(Editor’s note: The following is an editorial submission, courtesy of the North Penn Neighbors for Progress. The views expressed in this
editorial are their own. To submit an editorial, send your Word document and a
photo to [email protected].)
As we begin looking forward to the busy week ahead, we
kindly ask our North Penn area neighbors to make a plan for Tuesday, November 5th—Election
Day. On the 5th, please take 15 minutes to stop by your polling place and
place your vote for the North Penn Neighbors for Progress.
The 2019 North Penn Neighbors for Progress is a team of
qualified candidates with a clear vision who will combine their skills and
credentials along with their commitment to the students and residents of the
North Penn School District. We will bring about fiscally responsible and
community involved changes to ensure success.
We have knocked on more than 7,000 doors, met with countless
residents at neighborhood events, taken part in dozens of community meetings,
and were welcomed into the homes of many supporters who graciously invited
their neighbors to hear our message. In these meetings on front porches,
sidewalks, and kitchen tables, we listened to your ideas and concerns. Many
thanks to all of you who have already taken time to share your ideas with us!
We will continue to be inclusive, transparent, and will represent the diverse
needs and interests of our community.
The North Penn Neighbors for Progress will work to support
an informed and fiscally responsible plan to address the facility needs of the
district, support student well-being by working to best meet the emotional
needs of students, actively pursue appropriate measures to ensure school
safety, and work to continuously foster transparency, open communication, and
seek opportunities to garner community input.
For those who we have not yet had the privilege of meeting,
we would like to take a moment to introduce ourselves. All six of us are proud
to be a part of your 2019 North Penn Neighbors for Progress team.
- Elisha Gee is an educator with 22 years of experience
who has dedicated her career to working with students and families. She
is currently an administrator in the Hatboro-Horsham School District and is a
mother of three children in North Penn School District. Elisha has lived in the
school district for over 20 years and has multiple perspectives as a teacher,
administrator, parent, and community stakeholder. Most of all, Elisha
believes and advocates for public education and for all of the families and
neighbors in North Penn. Elisha was appointed to the North Penn School Board in
February 2018.
- Tim MacBain is an experienced high school educator in
the Upper Dublin School District, a proud North Penn parent with two children
just starting elementary school, a community volunteer, and a taxpayer who
cares about the prudence of our financial choices. He was appointed to fill a
vacancy on our School Board in June 2018, currently serves on the North Montco
Technical Career Center Operating Committee, and is a fierce advocate for North
Penn’s taxpayers and families through the PA School Boards Association. Tim
understands firsthand what policy and budget modifications mean for actual
student experiences in classrooms and extracurricular programs.
- Juliane Ramic was appointed to the North Penn School
Board in January 2018 and has been a Lansdale Borough resident for 15
years. She is the proud parent of a Knapp Elementary and Penndale Middle
school students. She is a social worker by training, has worked in non-profit leadership
positions and is uniquely qualified in the areas of grants management, budget
creation and management, staff management, strategic planning, program
implementation and evaluation, continuous quality improvement, forming
effective partnerships, communications and media relations, fundraising, trauma
informed care, and student wellness. She has worked on teacher training and
child protection projects in refugee camps in Ethiopia.
- Wanda Lewis-Campbell retired as the Assistant Dean
for Student Life at Temple’s Ambler Campus and now serves as an Adjunct
Associate Professor in the College of Education working with Masters and
Doctorate students. She has a record of success in program administration
in higher education, course instruction, presenting and training. She is a 23-year Montgomery Township resident
with graduates of NPSD, and is proud of her community and civic engagement
activities that directly benefit many North Penn students, families and
residents. With Wanda’s experience, we seek to support and inform the
work to foster diversity and inclusion, student leadership, and professional
development initiatives to support teachers as they grow in their chosen
profession.
- Al Roesch honorably served in the US Air Force and
has an MS in Business Administration from Central Michigan University.
During his career he designed, developed, and implemented computer systems for
major corporations including GE Aerospace, GE Astrospace, Smith Kline, Wyeth,
Aetna, and Independence Blue Cross. His business experience includes
writing business proposals, business analysis, project planning, project
management, and team leadership. With
Al’s experience, we seek to support and inform digital learning initiatives and
improved contracting and procurement procedures. Al has been a resident of the
North Penn School District for 26 years and is proud to have the support of his
daughter and son-in-law who graduated from North Penn High School and his
grandsons who are or will be attending Inglewood Elementary School. Al
is running for the 2 year seat.
- Cathy Wesley has lived in Montgomery Township for 27
years. Her 2 stepsons are North Penn High School graduates and she has
hosted 5 exchange students each for 1 year as they attended the high
school. Cathy serves as the Director of Engineering Design at SEPTA. She
will bring her experience in managing large scale building projects and
oversight of third party contracts to support the District’s 10 year facilities
plan.
We hope we can count on your support in the General Election
on Tuesday, November 5th. We have been endorsed by the North Penn Democratic
Committee. Our team is committed to helping to provide a strong learning
environment for all of our students. For us, our work for the students,
families, and residents of the North Penn School District requires that we put
service over politics always.
Keep in touch with us to the November election and beyond by
following us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NorthPennNeighborsforProgress/.
See also:
Letter to the Editor: Laura Smith and Chuck Wilson, for
Towamencin Supervisors
Letter to the Editor: Joyce Snyder and Peter Murphy, for
Towamencin Supervisor
Letter to the Editor: Annette Long, for Montgomery
Township Supervisor
Letter to the Editor: Denton Burnell, for Lansdale
Borough Council
Letter to the Editor: John Waldenberger, for Montgomery
County Commissioner
