1. What motivated you to run for the Nordonia School Board?
I’m running for school board because I believe in the power of public education to lift up every child and strengthen our community. My experience as a union member, a leader in supporting school funding, and a long term resident of Nordonia Hills gives me a unique, real-world viewpoint. I want to ensure our schools remain places where every student is valued, respected, and prepared—whether their future is college, a trade, the military or another rewarding path.
2. In your view, who is the primary group you will be serving as a school board member, and why?
The students. It’s important that the top priority be the education of our youth. Working with all the stakeholders in the community, we can ensure that our students can be thriving, productive, community members.
3. What is your experience with Nordonia Schools?
Both my children, now young adults, attended the Nordonia Hills School system from kindergarten to graduation. We were always involved parents from the start. We even sent our kids to Lollipop Co-op where we volunteered. I was a band dad for a little bit and the cookie dad for my daughter’s Girl Scout troop, among other volunteer opportunities. I was also Co-Leader with Friends of Nordonia for 6 years where we would advocate for the benefits of funding the schools so the electorate can make an educated decision at the ballot box.
4. What skills, strengths, or perspectives do you bring that make you well-suited for this role?
I currently sit on the Teamsters Local 507 Scholarship committee. I worked collectively with the members to design a rubric (I did not know what that was until my kids introduced me to them while in school at Nordonia Hills) to score the application. We currently give out (2) $4,000 scholarships to eligible children and grandchildren of active members and retirees. I also have a history of advocacy. I have union steward experience, as well as working on ballot referendums, initiatives and registering voters as a political field operative with the Teamsters. I feel it is important to have a strong advocate for student programs.
5. A key responsibility of the School Board is ensuring the public is well-informed. How do you plan to ensure that accurate, timely, and transparent information about our schools is shared with the community?
While talking to community members, it was brought up that all the different organizations within the Nordonia Hills School system should have a delegate tasked with reporting updates to one central committee that in turn will be tasked with communicating to the public at large. I also feel it should be the school board members responsibility, to speak at public events like Council meetings and Trustee meetings about the state of the schools and share pertinent information at regular intervals.
6. What do you believe Nordonia Schools are doing well?
Nordonia Hills does a fantastic job of recruiting and retaining great teachers. Nordonia Hills made the tough decision to cut back on senior teachers through an early retirement buy out to improve their fiscal standing.They still needed to replace some of the staff, and while I was attending the last School Board meeting, I was impressed with the caliber of teachers that were introduced. All had experience and were highly educated.
7. In what areas would you like to see Nordonia improve?
Promoting skilled trades, certificate programs, and multiple routes to success—because every student’s future is unique.
8. If elected, what would be your top three goals as a school board member?
My experiences have lead me to a certain mindset:
1. I want to contribute to our schools’ and our students’ continued successes. I want to be part of a functioning, consensus driven team on the Nordonia Hills School Board.
2. I want to contribute and provide a different point of view for our students. I want to add my unique, blue-collar perspective to the Nordonia Hills School Board.
3. I want to lead the charge so that we can do better. The education climate has changed from a school system that primarily educates students to go onto 4 year colleges, to a more multi-faceted population that also highlights alternatives like certificate programs and the trades beyond high school.
9. Can you explain the difference between an operating levy and a bond issue?
A bond issue finances major, long-term capital projects, while an operating levy funds day to day expenses.
10. If you could change one thing about Ohio’s school funding system, what would it be and why?
One change I would advocate for is to fully fund and implement the Fair Funding Plan. The Fair Funding Plan was a bipartisan plan that took input from all voices in the education community. The plan seeks to address historical funding inequities by moving away from a formula tied to local property wealth.
11. How would you balance the need for quality school facilities with the responsibility to be fiscally accountable to taxpayers?
It’s important to have open honest decision making, fiscal responsibility and community input when making decisions in a school system. Ultimately, if the taxpayers know you are good stewards of the school system, they will take ownership and support the Nordonia Hills schools.
12. How familiar are you with the current state of Nordonia’s school buildings?
To be honest, I am not familiar with a breakdown of how the structures are. One of the things I look forward to, if I’m elected to the school board, is learning more about the schools. After all, education is a life long pursuit.
13. Do you support the idea of developing a master facilities plan, and how would you engage the community in that process?
I like the idea of the administration taking input from the community and developing a long term strategy for their facilities. It would be great to have a playbook by which future administrations and boards can make plans.
14. A bond issue for new or renovated school buildings has been discussed in Nordonia in recent years. What is your perspective on pursuing a bond issue, and what factors would influence your decision?
The bond was unequivocally defeated. I would be hesitant to vote to put a bond issuance on the ballot without strong, grassroots support.
15. What would you do to ensure that classroom materials, books, and curriculum reflect a broad range of experiences and identities, so all students can see themselves represented?
I want to ensure our schools remain places where every student is valued, respected, and prepared. Curriculum should reflect multiple views and be age specific.
16. Do you have a favorite Nordonia tradition (sports, band, events, etc.)?
Friday night football games. I love hearing the roar of the crowds and the band playing during halftime. I’m also lucky I get to witness the marching band practice in the neighborhood. It’s fun to watch them play and go up and down the streets.
17. What’s the best piece of advice you ever received from a teacher, coach, or mentor?
Take pride in whatever you do and strive to be the best in whatever job you have. Ask me sometime to tell the story of Mr.Chicken.