VOTERS GUIDE CORRECTION
By Crissa DeBree The Morning Call
The Voters Guide response for East Penn School Board director candidate Joshua Levinson was misprinted in Saturday’s editions. All the candidates for that race are listed below. Candidates were asked: What do you view as the major issue in this campaign and how will you address it?
EAST PENN
Alburtis, Emmaus, and Macungie Boroughs and Lower Macungie and Upper Milford Townships
Term: 4 years
Democrat Vote for five BRIAN WESSNER Occupation: OpEx
Specialist,
Education: Master’s degree business administration, DeSales University; bachelor’s degree, Lock Haven University
Qualifications: Involved, educated and informed father of four with two still in the school district. Actively participating in several districtwide committees.
Response: There is not one issue facing the board but many impactful issues that need to be addressed and resolved through listening to the community, parents, students, educators and administrators’ perspectives. Hearing everyone’s concerns, reviewing data and information to formulate insightful decisions and equitable resolutions through independent and critical thinking.
Democrat/Republican
Vote for not more than five
PAUL BARBEHENN www.eastpennvoice.com Occupation: Financial
Advisor
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science, The Pennsylvania State University
Qualifications: 25+ of business experience, including as a business owner and 15 years of experience as a director with non-profits
Response: Weneedto focus on creating a culture that produces well-rounded students, high levels of parental engagement, strong morale among our educators, and grounded in the principle of stewardship for taxpayer funds. Creating and maintaining that culture requires leadership and intentionality; it will not just happen. I have the experience to help lead that effort.
JOSHUA LEVINSON
Levinsonforeastpenn.org Occupation: Engineer Education: Master’s degree and Ph.D., chemical engineering, Stanford
University, 1995/ 1999; bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering, MIT, 1993/ 1994.
Qualifications: Board president; Education Foundation Board; 22+ years professional/managerial experience; Scouting/ youth volunteer
Response: A district must balance the needs of all students, staff, and taxpayers. School boards should advocate for high-quality educational opportunities while being efficient and fiscally responsible. Districts must apply good governance using fair and thoughtful financial- and programbased solutions while ensuring a positive district climate for the entire school community.
ANGELIC SCHNEIDER
www.eastpennvoice.com Occupation: Teacher Education: Master’s degree in elementary education
Qualifications: Iam a public school teacher and parent who can offer significant insight into how districts are run.
Response: A major issue in this campaign is to continue to make sure all students have a safe and secure learning environment in a culture that provides exemplary academic and vocational programs so that every student can thrive. Student attitudes toward learning, parent involvement and teacher moral effect the overall safety and performance of a district.
SHONTA FORD
www.fordforeastpenn.org
Occupation: Small business owner
Education: Studied speech language and hearing sciences at Rutgers University, bachelor’s degree. Attended Phoenix University for master’s business administration work
Qualifications: Business owner, corporate background in project management, health care, and mental health. Parent, volunteer and activist
Response: Parents have a heightened interest in all aspects of the classroom experience. Teachers and administrators have a deep investment in that experience. Neither wants to be left out of the decision making. I would like to work towards ensuring all voices are heard; including the students. My goal is ensuring no one is omitted from the conversation or the work.
KRISTOFER DEPAOLO No response TIMOTHY KELLY
Occupation: Teacher Education: Master’s degree in education, bachelor’s degree in mathematics, currently working towards a masters degree in data science
Qualifications: Teacher, JV baseball and football coach, student executive adviser, gifted advisor, AP and IB teacher, Fulbright teacher mentor
Response: I think the biggest issue we face is the amount of fear mongering and hostility towards the school community.
I’m here to support our district- students, parents, and employees. My goal is to listen and represent our community interests and concerns. I think there needs to be less blame and more collaboration for effective solutions.
LAWRENCE HUYSSEN
No response
JEFFREY JANKOWSKI
www.facebook.com/ Jankowski4EastPennBoard Occupation: Attorney Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Pittsburgh; Juris Doctorate, University of Pittsburgh
Qualifications: Incumbent school board director
Response: The strength of education and school safety. I have been a school board director for four years and have worked collaboratively with our administration and board with the best interests of our students and teachers at the forefront. I will continue to work hard to make sure our students and teachers have the support in place for a safe and effective education.
MATT MULL
www.eastpennvoice.org
Occupation: Commercial operation
Education: Bachelor’s degree industrial and manufacturing engineering
Response: Clear communication of the goals and needs of the administration, the teachers, support staff, parents and the students needs to happen at all levels. In this hyperpartisan political environment it is more important now then ever to listen all of the stakeholders, celebrate the good but also not shy away from ways we can improve.
GABRIELLE KLOTZ Underwriter
Occupation:
Qualifications: Parent of a current East Penn student, 27 years in P/C Insurance, vice president of LMMS PTO
Response: The acceptance, appreciation and inclusion of all types of diversity is the key issue in this campaign. When our children are supported by their community, and are accepted for who they are, they will be able to have greater focus on their education. I will fight for our children by supporting initiatives focused on teaching inclusion and acceptance.