PARTISAN POLITICS
School boards around the nation are under attack by partisan political groups looking to bring their conspiracy theories onto our school boards and into the classroom. They use fear and falsehoods to frighten others for the purpose of expanding their grasp on America.
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I believe that our school board should remain functional and to serve our local community and not radical agendas. My only agenda is you and serving the families of Upper Allen and Mechanicsburg.
Let's not let one bad apple spoil the bunch! My goal is to work together with my colleagues and to reach across the aisle for the good of our community by listening to parents and empowering educators.
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I don't bring an agenda, but I will share my viewpoints on various issues that we face and that are important to voters. I'm excited to get to know you and your viewpoints. I'd be happy to learn more and change my mind as I grow. That's not flip flopping. That's being a reasonable adult in the room who puts others first.
SCHOOL SAFETY
The safety of our kids is a value all of us parents share. We watch in horror on the news of school violence and mass shootings. In the last year, we've had some scares in the district and I know that the safety of our kids is a top priority. As a school director, I would advocate for two things I believe would improve student safety.
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As a former student myself, I was bullied and I know first hand how that feels. Luckily, I had a good support system and an administration who listened. I believe that violence becomes an option of last resort for kids who feel they are not being heard. We need to invest in listening and to do that, I'd advocate for a program that provides 24/7 online therapy for students, giving them a place to be heard and to seek help. This would detect if a student is in crisis and intervene when it's a 4 and not a 10.
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I also believe that we need to review the design of our schools during construction to ensure that we are adequately accounting for risk vectors. I would advocate a review of our process and procedures and determine if technology or design of our schools can be improved to limit the impact of an active shooter. Our schools should not become military checkpoints or prisons. We need to balance safety with a welcoming environment along with friendly faces present to serve and protect.
GENDER
Partisan politicians and the constant barrage of media has led some to believe that there is a hidden agenda to sexualize our children and expose them to ideas about sex that don't align with personal values. As is most often the case, issues of sexuality and gender are used as hot button topics to drive division and fear. In reality these issues have simple solutions that uphold each individual's human dignity.
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As a man of faith, I believe we are all made in the image of God and what a diverse and beautiful image that is! As a youth leader for 12+ years for middle school and high school students, I came to understand the struggle students have learning about themselves and who they are. I believe that each family has the right to raise their children how they believe and deem fit. But I also believe that it's not the role of the public school system to enforce any one religious belief. Rather, it's our job to provide quality and accessible education to all. As a public servant, I'm interested in how every student can feel safe and welcomed in our facilities. Love all, no exceptions.
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As a school board, we should address these issues if and when they arise and no sooner. In the case of bathroom access, if required, I would advocate for single-seat bathroom facilities for students who are uncomfortable in a public gendered restroom. These could double as family restrooms with changing tables for visiting families. Simple solutions exist and we don't need to make a federal case out of it.
BOOK BANS
A few years ago, this topic wouldn't have been on anyone's radar. But in today's high blood pressure political environment, it seems any controversy will do to divide and conquer. My opponent is supported by Moms for Liberty and they are looking to ban books in our schools. They even have a list that they don't want – classic works of literature that are guilty simply because they don't align with a minority of zealots because they dare to present the world as it is.
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Look, I want to keep our kids safe and pornographic material has no place in our libraries. But we must empower our educators to educate and allow them the license to determine the best materials to increase literacy. As a school director, I would advocate for the processes and procedures for parents to voice concerns over any and all materials being used by the school for the purpose of bettering our end product of quality education. I'm not interested in handing the keys to the school over to partisan political activists who try to reframe our reality with their fantasy falsehoods. Let's keep these decisions local, not loco.
RACE
Yep. It's 2023 and here we are still talking about race... and we should! But why is race still being used as a divisive topic in this day and age? Because it's a useful tool in the partisan political tool belt. But when you only have a hammer, everything else looks like a nail.
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My opponent would have you believe that our students are being taught to hate America. This is so very far from the truth. As a leader in our local Cub Pack, I take pride in teaching our scouts about what the flag means including service to our great country and sacrifice for freedom. To this day, when I see my kindergarten kids saluting our flag and reciting the pledge, I get teary-eyed.
