Don Fountain Is One Of The Republicans Seeking A Seat On The Perkiomen Valley School Board

PERKIOMEN VALLEY, PA — In Patch's ongoing pre-election coverage, we bring to you a profile on Don Fountain, one of the Republicans running for a seat on the Perkiomen Valley School Board.

The hotly contested race, which has no incumbents, pits four Democrats against four Republicans.

Read on to see how Fountain responded to a Patch candidate questionnaire.

Age (as of Election Day)

64

Party Affiliation

Republican

Family

My wife, Joanne, and I have 5 kids who grew up in, and attended the Perkiomen Valley School District. They are all grown now and we have 9 grandkids, two of which are PV students with more on the way. Our kids are scattered with one living with his family in Tampa, one living with her family in Savannah, one living with her family near Lancaster, and two still living in Skippack.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Our son, Nick, is a township supervisor in Skippack.

Education

I received my Bachelor's Degree from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. I attended and completed my Master's Degree in Counseling from Villanova University. I have attended other colleges taking pertinent coursework and have taught at both West Chester and Gwynedd Mercy in their graduate degree programs for School Counseling.

Occupation

I began my career in education in 1979 being asked to start a special education program for mild to moderate behavior disorders in Crawford County, Georgia. I also spent a year teaching history in a private school in Georgia before moving to Pennsylvania in 1982. I spent a year working at Saint Gabriel's Hall and then spent six years as an instructor at Valley Forge Military Academy. I received my certification in school counseling in 1987 while at Villanova and started working as a school counselor in 1989 at the Intermediate Unit. I then came to Perkiomen Valley High School in 1990 as a school counselor and remained there until I retired in 2017. While working at the high school I served many of those years as the chair of the counseling department. At the same time, I began working in the private sector as a drug and alcohol counselor in 1982. I worked in a variety of counseling offices in the area over the years and went to work full time with Onward Behavioral Health in their Pottstown location in 2017. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and my work has always centered around the mental health field working with adolescents and adults.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I have never held a public or elected office.

Campaign website

We do not have a website but are on Face Book at Flip4PV.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have spent my career as an educator and a counselor. Most of that time has been spent trying to avoid contact with the School Board feeling that they often did not have the best interests in my kids at heart and tended to work towards their own agendas. As long as they stayed in their own lane and I was able to focus my attention on my kids, I was okay. Since retiring from the high school I have seen a subtle shift taking place and the school board is now moving in a direction that I do not feel is theirs's to move in. I have also seen the massive impact that the pandemic has had on our kids and their families. I have a unique perspective having been in the district as an employee and as a parent. I understand the workings of the district in ways that many may not. I believe I can bring a valuable voice and perspective to the board to help Perkiomen Valley return to the outstanding levels it has achieved in the past.

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

The pandemic had a devastating impact on the education of our kids as they were forced to be virtual students for well over a year. There was, however, a positive effect from that extraordinary period that enabled our families to gain more of an insight into what was actually being taught and the directions that the district was moving. What they saw was not something that they felt comfortable with. Moreover, it seemed their voices were not being heard by the school board. I believe that the time has come to bring some balance back into the district. To focus on the academic integrity and programs that helped Perkiomen Valley School District to become one of the best districts in the state. I also believe that it is imperative to keep the schools open and create a new direction as we move into a post pandemic era.

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

I have a unique perspective, having served as part of the district and a resident of the district for over 35 years. I have always put the kids first and will continue to do so. I believe that we need to challenge our kids to be the best that they can be as they prepare to enter the world. I have no underlying agenda and will work to make Perkiomen Valley the district that others look to as an example.

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

There are those on the current board that I believe have the best of intentions, but have not been able to accomplish some of the things that I feel the board should be focused on. There needs to be more fiscal responsibility in what the district is spending money on and that focus needs to be student driven. There needs to be more accountability of the district administrators and more support to teach for those in the classroom. There needs to be a return of being proud to be a Viking. The parents in the district need to know that they can and will be heard and that controversial issues can and will be addressed. The school board is not intended to be a partisan group, and is mandated to focus on the management of the district. It is time that they focus on the education of our kids.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I believe that the Perkiomen School Board needs to focus attention on the issues they are obligated to address. They are not the purveyors of social justice, nor are they the final voice of what rights a family may have or choose. They are to direct their attention at allowing educators to determine the education that needs to be provided and insure the equality of every student in the district. They need to be fiscally responsible and insure that the administration is held to the highest standards possible. They need to listen to all of the shareholders of the district and avoid allowing their own political, or personal agendas to override their sworn responsibility to the future of the district and it's students. Perkiomen Valley School District is currently divided and it needs to regain the balance that has brought it to the forefront in the past, and can be again.

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

The greatest accomplishment I feel I might be able to claim is to be the best father, grandfather, and person I have been able to be. I am what I am and have always tried to do my best so that at the end of the day, while brushing my teeth before I go to bed, I can look myself squarely in the eye and believe I gave it my best shot, accepting that I likely made mistakes, but knowing that tomorrow may, if I am lucky enough to see it, allow me to try again.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My father told me, many years ago, something that has stuck with me my entire life and has helped me more times than I can count. He said, son, worry, (or, as I have substituted as anxiety or stress) is a waste of your time. If you can do anything about it, do it. If you can't, why be worried about it. I have shared that with many others over the course of my personal and professional life and it has always served me well.

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

I have spent my life in the fields of education and counseling. I believe that our kids are our future and that each and every one of them, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual identity, emotional or academic issues, or socioeconomic status, have the right to expect, and have, the best educational experience possible. They have the right to feel safe and validated in their schools to ensure they reach their fullest potential, regardless of what path they may take. I have often considered myself to be an educator and a motivator, and I believe I can make a difference.