Finally, protect services like busing and extracurriculars, avoiding cuts that harm students. A student first approach, ensuring quality education without overburdening our community. No board-approved compensation outside staff's existing contracts.
I support a school curriculum focused on math, science, a balance of history honoring our shared heritage, and bringing back shop classes and electives, emphasizing academic excellence and character aligned with community values. Transparent curriculum allows parental review to ensure local norms. The board should strive to reflect the community, prioritizing a back-to-basics approach, fiscal responsibility, and accountability, resisting activist agendas. Parents, as primary educators, have the right to oversee content and decisions. The state legislature should protect parental rights, promote local control, and support school choice to empower families, ensuring education meets community expectations.
Education
Rochester Institute of Technology-BS Accounting 1980, Licensed CPA in Ohio 1995 (current status Retired)
Qualifications for Office
Parent, grandparent, taxpayer, 40+ years as an accountant and business manager, former Fairfield School Board member
Many Boards of Directors of public entities are comprised of leaders in diverse industries to provide alternative perspectives in decision-making. Likewise, my extensive professional experience will enhance the Talawanda School Board during a time of unpredictable revenues and increasing costs as we seek to further strengthen the learning environment for our children and ensure the best use of our taxpayers’ funds. When elected, I will bring a combined work experience of over 40+ years as an accountant (now a retired CPA) and business manager, while also drawing upon my school board experience, having previously served on the Fairfield School Board.
Collaborate with the leadership team, teachers and parents to ensure Talawanda is the top-rated school district in the region. Achieving this status will encourage employers, colleges and trade schools to prioritize Talawanda graduates when recruiting.
Solicit feedback of recent Talawanda graduates’ strengths and weaknesses from employers and post-secondary institutions, as well as seek guidance about anticipated future skill or technology requirements. Curricula can be adjusted accordingly to further improve our future graduates’ preparation for life’s challenges.
Implement reviews of expenditures to ensure efficient use of our financial resources while still meeting District goals.
Implement zero-based budgeting where expenditures are evaluated each year to ensure spending is cost-effective and aligned with the District’s current goals.
Assign ownership of controlling costs to administrators, principals and department leaders in their areas of responsibility.
Implement a comprehensive preventative maintenance program to help control long-term facility costs and utilize the program’s projections in the five-year forecast.
Investigate areas where we can further utilize the Butler County Educational Service Center and State resources to our advantage.
Form purchasing collaboratives with other districts to obtain volume pricing on common products and services.
In my opinion, it is appropriate for the State to set a baseline curriculum to define common minimum standards across the state. I believe the School Board, along with the rest of the Talawanda school community, should embrace a curriculum for our children designed to significantly exceed those minimum standards. Whether the curriculum is developed in-house or purchased, parents should have the expectation it will align with the community’s Christian moral values, including the removal of topics intended to sexualize our children. The Board is ultimately responsible for evaluating staff curriculum recommendations, keeping community standards and cost constraints in mind.
Education
Bs in Secondary Social Studies Education Masters in Reading Education
Qualifications for Office
40 years of classroom teaching experience, 8 years on Talawanda Board, 6 years on Butler Tech's Board, 3 years on the Ohio Southwest Regional Board
I would like to be reelected to the School Board to ensure the steady leadership needed to continue moving this district forward. Talawanda has made tremendous progress in student success and performance in the last few years and we need to continue to set policies and provide the staff with the freedom and resources they need to continue this growth. I have 40 years of classroom teaching experience that brings a much-needed perspective to the board. I have eight years’ experience on the board as well as 6 years on Butler Tech’s Board. I also serve on the Southwest Regional School Board
We must build on the successes we have had with improving student performance and meeting the needs of all of our students. Our 98.7% graduation rate is an indication of how well our staff is doing. We must continue to support the staff in their work with the children of our Talawanda community. We need to continue do this while maintaining fiscal viability.
We are in strong financial shape. Our staff works hard to be good financial stewards of the taxpayer’s money. We have been warning the public of moves being made at the state level that would undermine our financial stability. We have taken steps, such as moving money into the permanent improvement fund and the terminations benefit fund, to protect the district in the future. We need to watch every dollar we spend while we strive to provide a quality education to all of our students. We cannot cut vital programs just so we can have more money in our bank accounts. At this point there is significant reserves to deal with emergencies. We need to continue with our balanced approach.
The state sets standards identifying what students should know and be able to do. The state delegates that authority to the State Board of Education and the Dept. of Education and Workforce Development. The district sets policies, curriculum, and procedures to ensure students meet those standards. Our local educators develop the curriculum within these guidelines with board approval. Local community input is always welcome. Parents have a right to question and even opt-out of particular lessons. The child will still need to master the standards and might receive alternative assignments. This process does place added demands on our teachers as we try balance parental rights and the needs of our students.
Education
Elizabethtown Independent High School; BA University of Louisville; MBA. University of Kentucky
Qualifications for Office
I am a first-generation college graduate and father. Before joining Talawanda's board, I served ten years balancing budgets and turning around a struggling district. What drives me is serving all students – college-bound and workforce-ready. Only measure that matters is real-world success. Talawanda needs board members who put students first, not personal politics. My leadership delivers results.
Born on a tobacco farm in rural Kentucky, I'm a first-generation college graduate from a working-class military family. Education is the great equalizer and every child deserves a champion.
Before joining Talawanda's board, I brought a decade of school board experience. Balancing tight budgets-making tough decisions. As a university advancement professional, I've secured millions in scholarships. My business experience taught me to maximize resources.
What drives me is serving every student – those headed to college and entering high-demand trades, technology, and service careers. Too many districts obsess over test scores. Real outcomes after graduation matter.
I'll continue to fight to ensure every student graduates ready for success.
My top priority is ensuring every graduate is prepared for success - whether bound for college, trades, military, or the workforce. Expand career pathways beyond traditional academics.
Second, fiscal responsibility while maintaining educational quality. Having balanced budgets for a decade, I know tough decisions are needed to stretch every dollar for students.
Third, restore professional governance to the board. Boards work best when focused on student outcomes rather than personal agendas.
Fourth, focus on real outcomes over test scores. Success means graduates who are skilled, confident, and prepared to make meaningful contributions to communities.
Finally, ensure families feel heard and valued, especially those who feel overlooked.
Talawanda faces a perfect storm: Ohio diverted $2.5 billion from public schools to private vouchers, and we rely more heavily on local taxpayers than almost any Ohio district.
My decade of balancing school budgets taught me how to make tough but fair decisions. We must evaluate everything and ask what is working best for the most students?
We need multiple approaches: shared services with neighboring districts, pursuing grants and partnerships, prioritizing spending impacting student outcomes, and engaging the community in honest conversations.
Finally, advocate for fair state funding.
With disciplined management, strategy, and community partnership, we will need to focus even more on maintaining quality while having fewer resources.
Curriculum must prepare every student for real success - college, trades, military, or careers. Too many districts shortchange non-college-bound students, treating skilled trades as lesser paths.
The state of Ohio sets standards, but local boards must adapt the curriculum to meet community needs and the job market. My board service showed that a balanced curriculum transforms outcomes when we stop viewing paths as a hierarchy.
Parents deserve transparency and meaningful input.
Best decisions happen through collaboration between teachers, parents, administrators, and the board, working toward shared goals. Boards ensure curriculum serves all students. Curriculum should be measured by one standard: are we preparing students for success?