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However we must recognize that we live in a country where not everyone has had the same experience. The preamble of our U.S. Constitution states "in order to form a more perfect union". Much like Rt. 83, we can expect America to always be under construction. Nationalistic voices would have us believe that we've already arrived, or had arrived back in the "good 'ol days". It's amazing how we forget all the terrible things that happened to others. For me, I think our best days lie ahead and so we push onward toward that goal, hand in hand.
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Critical Race Theory has no place in our schools because it's simply not a theory that should be taught at these grade-levels. It's a great topic of discussion in colleges and universities or for philosophical think tanks and debate clubs seeking race reconciliation. But I do believe that we must teach our children compassion, diversity, and that every thing, even our own culture and way of life, needs to be open to critical thought. We need to constantly be looking for ways to improve and that means listening, finding flaws, and then doing the work to fix them too!
Hate has no place here.
RELIGION
Expression of our religious freedom is a value we all share in America. As a man of faith, I want to be free to worship and pray without fear of oppression. But often religion and culture become entrenched and we hear angry voices requiring others to follow a certain tradition or practice or face being expelled from America. That's not the faith or love I know, and that's certainly not the America I know. In America, we are all welcome.
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I would advocate that all creeds and cultures be welcomed in our schools and work together with my fellow colleagues on the school board to assure that students and educators can wear clothing appropriate for their beliefs without bullying or ridicule.
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Recently in a high school adjacent to my home town, the Church of Satan began an after school program which divided the community and began to result in verbal and physical violence. While I'm a man of faith and want our students to express that faith everywhere without oppression, we must also be careful to either allow use of school facilities and club times to be open to all religions, or none at all. As a public resource, we must not play favorites, even if it goes against what we personally believe.
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If a conflict like this would arise (and only then), I would advocate for the dissolution of all religious clubs at schools, while working in earnest with area houses of worship to ensure their programs continue at private facilities. While I'm a believer, I also believe in separation of church and state and would seek other avenues to reach our kids. I just don't think it's constitutional for public schools to promote a specific religion over another.
ACADEMICS
Our first priority as the school board is academics. With all the other issues that concern voters, it's easy to take our eyes off the ball. As a school director, it's my job to ensure that the excellence we've come to expect at Mechanicsburg Area School District continues and that starts by providing resources and allowing our teachers to do what they do best – teach!
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The last few years have come with unique challenges and our district has rose to and met those challenges with technology like remote learning. As a technologist, I'm an advocate for technology. But I also know that throwing technology at a problem doesn't always fix the problem. It might just make it a more expensive one! We need to use appropriate technology in education to achieve great ends.
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In the same vein, we must be vigilant of technology that can cause harm. Social media creates additional addiction and anxiety. Cyberbullying continues to threaten our community and creates conflict that has no place in and out of our schools. I would work to find solutions and advocate for appropriate use of technology.
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Lastly, disruptive and transformative technologies will be here before we know it like ChatGPT and generated AI content that could influence sophisticated plagiarism that limits our educational process. As a business man entrenched in technology, I'll be an important voice in managing the use of these technologies where it's appropriate to adequately prepare our children for the workforce.
ATHLETICS
When our son was young, my wife and I enrolled him into swim lessons through the parks and recreation department. After that program we were asked if we had ever considered the swim team. We didn't even know about such an opportunity and we're glad we checked it out! Shortly there after our daughter began swimming when she was 4 years old. I love watching the older kids teaching the younger kids and being role models for these young athletes to aspire to be.
Being a swim dad has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I get to be part of the larger aquatics community and work with other parents as we cheer on each others kids! I've also grown into new roles like "the voice of the Mechanicsburg Swim Club" and my wife has rediscovered her love of athletics becoming a certified PIAA and USA swim official. Athletics brings families together and makes our community strong.
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My opponent would want to reduce funding for athletics like the swim club because it costs money. Not long ago the school board would have rather filled our beloved swimming pool with concrete. Moms for Liberty candidates want to reduce funding for our public schools and give it to charter or cyber schools. I would advocate for a vibrant athletics program in collaboration with the parks and recreation department because it brings something special to Mechanicsburg... community.
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In addition, I would push for more accessibility to athletics for all students. I've seen first hand how the swim team has made a difference in the lives of children. I've seen kids with depression encouraged and given hope from their team mates. I've seen neurodivergent kids treated as equals in the water. When my kids get stuck in their own heads and stressed out, they get in the water and come out with clear heads. Athletics are an important aspect of our physical and social development, as well as the educational process to teach the value of hard work, team work, and continuous improvement.
