School Board Candidate: Sandy Zeleznik

Sandy Zeleznik thinks her work as an elementary school teacher and current job as a special education adviser for the state Department of Education will help improve the Chartiers Valley School District.

“I think it’s an exciting time because our district is going through changes and I want to be there to keep the district going in the right direction,” Zeleznik said.

Zeleznik works as an adviser and liaison between the state and federal governments to improve Pennsylvania’s education performance plan. She also taught in the Pittsburgh Public Schools system.

Zeleznik, 42, moved to Collier Township seven years ago and has three sons in the school district. She holds a masters degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh.

She applauded the work by the new administration and said that the district is moving in a positive direction. Zeleznik said seeing Superintendent Brian White Jr. engage with parents in the community is comforting for her and others who have students in the school system.

The athletics and fine arts programs are sound, she said, so it’s now time for the board to turn its attention to improving academics. She also thinks facilitating parent involvement is important to improving the education in the schools here.

“I think we have a lot of strong programs in the school district and a lot of things that are happening,” Zeleznik said. “But I do think we could focus more on academic excellence, setting a higher standard and giving (students) the tools to achieve their fullest potential.”

She said her full-time work would be an asset for the school district because she regularly speaks to educators from across the country.

“The changes are great so far and the district is moving in a positive direction,” Zeleznik said. “I just want to put my experience education into the Chartiers Valley School District. It would be a big responsibility, but an honor, to be on the board.”

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