Susan Elizabeth Wyder

By Susan Elizabeth (Garrity) Wyder

This paper spells out my accomplishments, my strengths, and my goals as a Board member.

Accomplishments:

• Giving Tree Founder and Coordinator + over 750 families have had happier holidays in its nearly 30 years of existence
• Renaissance Dinner Theatre + Director and Producer
• Princeton Closet Organizer (Clothing for Families in Need)
• 2007 Princeton Elementary Teacher of the Year
• Sharonville Choir Assistant
• Princeton Virtual Academy + volunteer tutor
• Success for All + volunteer tutor
• Ohio School Board Association + candidate workshops (2)
• Sharonville PFO Secretary
• As a 4/5 teacher of reading and math last year, I am especially proud of Sharonville's huge increase in its Performance Index!

According to a recent principal, I am transparent, a tireless child/student advocate, and a strong leader. A good friend and fellow educator thinks my strengths lie in my varied roles of mother, grandmother, teacher, officer, organizer, community activist, problem solver, and global thinker. In a recent conversation with a former parent, who is a mother of seven, she shared that all of her children found me to be kind, a teacher who loved every student, and one who never had favorites. During my first week of retirement, I was recruited to be a tutor for the Princeton Virtual Academy, because my niche has always been one of championing and succeeding with the most challenging students. Three former superintendents, Dr. Richard Denoyer, Mr. Donald Darby, and Mr. Aaron Mackey, are supporting my candidacy and trusting me to carry the strong legacy of Princeton Pride into the next milestone of its future. Personally, I feel strongly that my 35 ½ years of teaching experience, 31 ½ of them in Princeton, will bring a complementary and vital perspective to Princeton's Board.

Goals:

• I will improve the Board's laser-like focus by responsible spending of the taxpayers' dollars with the realization that we are providing an education for the unique children of Princeton, where one size, most definitely, does not fit all. Because, of my particular skillset, not only can I speak to which tools and services most directly impact students, but also to additional areas of the budget where cuts are appropriate.

• I will strengthen the Board's availability and communication with Princeton citizens. I would favor the return of the past practice of having Board members serve as liaisons to the various parent groups. This structure allowed them to have a pulse on happenings in the district, as well as providing an opportunity for parents to offer input and opinions, while also hearing what is happening with the Board. In the past, this was always a powerful connection.

• I favor a more collaborative team approach between the Board and employees. I understand the intricacies of contracts, but sometimes such issues can be a roadblock to finding common ground, whereas including staff can assist us in finding better ways to educate the precious children of Princeton. These good Princeton citizens, in addition to being smart and caring passionately about our district, are a tremendous asset, and we should be utilizing this untapped reserve to make common sense educational improvements.

• Lastly, I will be a cohesive and contributing member of the Board team. The current Board is a robust entity, but I strongly believe that a harmonious blend of business acumen and educational expertise can make it into a quintet that meets and exceeds all expectations, as we move Princeton proudly and powerfully further into 21st century learning!