MONEY
It's true. I like money! We all do and given today's rate of inflation, I'm sure we'd all like a little more in our pockets. As a school director, I would work hard to make sure your tax dollars are spent appropriately and not wasted. I would make sure there is accountability that projects are performed on time and on budget and I would also focus on keeping our taxes in check with the needs of our schools.
​
Let's face it, Upper Allen and Mechanicsburg are growing at an exponential rate and our school district is charged with providing an education to all children. In the last few years, we have effectively acquired a small school district in terms of our student population and I suspect that our construction days are not yet over. We need to work together to find creative ways to meet these needs now and in the future.
​
But I also believe that we must all invest in our community. My opponent would want to slash taxes and make our students and educators suffer. I don't think that's good for our students and it's not good for our community. I would work to make sure you find value in the services and programs our schools provide and be proud to live in the Mechanicsburg Area School District.
ACADEMICS
Our first priority as the school board is academics. With all the other issues that concern voters, it's easy to take our eyes off the ball. As a school director, it's my job to ensure that the excellence we've come to expect at Mechanicsburg Area School District continues and that starts by providing resources and allowing our teachers to do what they do best – teach!
​
The last few years have come with unique challenges and our district has rose to and met those challenges with technology like remote learning. As a technologist, I'm an advocate for technology. But I also know that throwing technology at a problem doesn't always fix the problem. It might just make it a more expensive one! We need to use appropriate technology in education to achieve great ends.
​
In the same vein, we must be vigilant of technology that can cause harm. Social media creates additional addiction and anxiety. Cyberbullying continues to threaten our community and creates conflict that has no place in and out of our schools. I would work to find solutions and advocate for appropriate use of technology.
​
Lastly, disruptive and transformative technologies will be here before we know it like ChatGPT and generated AI content that could influence sophisticated plagiarism that limits our educational process. As a business man entrenched in technology, I'll be an important voice in managing the use of these technologies where it's appropriate to adequately prepare our children for the workforce.
ATHLETICS
When our son was young, my wife and I enrolled him into swim lessons through the parks and recreation department. After that program we were asked if we had ever considered the swim team. We didn't even know about such an opportunity and we're glad we checked it out! Shortly there after our daughter began swimming when she was 4 years old. I love watching the older kids teaching the younger kids and being role models for these young athletes to aspire to be.
Being a swim dad has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I get to be part of the larger aquatics community and work with other parents as we cheer on each others kids! I've also grown into new roles like "the voice of the Mechanicsburg Swim Club" and my wife has rediscovered her love of athletics becoming a certified PIAA and USA swim official. Athletics brings families together and makes our community strong.
​
My opponent would want to reduce funding for athletics like the swim club because it costs money. Not long ago the school board would have rather filled our beloved swimming pool with concrete. Moms for Liberty candidates want to reduce funding for our public schools and give it to charter or cyber schools. I would advocate for a vibrant athletics program in collaboration with the parks and recreation department because it brings something special to Mechanicsburg... community.
​
In addition, I would push for more accessibility to athletics for all students. I've seen first hand how the swim team has made a difference in the lives of children. I've seen kids with depression encouraged and given hope from their team mates. I've seen neurodivergent kids treated as equals in the water. When my kids get stuck in their own heads and stressed out, they get in the water and come out with clear heads. Athletics are an important aspect of our physical and social development, as well as the educational process to teach the value of hard work, team work, and continuous improvement.
MONEY
It's true. I like money! We all do and given today's rate of inflation, I'm sure we'd all like a little more in our pockets. As a school director, I would work hard to make sure your tax dollars are spent appropriately and not wasted. I would make sure there is accountability that projects are performed on time and on budget and I would also focus on keeping our taxes in check with the needs of our schools.
​
Let's face it, Upper Allen and Mechanicsburg are growing at an exponential rate and our school district is charged with providing an education to all children. In the last few years, we have effectively acquired a small school district in terms of our student population and I suspect that our construction days are not yet over. We need to work together to find creative ways to meet these needs now and in the future.
​
But I also believe that we must all invest in our community. My opponent would want to slash taxes and make our students and educators suffer. I don't think that's good for our students and it's not good for our community. I would work to make sure you find value in the services and programs our schools provide and be proud to live in the Mechanicsburg Area School District.