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See the News page, as well
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Ambler Gazette > Opinion
In support of Ronnie Hayman for Wissahickon School Board
Saturday, October 31, 2015
To the Editor:
I first met Ronnie Hayman, school board member and candidate, when she was Mrs. Hayman, my son’s fourth-grade teacher. Even then, she impressed me as highly competent with a willingness to engage her students in the best of learning. My son, now a college senior double majoring in physics and chemistry, can’t wait to vote for Mrs. Hayman.
As a board member, Ronnie Hayman brings those very skills that made her successful in the classroom — discernment, ability to synthesize and act on important information, willingness to collaborate and an innate love of learning — to help her become an effective, contributing board member. And at the core of it all is a deep belief in the ability of all students to learn, grow and excel. It is because of this demonstrated belief and work ethic that I now enthusiastically support Ronnie Hayman for Wissahickon School Board. I hope you will too. As I leave the board after eight grateful years of service, I do so knowing that those like Ronnie will continue the work of providing the best educational experience and enabling the best educational outcomes for all students.
Burunda Prince-Jones
Wissahickon School Board
© 2015 Montgomery News, a 21st Century Media Property
Letter as it appeared in the Gazette.
Ambler Gazette
Dave Frank for Wissahickon School Board
Published: Sunday, October 25, 2015
To the Editor:
I have known Dave for 10 years and have volunteered with him in various capacities. He is a keeper.
Dave believes that parent involvement is vital to student success. He models this in his actions, as he has spent many years as a volunteer in Wissahickon School District. Dave was the only father at the executive board meetings at Shady Grove and he brought so much to the table for many years. He was at all the school events and always doing more than his share (along with his wife, Tessie). Dave is also a commissioner for the Whitpain Recreation Association and spends countless hours making our intramural soccer and other athletic programs what they are today.
Dave is a valued friend — one of the most humble, giving people I have ever met. He is incredibly intelligent and has had a successful career as a biochemist. But he is a family man first. The thing that strikes me most about Dave is his patience and ability to listen. If Dave says we need to “address the student achievement gap,” I believe he will do exactly that.
People like and respect Dave. As a school board member, this quality will allow our community to speak and to be heard by our school board so that meaningful change can take place. Let’s make our school board the best it can be.
Heather Maltin
Gwynedd Valley
See it in the Ambler Gazette
Ambler Gazette
Hayman committed to 'academic excellence'
Published: Sunday, October 25, 2015
To the Editor:
My entire career emphasis has been the provision of academic excellence. As a retired Wissahickon teacher, taxpayer and homeowner, I understand the importance of education balanced with the careful use of our tax dollars. My familiarity with our community along with my inside knowledge of education allows me to see things through a unique lens. As a former educator, I had the wonderful opportunity to serve my community and I would like to continue that service as a member of the Wissahickon School Board.
If elected, my commitment to academic excellence is a top priority. The issue of standardized testing is an area where the balance between assessment and instruction needs to be monitored. While staying fiscally responsible, our school board needs to continue to provide safe schools that enable an outstanding learning experience and promote a culture of understanding and responsiveness between the parents, the administration and the staff of the Wissahickon School District.
Please vote on Nov. 3, and please vote for me, Ronnie Hayman.
Ronnie Hayman
Wissahickon School Board
See it in the Ambler Gazette
Ambler Gazette
In support of Tomlinson for Ambler Borough Council, Frank for Wissahickon School Board
Published: Sunday, October 25, 2015
To the Editor:
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, and I encourage you to get to know the candidates before you cast your vote. For our local officials, a candidate’s qualifications are more relevant than their political party.
My neighbor, Fran Tomlinson, is running for Ambler Borough Council in Ward 1 and she will be a great asset to the borough. The current council membership lacks a person with significant financial management experience
— Fran is a CPA with over 25 years of financial accounting and reporting experience, and she will be able to fill this much needed role. Fran is running as a Republican, so if you vote the straight Democratic ticket, the borough will lose out on her expertise.I am also supporting David Frank, who is running for the Wissahickon School Board. David has extensive experience as a volunteer in our schools, a strong education background and would be an excellent representative on the board.
As a Democrat, I plan on voting for the best candidate regardless of party affiliation, and I hope you will do the same.
Vote the person, not the party.
