Meet James Lee, A Candidate For Lower Moreland School Board

LOWER MORELAND, PA — As Patch continues its pre-election coverage, take the time to meet James Lee, a Democrat running for a seat on the Lower Moreland School Board.

Below, see Lee's responses to a Patch candidate questionnaire.

Age (as of Election Day)

47

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Married with two children currently in the Lower Moreland school district, both since kindergarten

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Harvard University, BA - University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, MD - The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, MBA

Occupation

Physician (20 years), Clinical Program Director

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

electjameslee.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running to better reflect an increasingly diverse Lower Moreland demographic on the school board and to add a fresh perspective as a medical professional with long-standing leadership experience. I will work with the superintendent and administration in planning and implementing a diversity, equity, and inclusion program that incorporates continued, substantial community input. I will continue to prioritize and strive for the highest quality educational and extra-curricular opportunities for all our students, and to ensure that they all can learn and thrive in a safe, inclusive community.

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

Dr. John Butler and I are unified in expressing that the single most pressing issue facing our district is maintaining a safe learning environment for our children so that in-person learning can continue without substantial interruption. This involves mitigating the risk of COVID to our students, staff, and community through a science-based approach to evaluating the most up-to-date data available and listening to public health expert guidance. We intend to engage in these discussions by listening to all perspectives and carefully deliberating the choices put forth to the board, with the aim of prioritizing our children’s best interests.

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

I feel I am in a position to give voice to a growing demographic in our community given my experience as a second-generation Asian-American. I have professional experience as a physician leader, accustomed to making difficult decisions and analyzing and synthesizing data. I have led a successful medical program at Penn through a period of growth and staff expansion, overseeing budget and marketing outreach. I also have recently sought out further education in business administration and understand the importance of fiscal responsibility. As a 14 year resident of Lower Moreland, I have a good perspective on how our tight-knit community values the excellent opportunities we provide our children as they develop into young adults, and I hope to be able to contribute to this effort.

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

I feel the current board has failed the community by not holding the administration better accountable to improve transparency and communication on topics of concern to the public. These include hiring processes that have not achieved substantial diversity in faculty, learnings from high-profile resignations and staff turnover, and how threats to the student body are handled.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Safe and Quality Learning - Our teachers need more support and as key stakeholders, their collective voice needs to be amplified at board meetings. Their involvement in learning model implementation and DEI planning and implementation is critical. Not only are LM’s teachers our children’s educators, they are our neighbors and parents who deserve our support more than ever.

Transparency and Communication - Communities for which written or spoken English is not their preferred mode of communication are marginalized due to the challenges they experience when participating in public comment, written or spoken, at school board meetings.

Diversity, Education, and Inclusion - It is our responsibility as a school district to best prepare our students to be responsible global citizens who value fairness, accountability, and diversity as they pursue their individual passions and meet their fullest potential. Student input should be incorporated into revising a Code of Conduct that strives for a higher level of collective accountability and a standard of behavior that the diverse LM community deserves.

Expectations of Excellence - I believe Lower Moreland should strive to rank in the top 10 Pennsylvania high schools in 10 years (currently ranked 23rd in PA). I believe public school systems - with enthusiastic involvement and careful investment from the community - can be world class school systems that produce highly competitive students. Such an expectation of excellence begins with the community holding itself to higher standards.

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

Twenty-four years after graduating college, I chose to apply to and enroll into a rigorous MBA program and dive into topics to which I had no prior exposure. I met and worked with people in entirely different professions. I loved it. I am a life-long learner and will do my best to make sound decisions in the school board environment.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

To be a good leader, do not try to emulate any ideal. Be yourself. Your natural strengths can be developed to help you lead.

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

I have no political aspirations. I have chosen to seek this volunteer position after being inspired by the members of our community who are singularly focused on improving the lives of all our children through excellence in education.