BY DEBRA PALMIERI

dpalmieri@tnonline.com

All eight candidates for the four open seats on the Northwestern Lehigh School Board have cross filed on the Democrat and Republican tickets for the May 18 Municipal Primary.

Winners in the November Municipal Election will serve for four years.

The Press asked the candidates the following question:

“There are eight candidates running for four open seats on school board, what sets you apart?”

Todd Hernandez

Living in the district for over 23 years, I have been active in NYAA, scouts, and recreation commission. My wife Sheri is a NW graduate, and we have two children. I advocate for ALL students, not just my own children’s needs and emotions.

I am a CPA and financial analyst. I analyze data factually and objectively while considering community input. Decisions are often multifaceted and emotionally charged. As a board member, my decisions put student success first, remaining financially responsible to all our stakeholders. I support our outstanding teachers who want to see all students succeed.

Education is a great equalizer. Students deserve equitable access to resources to support their learning. My responsibility to students, teachers, taxpayers, administration, and staff is to evaluate how best to utilize and allocate resources across the district.

Jennifer Senavaitis

“I have worked with children and families in both the mental health and school setting for over twenty years. These experiences have helped me to stay current with best practices in education. I value public education and all that it has to offer to our children. I believe in the importance of teamwork and know the power that education has and how it can transform a child’s life. I have children in the NWLSD and believe that this school district is one of the best in the Lehigh Valley. I would love the opportunity to be a part of the school board to use my skill set to continue moving the district forward.”

Rosemarie C. Lister

As a current Northwestern Lehigh School Board Director, I seek professional, transparent and fiscally sound solutions while reviewing best practices and integrating the feedback from students, community members, stakeholders, school staff and parents.

or over 20 years, I have volunteered for Weisenberg Township, NWLSD, NYAA and Boosters while raising four children with my husband.

As a local health network director, I work with school districts to identify needs and measurably improve and sustain outcomes. My commitment is to ensure our students excel with a quality, comprehensive education to succeed as a student and as a positive contributor to our community.

Alan L. Rex

I have the experience of serving our students, staff and community members for the last three years.

I serve on the JOC board at LCTI and the electrical OAC committees at both LCTI and CCTI.

I serve on the Skills-USA Counsel board as a school board representative.

I’m a lifelong resident of our great school district.

My parents, myself and my children have all graduated from Northwestern Lehigh.

I work as a project manager for an electrical contractor, and I have experience in CBA negotiations.

I serve as a trustee for a 403c retirement plan and an ERISA benefits plan.

Becky Hite

I’ve lived in the district for 10 years and currently have two children in our schools.

My leadership in the community is evident through my involvement in the PTO Executive Board at Weisenberg Elementary for six years, PTO at Northwestern Lehigh Middle School for three years, and NYAA.

My experiences as a small-business owner and church consistory president have provided a good foundation to help hone my discernment skills.

My leadership, committee and large project experience have given me cooperative opportunities and insight to the needs of the district’s younger students, who are currently not represented on the board.

Melissa Arifaj

With a strong background in education coupled with my role as a parent and lifelong member of the Tiger community, I have a unique opportunity to assist in the growth and success of our district.

I thoroughly understand the complex inner workings of the school system and incredible challenges we are tasked to accomplish. Cultivating a relationship with community members built upon trust and mutual respect,

I will deliver transparent, logical, and responsible decision-making that represents our community’s needs with our students’ best interest at the forefront.

Northwestern will continue to move forward as a revered educational leader locally and beyond.

Lauren Hunsicker

I view issues from multiple perspectives. As a Northwestern graduate, I have strong community roots and want to see our district succeed. As a health care provider, I’m trained to make informed, evidence-based decisions.

As a mother, I consider concerns as a parent and see the impact on families. As the wife of an educator, I see first hand the challenges teachers face.

As a taxpayer, I see the financial crisis our district is facing and the importance of balancing financials while preserving high-quality education.

I’m well-rounded, ask tough questions, and I will work incredibly hard for our children and community.

James Warfel

I feel my 50-year career in public education sets me apart as a candidate in this election.

I have served in diverse roles as a teacher, administrator and adjunct university faculty in a variety of organizations, providing me with broad experience in curriculum/instruction, school leadership and services for special needs students.

My military service provided leadership and self-discipline experiences that served me well in meeting the demands of my career.

I feel my experience provides me with insights that can support the efforts of our dedicated administration and staff in their pursuit of excellence in education.