As Election Day approaches, get to know Centre County’s school board candidates
Editor’s note: The Centre Daily Times recently sent a brief questionnaire to all school board candidates who will to appear on ballots in November’s municipal election. Fifteen candidates responded, while eight did not. We have published their unedited responses below.
With November’s municipal election approaching quickly, the Centre Daily Times surveyed local school board candidates to learn more about their backgrounds and key priorities for Centre County’s public school districts. Many of these candidates shared their views on key issues impacting districts — including finances, school safety, and diversity and inclusion efforts — in a separate Q&A series earlier this year.
Here’s some key information about each Centre County school board candidate before Election Day arrives.
State College Area School District candidates
(Four open seats)
Deborah Anderson
Party affiliation as a candidate: Republican/Democrat
Occupation: School board director
Campaign website/social media: deborahandersonphd.wixsite.com/deborahandersonscasd
Education: BS in Industrial and Labor Relations (1993, Penn State University), with minors in Economics and French. MS and PhD in Labor Economics (1996, 1998 from Cornell University), with additional concentrations in Public Economics and Econometrics
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
I am running for re-election to the school board because I am passionate about education and I would like to continue to serve our community. In addition, I feel it is beneficial for the school board to include a mix of both experienced school directors, who have institutional knowledge of SCASD and how the school board functions, and new school directors, who bring fresh perspectives. As a current school board member, I believe I am well-qualified to continue to serve our district. During my time on the Board, I have served as chair of the Finance committee and currently serve as the Board Vice President. I was part of the SCASD negotiating team when we collaborated with SCAEA (the local teachers’ union) on the most recent contract. In addition, I am a parent of two recent State High graduates, which gives me a working knowledge of SCASD schools at all levels from K-12. My family and I have lived in State College for 16 years, and my sons always attended SCASD public schools. Throughout this time, I have volunteered with the school district in a variety of ways, and I am excited to continue volunteering my time and energy for our students and school community.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
If re-elected, my first priority is providing excellence in education for all students. We should offer all students a challenging curriculum that helps them to reach their full potential and make progress toward their academic goals. In addition, access to art, music, technical education, sports and other activities allows students to explore their interests and become well-rounded individuals. My second priority is financial responsibility: the school board should help ensure that monetary resources are used efficiently and effectively, so that we can provide the best opportunities to our students and support our faculty and staff without overburdening taxpayers. Third, I believe strongly that our schools must be welcoming and inclusive. All students deserve to learn in a positive environment, free from bullying, harassment, bias or discrimination, so that everyone feels supported and at home in our schools.
Rebecca Arnold Desmarais
Party affiliation as a candidate: Democrat
Occupation: Photographer and owner of My R.A.D. PICS, LLC; photographer for Hello Social Co.
Campaign website/social media: radforpa.com, facebook.com/radforpa
Education: Associate’s degree in art
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
Our school district boasts a proud tradition of excellence, a standard I am deeply committed to preserving. However, we face unprecedented challenges today. From uncertainties at the Department of Education to threats against school food programs and targeted policies impacting our LGBTQ+ and special education students, the need for strong, inclusive leadership is critical. My years of experience with the PTO on the elementary level and PTSO at the middle school have taught me the power of collaboration and the importance of ensuring all voices are heard. I’ve consistently worked to promote inclusivity in our funding and decision-making processes, fostering a strong partnership between parents, teachers, and administrators. I am running for school board director to ensure our students and staff maintain their academic, social, and emotional well-being in a safe and inclusive environment. I believe we can uphold our district’s high standards while setting a new benchmark for community inclusion. I am accessible, responsive, and dedicated to finding solutions for the concerns of our parents, teachers, and community members.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
As a candidate for the SCASD School Board, I am focused on three key priorities: Safe and Inclusive Schools: I will champion policies that protect every student’s physical and emotional well-being and advocate for resources that support our diverse learners. Teacher Support: I will work to ensure our educators have competitive compensation, meaningful professional development, and the classroom support they need to succeed. Fostering Constructive Dialogue: I will work to create a culture of transparency and mutual respect between parents and the board. I believe that respectful disagreement and open discussion lead to better solutions. By listening to one another, we can unite in our efforts to serve the best interests of every student in our district. I will use my experience as a leader and advocate to turn these priorities into reality.
