I am running for the Board of Education, because I care deeply about public education and the future of our children. I grew up in a similar school district in the Midwest, Neenah Joint School District. Both my parents worked in manufacturing and my father was a member of the United Steelworkers union. As a student, I received speech services and was the recipient of a reduced lunch at school due to the income of my family, so I understand firsthand the importance of accessible, high-quality education and the need for support services that allows every child to thrive.

For the past six years my wife and I have been active participants in our schools and broader communities. We’ve contributed to our PTA’s, served on various committees, and volunteered at multiple events at our schools. My wife, Brenda, is currently the President of Kidscount, the Northeast after-school program. I also volunteer weekly at a local food pantry, working alongside students from LACS. I attend and speak at various ICSD board and committee meetings, and more importantly, I am there to learn and listen. What’s clear to me is that our district is at an inflection point, and we need meaningful change to address the issues that have developed over the past decade. 

We have seen a continual decline in reading and math scores and over the past five years our graduation rates have continued to drop. We currently have five schools that have received special state-level designations indicating they are underperforming. This is a status less than 10% of NY State schools receive every year, and we have five schools within our district that have received a designation. This tells me we need meaningful change, rooted in realistic, measurable, and achievable goals. There is an interconnected myriad of causes for the lack of achievement, and as a result, an interconnected myriad of solutions will need to be determined and implemented to address these issues.

Professionally I have worked as a software consultant for the past 20 years,   assisting organizations with setting clear, measurable goals, developing strategies, and achieving outcomes. My work emphasizes consultation and collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders. This approach is what I believe is needed in ICSD right now.

In my free time I enjoy gardening and hiking with my family.