Potteiger, Kelly

B.S. Sport and Exercise Science from Messiah University, M.Ed. in Health Education from Penn State University

My name is Kelly Potteiger and I’ve lived in Silver Spring Township for the past 16 years. My two teenage children attended CVSD starting in kindergarten. With a Master’s Degree in Education, I realized my kids weren’t getting the education they deserved. And that is just plain wrong. Let me share with why I am the right choice to represent you on the Cumberland Valley School Board. I believe that our public education system basic requirement is to provide our children with the essential skills needed to be successful in America’s highly competitive job and educational markets. Whether a students’ focus is employment or higher education, Cumberland Valley students need a solid foundation for a lifetime of learning. Every hour spent on “other” topics is an hour less in mastering math, english, civics, and science. Education provides the basis for a lifetime of accomplishments. When Covid shut our schools down, I saw that my children were not being taught hard academic skills and that the District was not focused on making up for lost learning time. When schools did reopen, the focus was directed on developing soft skills and competencies such as “empathy, responsibility, and collaboration” instead of the loss of academic skill development. The percent of Cumberland Valley 8th graders that scored proficient or above in math dropped from 53.2% in 2017 to 41.3% in 2019, which was before the additional .08% loss during the pandemic. This is a 13% loss in math proficiency since 2017 for students that attend CVSD. What has our administration and school board done to address this loss? Nothing. Instead, they are committed to transitioning the education system to “21st Century Learning and thinking skills”. These new topics are a theft of education, time, and focus from our students. Coupled with the District’s reimaging of curriculum, the board is yet again over budget by more than $4 Million Dollars. For over three years I have been attending school board meetings and researching CVSD. It is focused on a “transformational” change, not academic skill development. Seeing what is happening to CVSD, I realized I needed to be on the school board in order to truly make a difference. As a vocal advocate for our students, I am a proponent of parental rights, transparency, academic standards and financial accountability. Every parent has the right to be engaged at all levels of the education process. In my meetings and communications with administrators they have not be transparent and open. The current board has not been forthcoming. Open, honest communication and leadership are key to tackling the challenges the district faces regarding academic achievement for all students, safety of students and teachers, and establishing an environment that truly addresses the mental health needs of our children. My commitment to the traditional academic education of our children motivates me to run for school board. I graduated Messiah College with a B.S. in Sport/Exercise Science and earned my Master’s in Education from Penn State. I own a small business so I understand both hard work and budgets. Every dollar spent by CVSD must result in the improvement of academic education for our children and supportive environment for teachers and staff. The purpose of the public education system is to give our children the tools to achieve the very best life possible.

For over three years I have been attending school board meetings and researching CVSD. It is focused on a “transformational” change, not academic skill development. Seeing what is happening to CVSD, I realized I needed to be on the school board in order to truly make a difference. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, guardian, or family member of a student or a taxpayer in the school district, it is important to care about the public education system. What type of education occurs in our public schools will guide our communities for decades to come. My children went to CVSD from kindergarten through middle school and then Commonwealth Charter during Covid shutdowns. This year they are attending West Chore Christian Academy. My 7th grade son would like to go back to CV but until the board shows more transparency, improved focus on academic learning, more respect for parental rights and clear policies and protocols for safety concerns, my husband and I are not comfortable sending him back. I feel if I believe change is needed, I need to commit myself to assisting with that change. That is way I decided to run for the CVSD school board and hope that I win your Silver Spring Township vote on May 16th!