20 school board seats are up for grabs in Centre County districts. Here’s who’s running
Board seats are once again up for election in each Centre County school district this November, and candidates have formally announced their campaigns.
This election cycle has the minority of board seats up for reelection in each district — 20 across the county and four in each district.
The primary election is May 20, and Election Day is Nov. 4. Candidates had until March 11 to file and circulate nomination petitions.
The Centre Daily Times has rounded up a list of every school board candidate in the running, along with information for those who have made public announcements.
State College Area School District
Seats held by Deborah Anderson, Peter Buck, Carline Crevecoeur and Jackie Huff are up for grabs this election cycle.
The candidates for this election and their party filings are:
Deborah Anderson — Democrat/Republican
Rebecca Arnold Desmarais — Democrat/Republican
Jesse Barlow — Democrat/Republican
Kirsten McTernan — Democrat/Republican
Mihaly Sogor — Democrat/Republican
Jennifer Black — Democrat/Republican
Jackie Huff — Democrat/Republican
Barlow, the former State College Borough Council president, announced his candidacy on Jan. 22. He is a professor emeritus of computer science and engineering at Penn State who formerly served on the State College Borough Council from 2016 to 2023 and the Centre Region Council of Governments in 2023. After raising his children in the district, he says he feels prepared to help direct State College’s schools.
“The schools in SCASD are good and part of why this region is a great place to live,” Barlow wrote in a statement. “However, they aren’t always good for every family. In this school system full of children with diverse backgrounds and diverse needs, I believe we must strive for schools where every child has a good education in a welcoming environment. Whatever their social backgrounds, that education should prepare them whether their future is trade schools, the workforce or a university.”
Desmarais announced her candidacy Feb. 17. She bills herself as an “experienced community leader” striving to promote a welcoming, inclusive environment throughout the district.
Black — the mother of Park Forest Middle School student Abby Smith, who died by suicide in May 2024 — announced her first-time candidacy Feb. 23. She said she hopes to help shift the district’s culture and build stronger connections within schools to better serve students.
Bellefonte Area School District
Seats held by Jack Bechdel, Nate Campbell, Jon Guizar and Kristin Lyons are up for election this year.
The candidates for this election and their party filings are:
Joe Yech — Democrat/Republican
Jon Guizar — Democrat/Republican
Nate Campbell — Democrat/Republican
Kristin Lyons — Democrat/Republican
Jack Bechdel — Democrat/Republican
Yech, who ran for a school board set unsuccessfully in 2023, is again running to join Bellefonte’s board. He dropped off his petition on Feb. 27, the Centre County Democratic Committee said.
Penns Valley Area School District
Terms expire for Patricia Battaglia, Karla Groy, Marcia Kimler and Allen Miller in 2025. Their seats are up for election this upcoming cycle.
The candidates for this election and their party filings are:
Kendyl Wittenrich — Democrat/Republican
Daniel Decker — Democrat/Republican
Mike Pase — Democrat/Republican
Douglas Roth — Democrat/Republican
Vincent Nicosia — Democrat/Republican
Amber May — Democrat/Republican
Jessica Shawver — Republican
Bald Eagle Area School District
Seats held by Timothy Nilson, Mark Kresovich, Tina Greene and Mary Ann Hamilton will expire in 2025.
The candidates for this election and their party filings are:
Mary Ann Hamilton — Democrat/Republican
Timothy Nilson — Democrat/Republican
Mark Kresovich — Democrat/Republican
Tina Greene — Democrat/Republican
Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District
Board seats for Shawnna Baney-Shaw, Nancy Lamb, Dustin Minarchick and Richard Wood are set to expire in 2025.
No Centre County-based candidates filed to run for this cycle’s school board seats, county elections coordinator Jodi Nedd told the Centre Daily Times. Although it is too late to appear on the primary ballot, prospective candidates could proceed with write-in campaigns.
Two candidates are filed to run for board seats in Clearfield County. They are:
Shawnna Baney-Shaw — Republican
Richard Wood — Democrat/Republican
This story was originally published January 23, 2025 at 11:34 AM.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that Jackie Huff cross-filed to run for a State College Area School District board of education seat, according to information provided by the candidate.
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