Candidate Profile 2021: Tabitha Dell'Angelo, School Director

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Tabitha Dell'Angelo, a professor at The College of New Jersey, is a Democrat running for School Director of the Central Bucks School District out of Region 8.

Dell'Angelo teaches Elementary and Early Childhood Education at The College of New Jersey and has been teaching for 16 years. Her experiences in education have helped her to understand the importance of a well-run school.

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

The general election will take place on Nov. 2.

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

Age (as of Election Day)

51

Party Affiliation

Democratic

Family

2 children; 13 and 15

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.S. Special Education, Rowan U.; M.Ed. & Ph.D. Applied Psychology; University of Pennsylvania

Occupation

Professor; 16 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://www.drtab4cbsd.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have spent my life dedicated to making schools and communities great places for all children. I want to extend that love, work, and service to my own community.

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

I believe our biggest issue is our ability to communicate with one another. Although this issue shows up in lots of specific ways (i.e. masks, curriculum decisions, contract negotiations), the core is our inability to work collaboratively with one another. I will commit to approaching all issues with an open mind. I realize that with many issues there will be disagreement. However, I believe it is important to start from the assumption that everyone wants what is best for their children. We may not agree on how to achieve that objective -- but we have a shared objective. I also believe it is important to trust the experts in the room. In our case, that is often the instructional leaders - including teachers. While we as parents and community members may have opinions, they are the people working with our children every day. When they make an informed recommendation, it is our responsibility to take those recommendations seriously and not undermine the good work they are doing.

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

The most critical difference between my opponent and I are related to the two topics I am asked most frequently. The first issue is following the guidelines of federal, state and local health agencies. My opponent has voted for mask optional, then for no masking and more recently to allow a mask exemption without a medical signature. I would follow the guidelines set forth by medical experts. The second issue that I am asked about is Critical Race Theory [CRT]. On this issue my opponent and I seem to agree that CRT should not be considered as a curriculum in our K-12 schools.

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

My opponent was appointed (not elected) in early 2021 due to the resignation of the elected School Director. Since he took the seat he has voted to deny a professional development opportunity to a school counselor, has voted against COVID mitigation strategies like masking, and even voted "no" to passing the budget because it would raise taxes (the first time 6 years) by ~$74 per household. While I do not necessarily see these as "failures", I do think they illustrate how our values diverge. I trust school personnel to know what their students need and commend them for seeking out professional development that will support the student body. I believe the best way to keep schools open is to keep everyone healthy. If the experts recommend masking, I will listen to that recommendation. And, I believe that being fiscally responsible means being a good steward of our tax dollars -- not denying needed funding.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My campaign platform is focused on respect, safety, and academic excellence. My hope for our district is that all stakeholders feel valued and affirmed. The center of this has to be students. Everything we do is in service of their development and preparing them so that they can pursue the future they want. In order to make that a reality, teachers must be supported, teachers aids, nurses, school counselors, speech therapists, bus drivers, custodians, groundskeepers, mechanics, etc. A school district is sort of an ecosystem where every part is integral and keeping those parts and players in balance helps the system to run smoothly. If elected, I will be dedicated to helping to keep our ecosystem healthy so that CBSD can be a great place to learn and work.

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

This position is unique. School Directors have a great deal of responsibility and put in a lot of hours, yet -- it is a volunteer position. In many ways, my background in education makes me uniquely qualified. Educators routinely put in many hours for which they are not compensated (or even recognized). In my current position as a college professor I contribute to departmental, college wide, and professional service. These are all responsibilities that I willingly accept because they serve the greater good. In those volunteer roles I have edited academic journal issues (even a few that won awards), helped to rewrite policies at the College level and run after school and summer programs for children of all ages. I am the first in my family to go to college. Throughout my life I have worked multiple jobs and learned to balance a great deal of responsibility. I see this as a natural extension of what I have always done.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

About 25 years ago someone told me, "almost everything can wait". I used to feel that I had to fix everything immediately. Now, when I feel myself going into that "superhero" mode, I take a step back, think through the issue or problem and take some time to consider the best way forward before I speak or act.

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

That I am a mom and a wife and a theatre kid and an athlete and my only motivation for seeking this role is because I believe in public education and I love children and I want to be of service to the community.