Jesse Barlow
Party affiliation as a candidate: Republican/Democrat
Occupation: Professor emeritus of computer science and engineering
Campaign website/social media: barlowforscasd.com
Education: B.A. Mathematics and Computer Science, U. Kansas; M.S. Statistics, Northwestern U.; Ph.D. Computer Science, Northwestern U
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
Education has been at the center of my professional life; I benefited greatly from a good K-12 education in a university town school district in Lawrence, KS. My children benefited from the educational opportunities here in SCASD. My motivation for running is to work toward a school system where all, whatever their social backgrounds and skills, can thrive.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
(1) The district’s building plans. We need to build a new Park Forest Middle School. We have needed it for a long time. I am supportive of the necessary upgrades to our other schools as well. We have the best school district for many miles, but it won’t stay that way unless we maintain our buildings. (2) School climate. We need to act on Dr. Terri Erbacher’s report on suicide prevention in our schools. We also need to aware of the need to accommodate the needs of people of different backgrounds and abilities in our schools. We must do our best to keep our pledge that SCASD schools provide a welcoming, safe environment. (3) Relations with state and federal government. We need to continue to advocate for fair funding for school districts and better regulation of cyber charters from the state. The federal government needs to keep up its funding programs for disadvantaged students, disabled students, and for teachers. At the same time, the federal government must respect the role of states and school districts to determine curricula.
Jackie Huff
Party affiliation as a candidate: Democrat
Occupation: Associate teaching professor
Campaign website/social media: huff4scasd.org
Education: B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
I want to serve on the board of the State College Area School District because I love this community and I want to see every kid that goes to SCASD schools to be given a great opportunity to learn and grow.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
1. Grow quality educational opportunities for all students through collaboration with the administrative team, other board members, and the community.
2. Ensure that all stakeholders have a voice in the governing process, including students, parents, teachers, paraprofessionals, and staff.
3. Work with local, state, and federal elected members of our government to ensure that public education is recognized as a vital pillar to our democracy and is fully supported.
Kirsten McTernan
Party affiliation as a candidate: Republican
Occupation: Homemaker, educator and author
Campaign website/social media: savescasd.com
Education: My educational background includes attending a combination of private and public schools, as well as international school experience (in both Singapore and England). I earned Advanced Level degrees from DCS in England before returning to the U.S. to study Communications and Music Business. I left college early to accept a prestigious position at a public relations firm before becoming a full-time mom and homemaker.
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
I’m running because I care deeply about our community, and I want to contribute my time, attention and unique skillset to help serve the schools in our district. I’ve listened to growing concerns from families with children and grandchildren in the State College Area schools, and believe I can help make a difference.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
Safety, excellence in education, and community engagement. Safety is of the utmost concern, as we’re seeing an uptick of violent actions within the schools and mental health cases. If elected, I would do everything I can to ensure our schools have effective security measures in place and that teachers are fully supported if a student acts out in a negative way. I would advocate for measures to encourage positive behavior among students, and proper consequences for those students who are disruptive, or behaving in a way that endangers other students.
I believe we should have open dialogue with the parents, so parents are aware and can address the problem first. There needs to be a partnership between the schools and the parents for the best outcomes. During a recent school board meeting, an external report was presented that showed an overall steady decline in academic performance in English and math. According to US News and World Report, only 46% of middle schoolers in SCASD tested proficient in math. We can do better. I have many ideas, but a couple of them are to ensure a learning environment that children feel safe and supported in (which is essential to academic performance), and I believe reviewing the current curricula to see if any changes need to be made is important (for example, how does the current curricula compare to ones who are setting global standards of excellence in mathematics?). I believe the School Director role should consistently engage with the community beyond the schools and C-Net (where school board meetings are streamed) to understand their concerns, foster relationships, and offer ways of contributing to shared goals. I’d like the parents and community members to feel understood and know that their opinion matters. They should be able to ask questions, provide suggestions, and understand the value they can contribute to our district’s leaders and students. There has been a “culture of mistrust” with SCASD recently, and if elected, my aim would be to help restore that trust.
Mihaly Sogor
Party affiliation as a candidate: Republican
Occupation: Constituent relations for Pa. Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr.
