03/22/2022
I am excited to introduce myself to the Orchard Park Central School District community as a candidate for the Board of Education. I am a proud product of the public schools in East Aurora and Baltimore County, Maryland. I have Bachelor of Arts in History from Pennsylvania State University and earned my law degree from the University of Pittsburgh. I worked for Mercantile Safe Deposit and Trust Company as an Assistant Vice President before entering the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I have worked for the FBI for almost 20 years investigating complex financial crimes, health care fraud, civil rights cases, and public corruption. I will be retiring from the FBI this May. My wife Karin and I have lived in Orchard Park for 13 ½ years, moving from Connecticut when our oldest was 6 months old. We were initially drawn to the area for the open spaces, excellent schools, family friendly environment and outdoor activities. We have 3 wonderful children, who are currently enrolled in the High School and at Ellicott Elementary. All three of our children have thrived in the Orchard Park schools and have consistently been assigned the right teacher for their learning style at every grade level. The excellence in teaching that our children have been the recipients of, is clear, especially as we look at our High School student. She has a strong foundation of knowledge and wealth of opportunities to explore as she is choosing her future academic path. We have no doubt that our 2 youngest children will also be similarly well prepared to chart their own paths.
Looking back over the past 13 ½ years, and the amazing education our children have received, I realized that there has been a great deal of work that has gone into the educational structure that our children have benefited from. In order to keep this level of excellence, the School Board partnership with the teachers, the administration and the community, is integral to provide the most evidence-based education to prepare our children for a global world. I feel a duty to our community to support the school system that our children are so greatly benefiting from. I have a wealth of career experience and the experience of parenting learners in this District, and I am asking for your support, to become one of the next School Board members. Together with our current School Board members, I will work to ensure the needs of our students, teachers and parents are met in a fiscally responsible manner.
Like my colleague Ryan Anderson, in addition to describing what we hope to achieve during our term on the School Board, it is important to note also what we will not do. We will not use the school board as a platform for politics, agendas, or special interests. I will not support censorship or interference with our teachersâ ability to provide our students the educational excellence they deserve. These things have no place on our Board of Education or in our schools.
As we face unprecedented challenges in preparing our students for a changing world, I hope that my life experiences and a desire to support the education system that has supported my children will earn your vote this May 17th.