Quaker Valley School Board candidates sound off

Editor’s note: Sewickley Herald is only spotlighting contested races in the primary election.

According to the Allegheny County Office of Elections unofficial candidate list, in the Quaker Valley School Board race, in Region 1, incumbents Daniela Helkowski and Jonathan Kuzma face newcomers Holly Teagarden, Brett Williams and Lynn Truskie. All are cross-filed.

Two candidates from their respective political parties will be on the November ballot.

In Region 2, newcomer Stratton Nash is running unopposed.

In Region 3, incumbent Kathryn Doebler and newcomer David Poluszejko are both cross-filed and are vying for one open spot on the November ballot.

Here are the nominees and their responses to the election questions posed by the Sewickley Herald.

Region 1

Daniela Helkowski

Why did you decide to run for election? I am running for reelection for a third term. As a mother of three diverse learners and having an educational background, I have always been passionate about the importance of creating a culture of learning for every child. I will continue to be a voice for our children to make sure that every child’s needs are being met academically, socially and emotionally. In addition to advocating for our children, I want to focus on hiring the best leaders and teachers to build a strong sense of community. I want to help ensure when our children graduate from Quaker Valley they have been guided to properly find their path.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? As a district, we need to identify the academic and financial impact of covid. Although our teachers and administrators have worked diligently to adjust to constantly changing challenges, I feel that Quaker Valley needs to be proactive in identifying and addressing any academic regression while supporting our children’s mental health. I have advocated all year that our students need to all be in school. The need for in-person instruction is vital and allows our teachers to put eyes on kids that need the support. We need to find a safe way to move forward without jeopardizing our childrens’ education, emotional growth and missed opportunities. Additionally, the high school project is another challenge for our community. This united board and administration have done our due diligence. The board has determined that the current location cannot sustain a new school. Our district is in a solid financial position. I am proud that we did not have to raise taxes last year and are working to be in a similar position this year. I am committed to more transparency, which will ensure that accurate information reaches all stakeholders. A community that prospers invests in their children and schools.

What should voters know about you? I have always been a part of my daughters’ education and activities. I am so blessed to be part of their journey, it has given me insight into what is needed for our children. I am committed to our children and will continue to always be an advocate for their needs.

Jonathan Kuzma

Why did you decide to run for election? I was first elected to Quaker Valley’s school board in 2013. My goal as a school board director is to represent my community and work to keep Quaker Valley in the top ranks of public education. I feel that my experience on the board, which includes participating in two superintendent searches and working with the current administration through issues related to the coronavirus pandemic and the new high school project, will be important as we continue to move forward.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? In the near term, safely returning students to full-time, on-campus learning continues to be a priority. The second major issue facing the district is the need to replace the nearly 100-year-old high school building. Decades ago, in the 1990s, the high school was renovated. The useful life of the renovation is nearing its end and the building does not meet the needs of the district in the 21st century. After listening to the community’s input and considering the needs of students and teachers, it’s apparent the time has come to build a new high school. I’m committed to working with my board colleagues and the administration in developing the new high school in a fiscally responsible manner and with a transparent process that engages the community.

What should voters know about you? I graduated from Quaker Valley and have lived in the area nearly all of my life. I would like the voters to know it’s been an honor to be trusted with the responsibility to serve the community on the school board.

Holly Teegarden

Why did you decide to run for election? I think it’s time to have new blood with different backgrounds to bring a new perspective to significant issues we currently have in our district. My daughter is going into high school next year, and since elementary school, I have been involved on some sort of level, either with the HSA or as the founder of the QV Special Education Parents Support Group. This is the right time for my family to devote time to being on the school board. I have watched on the sidelines long enough.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? Communication. My background is in communication, specifically digital marketing. When running my digital marketing agency, I was a national speaker on social media and trained national and regional corporations on transparency and ethics. We must have someone on the board who has a grasp of this — it’s critical. I’ve even heard several current board members in the public express that this is an issue. You can have the best intentions like the high school, but if you can’t communicate, listen or come to the table with transparency, it’s a lost cause.

There is also the high school and making sure we stay on track with that financially and make sure we communicate with Quaker Valley citizens. I think QV Strong and Citizens for A Great School have tried to share information, and I thank them for that, but that’s not their job. It’s the job of the school district. This is why it’s critical we elect someone like me.

Mental health is a concern, especially since covid — not only for our students but for our teachers, too. We need to make sure we look at outside-the-box initiatives and talk to the children and staff to see how we can help them.

What should voters know about you? I’m a normal person and a straight shooter. If you ask me a question, I’m going to be honest with you; if I don’t know the answer, I will tell you. I bring a great mix to the table of wanting to get things done, not being afraid to speak up, and when speaking out, I do it with respect and tact. I’m here to be a servant of the people and represent Region I to the best of my ability.

