1. What experience do you have that has prepared you to be on the School Board?
I was an education major in college, and I have 2 kids in the district – 1st and 3rd grade at Stony Creek. I’m personally invested in my children and their friends/classmates having the best possible educational experience that we can provide as a district. I’ve also been the Chairman of the Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters Montgomery County for the last 5 years, and previously served on the Advisory Board for Life Science Cares Philadelphia.
2. What do you think is the most pressing issue facing our school district right now?
There is a saying in sports that it’s “easier to win a championship than it is to stay at the top after you win” and I think that applies to Wissahickon. We have a terrific district, but we need to keep building on that to stay at the top. In my opinion the top issues for WSD are budget-related: larger class sizes equals more staff and resources needed, aging facilities like the high school will require costly upgrades, and new technology will require more investment in our current/future students. I think the school board can and will find creative ways to get more money/funding into our district.
3. Do you think schools should be maintained as sensitive locations for all students regardless of immigration status?
Yes I do. Unless the student is some sort of violent offender, I see no reason why ICE would need to come on school grounds. The trauma caused to students and teachers from ICE’s violent methods would should be reason enough to keep schools as a sensitive location, regardless of how I feel about federal immigration policy.
4. Do you believe all students should have access to public education, regardless of immigration status?
Yes I do. I’m tired of the excuse of “that’s not where I want my tax dollars to go” from the other side. Their tax dollars right now are going to millionaires, corporations, and their investors. If a few kids who are not citizens are using my tax dollars to better themselves and their families, and potentially get access to the only regular food in their daily life… great! I’d rather the money go to those kids (regardless of immigration status) than a billionaire or a multi-national corporation.
5. Do you think school discipline is best handled by the principal’s office and school staff or by police officers in schools?
I think there are situations which could call for both, and I would hope that the school staff and local police would be working in-tandem already. My preference would always be for the school staff, including the principals,` to try to address things first, but if it was a scenario with a weapon in the school or a serious threat, I would prefer the police act on it first.
6. Do you support sex education classes in our schools?
I do. I think that there are areas including gender which can be confusing for younger kids, and I’m sensitive to that. However, I think it’s important to keep in mind all of the outside influences in our kids lives: social media, TV/Streaming, texting, etc it is far more important that they receive their sexual education IN school from an approved curriculum rather than picking things up along the way from non-vetted sources and rumors.
7. Do you believe it is important to teach all people’s histories in schools, including those of African, Asian, Latine, Native American, and European descent?
Yes of course. I’m very proud of Wissahickon’s new push to embrace and educate about the diversity of the different cultures of our residents and students. My daughters recently learned about Diwali, and my wife will be leading the session on Hannukah. I also think it’s extremely important for our kids to learn African history (including the USA’s participation in the slave trade), Latin/South American History, Native American History (including some of the USA’s barbaric tactics at the time), and European History (including the Holocaust).