Campaign website/social media: SogorforSCASD.com
Education: Graduated from State High in 2019
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
After living in this community my entire life and purchasing my first home here, I began to take a closer look at where our tax dollars go — especially school taxes. As I learned more about the work of the school board, I realized how many of today’s challenges for students are unlike those faced by any previous generation. Too often, young people can’t turn to older generations for guidance on these new issues. Having gone through the State College Area School District myself and seen firsthand many of the challenges our schools face, I believe I can bring a unique perspective and fresh, practical solutions to help move our district forward.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
1. Want to figure out why our current school board continues to raise taxes to the maximum every year. Would like to go through the entire budget line item by line item and identify potential waste or alternative solutions to save money. 2. Have open lines of communication and rebuild trust between parents and the school board If a parent chooses to spend their valuable time attending a meeting to express their concerns I will respond accordingly and not simply with a “thank you for your comment” 3. Ensure our buildings are kept and maintained to the highest standard possible. The biggest reason we now have to build a new Park Forrest Middle School is because little to nothing was done in the past to maintain the building and now it’s condemned. I will use my construction and property management background to ensure our schools are well maintained and serve the longest lifetime possible to prevent further undue stress on the taxpayer.
State College Area School District 2-year term
(One open seat)
Jennifer Black
Party affiliation as a candidate: Democrat
Occupation: Educator and private tutor
Campaign website/social media: electjenniferblack.org
Education: I graduated from Ligonier Valley High School in 1997. I then attended Penn State University from 1997-2001, where I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary and Kindergarten Education and a minor in Psychology. I currently hold an active PA Teaching Certification — Instructional II Elementary K-6
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
I decided to run for a seat on the school board because I feel that I have a unique perspective to offer. I am an educator and a parent of students in both elementary and secondary district schools. I am very concerned about ensuring that the mental health needs of our students and staff are considered and met. I also feel we need to do something to foster a more collaborative culture amongst everyone in the school district, including teachers, administration, school board members and students.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
1) I want to ensure students receive the mental health support needed to navigate their complicated world. This includes finding out more about what resources they would find helpful and ensure that what we’re offering and HOW we’re offering these resources are evidence-based and compatible with what our students truly need. In my opinion this does not mean piling more work onto the already full plates of our counselors, nor does it necessarily mean hiring more counselors or mental health professionals. While additional counselors and mental health professionals would be extremely beneficial) I know that this is often not feasible with budgetary constraints. 2) I believe that as a district we need to do a better job of communicating & building connections between board members, teachers, administration and parents. This could be accomplished through more opportunities for administrators and board members to regularly be involved in the classrooms. 3) I feel very strongly that now more than ever we need to provide safe, respectful, inclusive environments for our students. School needs to be a place where kids know they can come and be their authentic selves. This means continuing to honor diversity and inclusivity and refusing to acquiesce to any mandate that requires our students to deny any part of their identity.
Bellefonte Area School District candidates
(Four open seats)
Nate Campbell
Party affiliation as a candidate: Republican/Democrat
Occupation: Engineering designer
Education: Associate’s degree in computer-aided drafting
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
Bellefonte needs good people to step up and help the district continue to grow and achieve new goals. I enjoy public service and get satisfaction of working to help all students achieve the goals whatever that may be. It takes a lot of work and commitment to be on the board and I will continue to put my best effort in.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
Education: We have made staffing changes and curriculum changes to position Bellefonte to achieve great things. I will continue to support the changes needed to best position the school and our students for the future. Using actual data from the various test scores combined with what our faculty already knows will allow us to keep the achievement of the district moving in the right direction. Facilities: Over the last four years the board has committed to improving the facilities around our district so that all students have the best environment to learn. I will continue to support the setting aside of a percentage of the budget for current and future needs. With the new elementary and upgrades to Pleasant Gap Elem. we have taken a step forward without a large tax increase. I will continue to advocate for wise spending and facility improvements before it becomes a major problem that can cause the district to have to do large tax increases. Budget: One of the main tasks that the board is involved in is setting the budget. I just like everyone else am a taxpayer and never like to see increases, with that in mind it is very important to me that we find efficiencies and plan for the future so that we avoid large tax increases or have to start cutting any educational or extra-curricular activities. With careful planning we have been able to achieve that without large increases. My goal is to continue to provide what the students, faculty and facility needs are while keeping in mind the local taxpayers.