Lynn Truskie

Why did you decide to run for election? To provide expertise and oversight on the school relocation/renovation plan, as well as to increase responsiveness to concerns of parents regarding political indoctrination that is impacting the QVSD curriculum.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? Specifically, the current chosen site of the new high school must be rejected due to the inherent risk and cost-prohibitive nature of building a school campus on a mountain ridge. The spread-out nature of campus design lends itself to being on a relatively flat site. The sheer amount of fill required to achieve such a design is cost-prohibitive and inherently risky, in that adequate soil compaction may or may not be achieved. This decision lacks good judgment and must be reversed to ensure that no more of our tax dollars are wasted on this debacle.

What should voters know about you? I have lived in the Quaker Valley area for 12 years. My background is in real estate development and site selection, as well as investment, finance, construction and appraisal. I have more than 25 years of experience and have developed and invested over $2.5 billion in assets. My education includes a bachelor of architecture from Carnegie Mellon University, a degree in real estate from Robert Morris University and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business (Real Estate and Finance). I also served as an officer in the Army Corp of Engineers from 1991 to 2004.

Brett Williams

Why did you decide to run for election? Leet, Leetsdale and Bell Acres have a significant population of retirees, pensioners and folks on a fixed income. Our community deserves a voice on the Quaker Valley School Board, one that facilitates communication and feedback between the board and the community. This voice should provide leadership and direction, as well as an open dialogue and transparency on construction, financing and taxes.

I will also support greater transparency in the Quaker Valley curriculum. Literature and poetry selections should be posted on the QV website so that parents and the community have an opportunity to review mandatory materials, including controversial poems such as “Somewhere in America.”

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? With few exceptions, Quaker Valley has had two decades of inexorable annual tax increases, over 15% in just the last six years. The community deserves open, honest and transparent communication from the school board about where we are headed. How many more years of tax increases are they planning? How much? And how will we finance an additional $120 million?

What should voters know about you? Our family has lived in Quaker Valley since 2008. Both my wife and I received our MBAs from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. We have two sons who have attended our great Quaker Valley schools from kindergarten to high school. Both of us have more than 20 years of corporate leadership experience in finance and real estate construction. We can help lead and advise Quaker Valley down the best path forward for our children and our great community!

Region 3

Kathryn Doebler

Why did you decide to run for election? Serving on the Quaker Valley School Board these past four years has been incredibly challenging but also incredibly rewarding. When I joined the board, our financial situation was tight, the superintendent announced she was stepping down and the pandemic has wildly interrupted the normal course of business.

I have always felt called to service and in this role, I not only get to help shape the experience of the students and staff but also continue to strengthen the whole of Quaker Valley. A strong public school is the backbone of any thriving community, and it’s clear that communities that invest in their schools will continue to thrive even in hard times.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? Firstly, the effects of covid both immediately and in the future will be an immense challenge for this board and administration. This initially meant investments in hardware, technology, training and adapting to the ever-changing guidelines. But looking forward, we will have to address any learning loss that has happened in the past year. Identifying students in need and provide the necessary supports will be a critical task that must remain in our top focus as these issues would only compound with the passage of time and intervention quickly is paramount.

Secondly, our aging high school was one of the key inspirations for me to run four years ago, as I was keen to play a role in the shaping of this project. Significant work has already been done and we are entering the very exciting portion where architects and civil engineers will soon be brought into the project to help fine-tune the conceptual planning done to date. This is where judicious attention to spending will meet programming decisions with the focus on delivering the promise of a leading education.

What should voters know about you? I’m a mom of two QV kids. I have firsthand experience with the current learning models, tools, techniques and staff delivering this top-notch education to our community and I know what a gift we have. I want to preserve that.

I work full time in product management for a software company located in Robinson. My work is challenging, but I love working on diverse multi-disciplinary teams solving complex problems. My professional experience suits the needs of serving the school board well.

I have served on the boards of the Sewickley Newcomers and Neighbors, the Osborne HSA, held leadership positions in my church and even performed in the Child Health Association bi-annual plays. Since moving here in 2009 with my husband (a Sewickley native), I have felt fully adopted by this community and am proud to serve it and raise our children here.

David Poluszejko

Why did you decide to run for election? I love our district. As a QVgraduate and now a QV parent, I am QV proud.

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? Getting our children back to in-person school five days a week and making sure they are at the academic, social and mental checkpoints they should be.

What should voters know about you? I will work hard to provide the highest quality education while maximizing the community’s use of tax dollars.