Kevin Wolbach
Ambler
See it in the Ambler Gazette
Ambler Gazette
Wissahickon School Board candidates define 'fiscal responsibility'
Published: Saturday, October 10, 2015
To the Editor:
As Wissahickon School Board candidates, we are committed to “fiscal responsibility.” But, since this phrase can mean different things to different people, we’d like to clarify what it means to us.
First, fiscal responsibility is about ensuring that our schools have adequate resources to provide the high-quality education that Wissahickon children deserve. But that should go hand-in-hand with ensuring that those resources are actually producing results for students. We should continually prioritize and direct resources to academic programs that give us the best return on our investment and away from those that are less effective.
Fiscal responsibility is also about operating within our means and financial limits. We believe such limits can spur creativity and innovation. They can be a positive force that motivates us to rethink how we do our work in order to increase productivity and efficiency. It can promote smarter spending because the resources we do have become that much more precious.
Finally, fiscal responsibility is about planning for the district’s long-term health and stability. Through prudent spending, strategic investments and proactive actions we can maintain and strengthen the district’s foundation — academically, operationally and financially — so that it can continue to deliver a first-rate education for decades to come.
With the support of the Wissahickon community, we will embody these notions of fiscal responsibility on the school board. Please vote for us on Nov. 3.
Joe
Antonio Jim Asman
Patricia David David Frank
Ronnie Hayman
See it in the Ambler Gazette
Ambler Gazette > Opinion
Five Wissahickon School Board candidates state objectives
Saturday, October 3, 2015
To the Editor:
As your readers know, there will be an election for members to the school
board for the Wissahickon School District Nov. 3, 2015.
We, the undersigned, write as candidates for the school board who are
individually and together committed to the following objectives for our school
district:
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Quality education for all students
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Achievement gap eradication
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Respectful collaboration
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Fiscal responsibility
We firmly believe that a great school system is the bedrock
upon which our community is built.
We look forward to engaging in this discussion, to do all we can to help our
children receive the best education that our community can provide.
Joe
Antonio Jim Asman
Patricia David David Frank
Ronnie Hayman
The original article
Montgomery News (montgomerynews.com)
Ambler Gazette
Vote Ronnie Hayman for Wissahickon School Board
Saturday, May 9, 2015
To the Editor:
Mrs. Hayman taught both of us as elementary school students, but years later we still wholeheartedly believe she taught us more than just our core subjects. With incredible strength, we were taught dedication, honesty and optimism. Mrs. Hayman stood up for her students and stood by them as well. She listened to everything the students had to say and made changes for the better. Daily she succeeded in bringing new interesting lessons into her classroom, for she knew how to best engage her students. We can honestly say Mrs. Hayman was one of our most influential teachers. Her dedication to her students was inspiring. Though as children we believed her to be strict, we now see that it was determination and a drive for success.
Mrs. Hayman never backed down from a challenge and proceeded to help her students to excel in all areas of studies no matter their background. We believe that Mrs. Hayman belongs on the school board because she knows what is best, both for students and for teachers. She will not stop until all issues are resolved.
Please vote for Ronnie Hayman, for her drive and passion will truly help this school district thrive. As former students, we can truly say there is no one more qualified than she.
Maya and Daniel Chester-Ziv
Lower Gwynedd
© 2015 Montgomery News, a 21st Century Media Property
Montgomery News (montgomerynews.com)
Ambler Gazette
In support of Hayman for school board
Saturday, May 9, 2015
To the Editor:
We are writing in support of Ronnie Hayman’s candidacy for Wissahickon School Board member. We have lived in the district for nearly 30 years and have rarely seen a candidate more qualified to remain a member of the school board.
The qualities of an exemplary teacher are many of the same qualities required of a school board member. Above all, Ronnie Hayman is able to listen, whether to the many student voices in a classroom or to the voices of her constituents. She is able to balance these competing voices and reach a well-reasoned compromise. Great teachers are also able to multitask, to see the big picture while maintaining attention to detail and can adapt to changing and fluid situations appropriately. Fiscally, teachers often spend substantial amounts of their own money to support classroom activities and are well-acquainted with finding creative ways to save money, and we do not doubt that Ronnie Hayman will apply this quality to the school district budget as well. Ronnie Hayman exhibits all of these attributes and more.
On a personal level, we can say without a doubt that Mrs. Hayman was one of our children’s all-time favorite teachers. She has had a lasting and positive influence upon them both, and we look forward to seeing the lasting and positive influence she will have upon the school board.
Tim and Vanessa Hooper
Lower Gwynedd
© 2015 Montgomery News, a 21st Century Media Property