Erin Johns Speese
Hempfield Area School Board
Who Am I?
Welcome to Erin Johns Speese for Hempfield Area School Board! I am an educator with eighteen years of teaching experience. After fighting against the middle school consolidation, which I thought might weaken our kids' educational experience, I decided that I wanted to run for school board to continue supporting the parents, guardians, and students in the district. I am a parent of two younger kids in the school district, and I am amazed at the great work our teachers and staff are doing. However, I would like to see the district shift back to a stronger education-focus across all areas--traditional education, vo-tech education, and life skills. We, as a community, need to help the next generation receive the best education possible, and I would like to contribute by serving on the Hempfield Area School Board.
What Makes me different?
I am very fortunate that I have been able to dedicate my life to teaching and serving students. I've taught in higher education for eighteen years--primarily in first-year writing programs. This means that I've spent a lot of time with first-year students as they transition from their high school education, learn responsibility, and move toward adulthood. I am also lucky to be the mother of two kids in the district, and as I've watched them on their educational journey, I've gained more insight into why my first-year students are not getting what they need in K-12 education in order to be better prepared for their post-high school education and careers. I can offer this expertise to the school board, especially when considering what initiatives the district might pursue to increase our rankings and continue to develop our academic programming.
In addition, I like to look at issues from multiple perspectives and to collect as much information as possible in order to make informed decisions. I try to avoid making knee-jerk reactions and instead, focus on looking at an issue from multiple perspectives while often seeking to find a middle ground. In my job, I have worked on and lead committees that include people with a wide variety of perspectives, ideas, and solutions. I pride myself on working collaboratively to find solutions that will work for as many people as possible.
In my quest to be as informed as possible, I've spent a lot of time attending not only general school board meetings but also committee meetings, including policy, finance, and buildings and grounds. I have taken the time to learn about the key projects that our district is currently undertaking so that if I am elected, I can make a smooth transition onto the board.