Meet Our Candidates

I envision a future where rival districts look at Bethel Park School District as an educational powerhouse, developing young professionals ready to tackle global and scientific issues. I want the community to feel a sense of excitement for our young generation of 21st Century thinkers who will produce new discoveries and help deliver positive changes for our world. It is my belief that, by making effective investments in our school system, Bethel Park will become a top destination for families moving to the Pittsburgh area, enhancing community vitality. Providing our students and teachers with the necessary resources and framework for success will allow Bethel Park to rise to the highest level of academic excellence. I believe education is the single greatest building block for progress and civility, and I am ready to help move Bethel Park forward.

I earned a bachelor’s degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences and my Secondary Education Certificate from California University of PA in 2000, and I continued my education with a master’s degree in Environmental Science in the fall of 2001. In 2002, I began my teaching career at Mt. Lebanon High School and have been there since, committed to helping improve the lives and learning of my students. I continue to teach Earth and AP Environmental Science courses at Mt. Lebanon even after 21 years. 

My wife, Jennifer, and I moved to Bethel Park in 2004 and are raising three wonderful young boys, Thomas, Joseph, and Vincent. I look forward to giving back to the community that has been so kind and given us so much!

I’m running for re-election on the Bethel Park School Board to help our district deliver the best educational value for our students, staff, and community.  All schools today face numerous operational and budgetary challenges. My goal is to help the Bethel Park School District provide an exceptional learning environment for every student while utilizing financial resources based on a sound fiscal plan.  My first two terms on the board has highlighted Bethel Park’s opportunity to excel further in academic performance through the right strategic investments in curriculum, programs and staffing. With my extensive experience in engineering, I will continue to maintain a special focus on initiatives such as STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, to prepare our students for careers that are in high demand today.

Personally, I’m committed to helping Bethel Park excel academically and to deliver great value for all stakeholders.  My son and daughter both graduated from Bethel Park, which prepared each of them for a career in engineering.  Finally, my wife has been a teacher in the Bethel Park School District for over 20 years. I believe my experience and extensive interaction with many areas of the school provide me unique insights to help lead the district forward.

I’m currently the Director of Sales Enablement for ANSYS, Inc. in Canonsburg.  ANSYS is a global developer of simulation software that helps engineers develop some of the most innovative products available today.   Prior to joining ANSYS in May 2000, I worked for over ten years at General Motors in various engineering and project management roles related to automotive programs for Latin American markets.  My educational background is a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University, Flint, Michigan.  

I am running for re-election as a School Director in Bethel Park to continue the work that focuses on more transparency and progress within our schools to keep all students moving forward.   I will continue to champion the importance of academic excellence for all students in our schools.  I believe that my experience and community interaction is necessary to move Bethel Park Forward for all student, families, and community members. 

I am a proud graduate of Bethel Park High School. My husband and I are the proud parents of a daughter who is a 2022 Bethel Park High School Graduate and chose to continue her education at Duquesne University, and a son who is a 3rd grader at Memorial Elementary. 

I graduated from Immaculata College in Chester County, Pennsylvania and Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, FL.  I have experience as the Executive Director of a non-profit juvenile diversion program and a Campus Director for a small for-profit College with several national accreditations and several state licenses dependent on program of study.  For over 9 years, I worked in regulatory affairs and compliance for one of the largest for-profit entities in the United States with multiple regional and national accreditors, programmatic accreditation and over 160 state licenses for ground and online institutions. I have successfully navigated the for-profit and non-profit institutional areas for corporate restructure, an asset purchase agreement, and an assignment of equity.  I am currently the Regulatory Affairs Advisor for a student-centric university with a focus on competency-based education.  

In addition, over the last twenty years, I have also been the President of the Florida Association of Teen Court, Inc., served on numerous PTA/PTO and Booster boards, including the former Treasurer and President of the Bethel Park Slow Pitch Softball Association, the secretary of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Softball League (WPISL), served on school committees for crime prevention/ ALICE implementation, and served as part of the community comprehensive school planning.  

I would like to thank the voters of Bethel Park for putting your trust in me and the other BP Forward candidates four years ago when we were elected as the School Directors for the Bethel Park School District. We had a vision of redefining the direction that the Bethel Park School District should be moving. There were a few goals that we wanted to accomplish that we felt would improve the quality of education that our children should receive; improve the overall student experience; and to instill in our students, staff, and community the confidence and satisfaction with living in Bethel Park. Some of our goals have been accomplished, but we are not finished yet. That is why I, and the other BP Forward candidates are seeking your support again for re-election as School Directors for the Bethel Park School District.

For those of you who are not familiar with me, I have been a resident of Bethel Park for thirty years. Michele and I have been married since 1985 and we moved to Bethel Park in 1993. We raised our four children here in Bethel Park and we have been active members within the BP community. I graduated from Carrick High School in Pittsburgh and then attended the University of Pittsburgh, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. I am a retired Bethel Park Police Officer. I was the Police Department’s first School Resource Officer; and upon my retirement from the Police Department, I was the first School Police Officer for the Bethel Park School District. I was the Director of Security/School Police Officer for the West Jefferson Hills School District for three years. I am presently working for the Mt Lebanon School District in a non-law enforcement, security position.

I have worked within the school environment for over twenty years. I have been working with students, teachers, staff, administrators, parents, and community leaders with the goal of making the school a safe learning environment and providing students the opportunity to receive the best education that they deserve and need. I am seeking your support and vote to continue this mission.

I am running for re-election for the Bethel Park School Board. I have been in education for 31 years and have spent those years as an Emotional Support teacher, with the last 24 years at Mt. Lebanon High School. During my tenure at Mt. Lebanon, I was a student council sponsor for 21 years, a member of the Student Assistance Team for 22 years, and a coach of football, wrestling, track, and girls basketball-all at the middle school level. I love teaching as it is exciting, difficult, and rewarding at the same time. In my professional career, no two minutes are alike and I feel that gives me a perspective very few have. I have had two daughters graduate from Bethel Park, and two more who are the class of 2029.

I feel very proud to be part of the Board, since 2019, whose first question when presented with an opportunity or troubleshooting a concern, is how it will help the children of Bethel Park. In our BPFWD slate campaign we promised to address the myriad of issues that faced BPSD, and in my opinion we have done so. Speaking for myself only, I feel that we are not complete in our mission, but resolute in our determination to see projects and goals completed. We developed a Strategic Plan WITH the community, our AP scores and participation have increased, our graduation rates remain near 100%, our millage rate is 2% higher than it was in 2015 (I wish prices followed suit), our fine arts program remains top-notch (if you saw the musical Addams Family Values, then you would certainly agree), our sports teams continue impressive performances including state championships, and our administrative and coaching hires are working out well. I am elated that I was part of the process to help the high school receive the designation of Blue Ribbon School.

I want to see the elementary school project through to completion. It may very well be our next Blue Ribbon school!