Candidate Profile 2021: Jenine Zdanowicz, Central Bucks Director

WARRINGTON, PA — Jenine Zdanowicz, a Democrat from the Warrington-Warwick area, is running for the position of School Director of the Central Bucks School District out of Region 4.

Zdanowicz, who formerly worked in IT & Marketing for 19 years, is looking to be elected so she can influence her school district more, which she has been involved with for 11 years.

If elected, this would be Zdanowicz's first elected or appointed office.

The general election will take place on Nov. 2.

Here's Zdanowicz's profile, as filled out by the candidate:

Age (as of Election Day)

55

Party Affiliation

Democratic

Family

My husband, Phil and my son who is a student at CB South

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.S. in Computer Science with a minor in Business Administration from Arcadia University.

Occupation

Homemaker

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://bit.ly/Mrs-Z

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am passionate about making our CBSD Schools the best they can be for students, families, and our community. I am informed, engaged, and have been involved as a parent volunteer in many building-wide, region-wide and district-wide initiatives. Over the past 11+ years, I have been very committed to serving our CBSD Community in any way needed by working effectively with parents, administrators, teachers & staff to support our students, families and community. I couldn't imagine doing anything else!

My husband and I have lived in the area for 28 years and our son is currently a student at CB South. One of the primary reasons my husband and I chose to make Central Bucks our home was the outstanding reputation for academic excellence in Central Bucks School District. As a parent, I understand the importance of addressing the social and emotional needs of every student to equip them to be successful & contributing members of their community.

I have a proven track record of working effectively & respectfully with others to build consensus and get things done on both professional and community projects by listening with an open mind and leveraging subject matter experts to achieve results. The Project Management, leadership, problem solving and other skills acquired over the course of my career are directly applicable to serving as an effective School Board Director.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

In addition to the obvious challenges associated with COVID and keeping schools open, our district and community face a level of divisiveness that has sadly become toxic. This has harmed the once sterling reputation of CBSD. We need all stakeholders to listen effectively and interact with respect and civility. As leaders, we must work together to find common ground in order to move forward and rebuild the trust and reputation of CBSD. Our students, families and community deserve our best effort!

It has been a very difficult 18+ months for our students, staff and community. As we start the school year, our children need schools to remain open providing 5 day, in-person instruction for their academic, mental and social well-being. I believe that all members of our community agree on this point, and we need to work together to make it happen.

My professional career and community service work have provided me with significant experience and success in problem solving and bringing people together to achieve common goals. CBSD has many other important issues to address, we must work together to move forward!

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I would have to say experience, proven track record and readiness to serve. I have clear and demonstrated experience in leadership, community service, and school engagement required to hit the ground running in the role of School Director (as outlined below).

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

N/A

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As a School Director I will:

* Focus on Students -- We must prepare every student for college, the workforce, the military, or any other path they choose after high school. Our schools must provide a physically & emotionally safe and welcoming environment to ensure student success. In addition, we need to strengthen services for students with special needs to enable them to realize their full potential.

* Respect & Civility – As a community, we must model respect, acceptance, and civility to our children. Our School Board Directors should exemplify bipartisanship and focus on the primary goal of looking after the best interests of all students, families, and community members.

* Communicate Clearly -- It has been a difficult year for our district. Communicating clearly with students, teachers, parents, and taxpayers is critical to the success of CBSD. As a School Director, I will communicate with clarity and advocate for transparency in decision-making & financial matters.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In my professional life, community service, and as parent volunteer in our schools, I have always worked hard to meet every challenge and bring people together to solve problems & get things done. My experience in the following areas has demonstrated that I am prepared and can handle the role of School Director on Day 1:

* Leadership - Worked 19 years in Marketing & IT, led large teams (up to 150), managed budgets commensurate with Central Bucks Scholl District's annual budget, and acted as Business Unit COO & Client Manager for a Fortune 500 company

* Community Service - Served as Training Coordinator on the Executive Board of Special Olympics Bucks County, and coached Softball & Volleyball for 10+ years

* School Engagement - Served as Home & School Assoc. President, Race For Education Chair & Core Team Member, chaired many HSA Committees and efforts, was selected to serve on Superintendent/Parent Advisory Council, selected to serve on Elementary Progress Report Redesign Effort for the entire school district, and was instrumental in raising close to $200k for HSA Activities, Gaga Pit, field trips, recess equipment, and other resources for Barclay Elementary.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

I've been given a lot of great advice from many wise and kind people who I've been fortunate to know. But, the one piece of advise that has really resonated with me came from my parents. They would say, "When you look in the mirror at the end of the day, if you were your best and you did your best, it was a good day."

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I believe our schools should provide a safe, accepting, inclusive and nurturing environment for all students. Children are given the best opportunity to thrive both academically and socially when they feel safe, respected and valued.