Meet Tammy Campli, One Of The Democrats Running For Perkiomen Valley School Board

PERKIOMEN VALLEY, PA — In our continued pre-election coverage, Patch is bringing to you the responses by Tammy Campli to our questionnaire sent to local candidates.

Campli is one of the four Democrats running in the hotly contested Perkiomen Valley School Board race.

Read below to see how Campli responded to our candidate survey.

Age (as of Election Day)

43

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Husband - Jonathan Campli; Children - Raelyn 14, Peyton 10, and Gavin 10

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Doctorate of Educational Leadership from Gywnedd Mercy University; MA in Counseling with School Psychologist Certification; BA in Psychology; BS in Educational Studies

Occupation

I have been in education for over 20 years and a school psychologist since 2010. I started out my career as a teacher and actually taught at PV for approximately 4 years.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

pvpersevere.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have lived in the Perkiomen Valley School District for my entire life and have had the privilege of not only graduating from PV but also working for PV. Additionally, I have three children all of whom attend PV schools. I am running for school board because my passion for the district and my community runs deep. I am also in a unique position of having a Doctorate in Educational Leadership which allows me to bring experience in the field to the board along with my personal passion for the position. I feel it is time for me to give back to the community which has provided so much to me and my family over the years.

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

Divisiveness and Lack of Civility - There is unfortunately much divide in our community and it is sad to watch unfold. I want to work to bring back trust through open communication and transparency. There is no way to make every person happy but listening with an open mind and making thoughtful decisions is a start to rebuilding tarnished community relationships. It is also important to be respectful and not point fingers. We are in unprecedented and difficult times which we will get past. However, we need to do better in respecting one another so that we can move forward and make decisions to best support the education of our students.

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

The biggest and most apparent difference is my experience in education as both a teacher and a school psychologist. This gives me a unique perspective for a school board member. I also think some of the other candidates have been more divisive in their approach to the candidacy which I find harmful to the community. I believe it is important to be able to work with the community, administration, staff, and other board members in a respectful manner. Pointing fingers and making divisive comments erodes that basic tenant needed to successfully lead a school.

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

I wouldn't say the current board has failed. I think they were put into a very difficult situation and did what they felt was best to keep students safe so that school could resume in person. Students have always been the priority. It is unfortunate that the board has taken so much heat for many things that were not in their control and without any prior experience to draw from.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Other issues/priorities that I would like to see addressed include ensuring that PV is engaging in equitable and inclusive practices as well as creating a safe space for students to be themselves and reach their greatest potential.

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

My professional and educational accomplishments in the field of education speak to my ability to handle this job. By nature, I am organized and efficient which have also been great strengths.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Fair is not that everyone gets the same thing it is that everyone gets what they need. This is what education should be about.

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

Make sure to vote on November 2nd because every vote counts and our students and community deserve it.