Jon Guizar
Party affiliation as a candidate: Republican/Democrat
Occupation: Senior project manager
Education: Civil engineering (Penn State) and many industry certifications
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
To continue the efforts of my previous 10 years on the Board. Bringing cost effective, research based, quality education to the students in our district.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
1. To prioritize student achievement, growth, and success. I will encourage, fund, and monitor reporting and needed pivots of proven methodologies to ensure sustained growth. I would also continue to push for a welcoming environment both socially, physically, and educationally to ensure continued success. 2. Complete the new elementary construction on time and under budget. This will be done through over site of our construction management team for quality and compliance with required specifications as well as limiting unnecessary change orders and additional work. 3. See long term facility planning come to a reality and properly fund the continuing improvements of our facilities with little to no tax increase to our residents. This will build on current efforts and progress toward obtaining a complete district inventory of current facilities and the condition of key components so we can use database planning tools to properly identify needs as well as properly fund and plan for the completion of any needs identified. We need to insist on suitable spaces conducive to 21st century learning and insist on the lowest possible life-cycle-cost to our taxpayers.
Kristin Lyons
Party affiliation as a candidate: Republican/Democrat
Occupation: Adult basic education teacher
Education: I am a graduate of Bellefonte Area School District and Lock Haven University with a degree in elementary education.
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
I’m interested in serving on the school board because I deeply value education and want to contribute to the community in a meaningful way.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
1. Creating a safe and supportive environment for all students. Every child deserves to learn in a place where they feel valued, respected, and secure.
2. Completing the construction of the new school. I will ensure this important project is finished efficiently and responsibly, providing our students with the modern facilities they deserve.
3. Improving student achievement. I am committed to supporting programs and initiatives that help every student reach their full potential.
I will work collaboratively with my fellow school board members to address these goals and make decisions that put students first.
Joe Yech
Party affiliation as a candidate: Republican/Democrat
Occupation: Manager for an industrial company
Campaign website/social media: sites.google.com/view/joeyechforschoolboard/home
Education: Bachelor’s in Paper Engineering from Western Michigan University, MBA from Frostburg State University
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
I have three children in the district. I want to be a part of the board to help ensure our schools continue to provide a great education to them and all of the children in our district.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
1. I am concerned about the teacher shortage in the state and how it is affecting, and will affect, Bellefonte schools. As a board member, I would ask to review strategies to ensure our schools are adequately staffed and to keep this as a priority for the administration.
2. I have heard concerns from parents about bullying in the schools. If elected, I will be a voice for those parents to make sure our policies do not tolerate bullying and support those students who get bullied.
3. I believe in fiscal responsibility and providing a top educational experience to our students while remaining diligent with taxpayer money. I have said throughout my campaign that I will support projects that will last for several generations of students in order to be responsible to our taxpayers.
Penns Valley Area School District at-large candidates
(Two open seats)
Daniel Decker
Party affiliation as a candidate: Republican
Occupation: Systems analyst
Education: Baccalaureate degree in education from Penn State
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
I have a degree in Secondary Education. I have listened to concerns from district parents and residents for many years regarding some of the serious issues within Penns Valley Area School District. My goal for the campaign has been to provide a voice for those parents and residents who are raising concerns about the problems within the district. For example, parents report that there are issues with the curriculum, as well as student bullying issues at the high school, which are driving students to alternative education formats, including cyber school, charter school, home school and private school. Student population has dropped from a high of well over 1,800 students in the 1970s to 1,277 students per PVASD reporting for the 2024/2025 school year. There is now a teacher turnover problem within the district, as well as a paraprofessional turnover problem. The loss of teachers and paraprofessionals is not simply due to salary issues — parents and community members familiar with the faculty losses report that there are issues with administrative handling of faculty members.
The district has invested over $58 million in new construction projects since 1996 (CDT). During this time, the district has not worked to seriously improve the academics by improving the curriculum and course offerings. Most recently, the district invested $8.53 million taxpayer dollars in new asphalt at PVEI and PV Area High School which failed to create an actual school zone (bookended by traffic lights and installation of turning lanes into each building). Incidentally, creation of a school zone would have cost approximately $3.5 to $4 million based upon PennDOT estimates for traffic lights and turning lanes.
CDT and Govsalaries.com reporting show that prior school boards awarded a very rich contract for the superintendent’s position. Bellefonte ASD and Bald Eagle ASD both hired superintendents (complete with doctorates) for $149,000 per year in 2024. PVASD is currently paying its superintendent over $225,000 per year + a $1740 per month stipend. This salary results in one of the highest salaries for a rural public-school superintendent in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The fact that this individual is paid more than the Pennsylvania governor, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives or a U.S. Senator shows that the school board (from several years ago) that awarded this contract was not looking out for district residents.
