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Education, Experience
Bachelors degree plus additional education
Qualifications
Licensed Landscape Architect
I am used to participating in governmental and committee meetings at the municipal level and understand the legal requirements for those meetings. I regularly handle construction budgets in excess of $50 million and can handle a school budget. I also believe that education is very important for the community.
To be involved with the community, support the students and teachers, and maintain an acceptable tax rate. I'm tired of seeing the current divisive nature of the school board and want to bring a more level headed approach.
Divisive directors and bringing national politics into the local school level. The school is about the local community and most of those issues just do not belong. I want to see the business of the school run smoothly and the support given to the teachers and students to better the education.
There is a balance to teaching some of those items in the school, but also supporting the parents to make sure the students learn some of that at home. Financial literacy and civic engagement are vital to moving past school and into adult hood.
AI should only be used to supplement other research and work or to get a starting point. It's still a vital skill to know how and where to look for things you are looking to research. Zoom has become a necessity in handling snow days and other school closure issues. It also helps classrooms connect across the world and to give the students a wider view than just their classroom.
Education, Experience
I have an MS in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Transportation Engineering from Villanova University, which was earned in December 2024. Prior to that I earned a BS in Civil Engineering from Villanova University in May of 2024. I earned my high school diploma in 2020 from Oley Valley High School.
Qualifications
The primary qualification that I bring to the Oley Valley school board is the fact that I am currently serving on the board. With the slate of candidates, the most experienced board member would have no more than 4 years, while some would have no previous experience. Additionally, I have work on large budgets, have served in leadership roles for committees/board, and I have extensive experience with editing governing documents. I'm also a recent OV student and bring that experience to the table.
Campaign Phone
6107870785
I am and have been involved in a multitude of community organizations. These involvements have both connected me to our community and helped me learn critical skills to effectively serve on a board. I now have extensive experience in leadership roles and with editing governing documents. I also have knowledge on infrastructure needs and budget management that are critical components to school operations. Lastly, I come from a family of teachers which helps me understand the world of education.
I am running for school director to help bring stability back to the Oley Valley School District. Over the past four years, the district has been seeing too much negative press due to the actions of the board, when the focus should be on the amazing things our students, faculty, and staff are doing. As a member of the board, my focus will be on providing the best educational value possible for the students in our community, which also generates improved property value for our tax payers.
1) Teacher Shortage - In order to provide a high quality education for our students, we need highly qualified teachers which requires us to create compensation packages that attract these individuals.
2) Unfunded Mandates - We are often tasked with adding things with no funding support, so we need better governmental advocacy.
3) Relying on Property Tax - The costs to run a school are constantly increasing and the bill gets passed on to property owners which can become unaffordable for some.
Many of the programs listed in this question have been cut from our schools due to budgetary constraints, yet they remain critical skills for our students to obtain for success outside of the classroom. While we may not currently have the funds to revitalize some of these high-cost programs, there are things that schools can do to add in curriculum pieces and training on the "soft" skills for minim al costs, which can get our students on track for greater future success.
Technology is the future and schools need to be implementing it to some extent to ensure that their students are prepared for it. In my job, I spend most of my day utilizing video conferencing and various emerging technologies, which I had to teach myself because I didn't have formal education on it while in school. The use of AI will also become a critical part of many careers, so careful implementation of it in the classroom setting will only prove to support their future careers.
Education, Experience
Bachlors of Art in Education, Masters of Education in Urban Education, Masters of Education in Instructional Technology I was appointed and served on the Oley Valley School Board for 7 months to fill an open seat
Qualifications
I am a public school elementary classroom teacher. I have been teaching for over 27 years in the public schools. I have helped write and implemented IEP's, discipline plans, and differentiated instruction. I have written curriculum. I have implemented the PSSA tests. I have been on the interview committee for teachers, principals and a superintendent. I helped negotiate the last 6 5year contracts at my district.
Campaign Phone
6107805023
I am a career public school educator with over 27 years of experience. I have worked my entire life in public schools. I know how schools work, what is needed, and what is wasted. I can bring this experience with me to be an effective School Director.
I believe in public education. I want to see my home district be the very best that it can possibly be. I want to keep the small school feel of our district while still offering our students the very best total educational experience around.
Budget, Salaries/Benefits, and Mental Health
The biggest 2 challenges are financially related. Keeping taxes low, but raising taxes just small amounts when needed is necessary for any district to be financially secure. Mental Health affects so many students. FInding the resources, staff and time to help is the challenge.
In today's world we have students preparing to leave HS with so many different paths ahead of them. Some students could need more life skills options in HS, while others need classes that prepare them to think outside of the box for careers that have not even been created at this time. Parents have the ability to teach and share the household skills necessary for children to become successful home owners and members of society. Schools and parents both need to add to a child's education.
Emerging Technologies are the future. These skills should be taught at age appropriate levels to our students so that they can be successful in the future.
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Education, Experience
Bachelors Degree, Business Administration, Kutztown University; Master of Science, Property Management and Land Development, Drexel University: 10 years experience as a Member of Planning Commission: Former adjunct professor at Drexel University; Entrepreneur with multiple businesses in real estate, logistics, and service.
Qualifications
Financial Underwriting, Executive Decision Making, Creative Problem-Solving, Relationship Building
Campaign Phone
4842565136
I am the current Vice-President of the School Board. I have served on the Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board for over 15 years combined. Prior to venturing into the world of entrepreneurship, I held multiple executive positions in both management and business development.
To preserve, protect, and enhance our School District. My goals are to increase our scholastic ranking to top 3 in the County and create an atmosphere the attracts the best faculty and staff in the State.
Taxes, increased expenses, and finding (and keeping) excellent faculty and staff.
Taxes - we need to do the most we can with the least amount of tax payer dollars possible.
To combat increased expenses, we need to bid and re-evaluate expenditures annually as possible to ensure we are not overpaying.
For faculty and staff challenges, it is our job to ensure we are building a working culture that attracts the best talent.
YES - we absolutely do. There are some basic life skills that simply are not engrained in the curriculum as they used to be. I learned how to weld in high-school (not vo-tech, regular shop class). I also learned how to bake, how to grow food, and the basics of financial management. These building block level experiences have been a major contributor to my own success and we need to ensure these skills continue to be taught.
In elementary school, I was taught to multiply, divide, add, and subtract. We were not permitted to use a calculator and we were required to show our work. Later as problems became more complicated, we were permitted to use a calculator. I consider AI and other technology to be similar to the calculator. Learn to do the basics without the assistance of technology, and then utilize technology to enhance you work.
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