Penns Valley taxpayers are paying high real estate taxes. Given the cost of school taxes within the district, residents should have celebrated the award of a “Blue Ribbon School” by the federal government by this point in time, especially due to the tax investments. Budget is now north of $33 million, while student population continues to drop. Our superintendent assured residents in an article in the CDT that he is an “expert” and that is why he is being paid the high salary. Unfortunately, the actions by this “expert” administrator have not met parent and resident expectations regarding operation of our rural school district.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
Student Welfare — Establish a commission to review curriculum and address student bullying. The commission will consist of administration, faculty and board members. The goal of the curriculum review will be to implement a modernized curriculum that emphases STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Mathematics) while bolstering programs for academic students, technical school students, agriculture (FFA) students and other non-academic students. The goal of the commission should be to dramatically lower student bullying incidents.
Budget Review — Request that members of the PVASD school board investigate budget expenditures and perform a thorough analysis of spending and administrative salaries. Paraprofessional salaries need to be increased, and this may occur through reallocation of district financial resources. Administrative salaries should be evaluated and brought within the Pennsylvania rural school district salary band for these positions. In budget areas that can be reduced, work with a goal to lower taxes for district residents.
Capital Expenditures — Postpone all new construction projects until the district’s ~$12 million debt is retired. The district should work to maintain its buildings and infrastructure. However, the PVASD Master Plan, which was developed several years ago and calls for a new football stadium, swimming pool facility, track & field area and baseball field should be postponed indefinitely until the district works to improve the curriculum, significantly lower the loss of students to other education outlets and works to reform budget to more effectively serve students (through curriculum improvements) while working to lower administration costs and new construction expenses.
Kendyl Wittenrich
Party affiliation as a candidate: Democrat
Occupation: Special education teacher
Campaign website/social media: Kendyl Wittenrich for PVASD School Board
Education: Bachelor’s degrees in Elementary and Special Education; Master’s degree in education, specialization in reading; Principal certification; Currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education, specializing in social-emotional learning
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
I’m running for a seat on the PVASD school board because I care deeply about our students and their future. We’re living in times of constant change, and the direction of our children’s education is more important than ever. With thirteen years of teaching experience and many years of coaching and volunteering with students from kindergarten through 12th grade, I understand firsthand what our students need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. As a proud PV graduate and lifelong learner, I believe knowledge is power—and our students deserve the very best. I’m ready to do the work to make sure our schools, teachers, staff, administrators, students, and families have the support they need to help every child thrive.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
My top priority, if elected to the school board, will be the retention of staff. Teachers and other staff members are the single most important part of each student’s day. More influential than any curriculum we can buy, or fancy landscaping we can purchase, the people matter the most. Unfortunately, staff turnover has been affecting PV at a rate higher than we’d like to see, and this has a direct impact on our students. This is something I’d like to look into and work with other members of the board to help correct. Another priority I want to focus on is bullying prevention. I’d like to see our schools take a proactive approach by working closely with counselors and educators to ensure students are not only taught how to recognize bullying but also given the skills to respond appropriately. In today’s world—where both in-person and virtual interactions can be challenging — it is more important than ever that we create a culture of kindness and respect. The final priority I hope to address is overall transparency across the district. In an age where technology makes everything so accessible, I believe we can do more to ensure that community members, families, and staff have the resources they need available online. By making policies, meeting notes, and other important updates easier to find, we can strengthen trust, encourage collaboration, and make sure that everyone feels informed and involved in the decisions that affect our schools.
Candidate Douglas Roth did not respond to the Centre Daily Times’ questionnaire.
Penns Valley Area School District Region 2 candidate
(1 open seat)
Candidate Vincent Nicosia did not respond to the Centre Daily Times’ questionnaire.
Penns Valley Area School District Region 3 candidates
(1 open seat)
Amber May
Party affiliation as a candidate: Democrat
Occupation: Director of access and community engagement strategies for Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences
Education: I am a proud 2015 graduate of Penns Valley (and a Miles Township kid). During my junior and senior years at PVHS, our college adviser introduced me to Franklin & Marshall College, where I went on to earn my Bachelor of Arts degree in Moral Psychology and Spanish in 2019. As the first in my family to pursue higher education, I remained deeply grateful for her guidance and was inspired to serve as Penns Valley’s college adviser from 2019 to 2021. I continued my education at Penn State University, graduating in 2023 with a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Counselor Education with an emphasis on Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Schools and Communities. Since then, I’ve worked as a private college counselor, a career counselor at Penn State, and now serve as a director of the Office Access and Equity in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
Over the past few years, I have developed a strong interest in public service by regularly attending Millheim Borough Council meetings, where I gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of civic involvement and transparent local government. That experience prompted me to take a more active role in shaping these conversations. With a professional background in education, I see Penns Valley Area School Board as the perfect place to contribute my strengths. While I’m not a parent of students in the district, I view that as an opportunity to serve every child and family equitably, with fairness and balance. I believe that public service is a shared responsibility, so one of my top priorities as a candidate is to strengthen communication and understanding between the board and the community it represents. I am grateful for the opportunity to run for this seat and give back to the community that raised me.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
A top priority for me is strengthening trust and transparency between the school board and the community. Many residents want to better understand how decisions are made, especially ones involving budgets and use of district resources. I believe clear communication and accessible information are essential to maintaining that trust. While I am still learning the details of the district’s finances, I am committed to making thoughtful, informed decisions grounded in both fiscal responsibility and educational value. I want community members to feel confident that every choice the board makes reflects the needs and priorities of Penns Valley’s students, families, and taxpayers alike. Another key priority is determining how the Miles Township Elementary School building can best serve our community moving forward. My first step would be to listen, gather ideas from residents, and explore how they can be balanced with fiscal responsibility. The building holds immense potential and value, but deciding how that value is utilized will be a critical responsibility of the next board. One small action I would also love to see the district take is a celebration event for the school so that past students, families, and teachers can find a sense of closure and meaning in their connection to it. Finally, all of my actions on the school board would be guided by how students, families, faculty, and staff are affected. In my current role as Director of Access and Community Engagement Strategies, I focus on helping individuals feel valued, supported, and connected in their learning environments. I understand that today’s students are facing increased mental health challenges and that a sense of belonging can make a meaningful difference in their well-being and academic success. I am eager to bring this perspective to the school board and support creative ways of fostering a positive, inclusive school climate where both students and staff can thrive. Through these efforts, I hope that students, faculty, and staff will feel more fulfilled and appreciated in their careers at Penns Valley.
Jessica Shawver
Party affiliation as a candidate: Republican
Occupation: Homemaker and entrepreneur
Education: High school, trade school
Q: Why are you running for a school board seat in your district?
I am hoping to bring common sense back, curriculum needs adjusted and basic life skills need taught, poor government/taxpayer spending needs addressed so the money is actually going to the needs of the kids and the teachers. The administration needs to be held accountable for their spending, and ridiculous paychecks. Kids need to do less classroom time and more outside time, with field trips and hands on learning. The focus needs to be directed to kids actually learning and retaining and not being pushed to learn to get high scores. Teachers should be given what they need to help students learn and grow without worry of budget. Parents need brought back in to schools and be an active part of their child’s learning and development, the school has taken the parent role and has left parents out of their child’s education.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in your district? How will you address them?
I am not coming into this looking at just 3 issues. There are many issues that need addressed, not only in our district but the whole school system in general. There is so much corruption at many levels in our school system, Administration being one of the issues. Other candidate’s have promised transparency and listening to the people, public, and parents, however I feel like the public still is blind to what is going on within the school walls. I’m going into this with God at the forefront, and every decision that I make. My focus and goals will be what is best for the children and teachers, not lining the pockets of administration. I have seen first hand, having a family friendly business located directly behind the Penns Valley School, teachers reaching out to do field trips, but not being able to come due to “budget.” Our prices are reasonable and the students could walk so eliminating transportation, and the budget is still an issue. We have coaches bring teams over and pay for it out of their own pockets. What happened to field trips? Teachers having very limited budgets to provide supplies for students and their learning. If you break down major issues, God not being in the school is first. Administration has been next on the list for quite a while, the budget and careless over spending. Getting back to basics, so to speak and not focusing on test scores, focusing on the kids and actually learning life skills and basic fundamentals.
Bald Eagle Area School District candidates
The district’s four candidates — Tina Greene, Mary Ann Hamilton, Mark Kresovich and Timothy Nilson — did not respond to the Centre Daily Times’ questionnaire. Hamilton and Nilson are running for two open seats in Region 1, Kresovich is running uncontested for the Region 2 seat and Greene is running uncontested for the Region 3 seat.
Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District candidates
No candidate is scheduled to appear on the ballot for this district’s two Centre County-based school board seats. Richard Wood and Shawnna Baney-Shaw, who are running for the district’s seats up for election in Clearfield County, were invited to respond to this survey but did not.
This story was originally published October 14, 2025 at 10:34 AM.
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