North Hills School Board Primary 2023: A Crowded Field Of Candidates

ROSS AND WEST VIEW, PA — It could take voters in the May 16 primary some time at their polling place to make their choices for North Hills School District directors. Eleven candidates are vying for five seats.

Five incumbents are running for reelection and six additional candidates will be on the ballot. All 11 candidates will be on both the Democratic and Republican tickets. A 1972 state law allows school board candidate to cross-file nomination petitions for multiple political parties.

The North Hills candidates:

• Traci Brown: A 1980 North Hills High School graduate, Brown is a small business owner, a Girl Scouts Leader, a judge of elections and a Gene Kelly Awards judge for the Pittsburgh CLO.

• April Casey: A 1998 North Hills High School graduate, Casey holds a degree in elementary education from Duquesne University and currently works as a preschool teacher.

• Samantha Ellwood: A 2003 North Hills High School graduate, Ellwood obtained a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Drexel University. She spent a term as treasurer of the Highfield Elementary School PTO.

• John C. Hoffman: A North Hills High School graduate, Hoffman is director of customer service for a medical services company and has served the Boy Scouts and his church in various leadership roles.

• Phil Little: A school director since 2020, Little is a former teacher who currently works as a community and government affairs liaison for the Pennsylvania Attorney General. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.

• Dana Merlino: A 2001 North Hills High School graduate, Merlino has experience as a business owner and is a former hiring manager. She has three children enrolled in district schools.

• Deanna Philpott: A school director since 2020, Philpott works as a school wellness consultant with the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

• Kathryn Poniatowski: A school director since 2020, Poniatowski works as a special education teacher at Upper St. Clair High School.

• Rachael Rennebeck: A school director since 2020, Rennebeck works in market research, copywriting and public relations. She is a partner of Ya Jagoff Media, LLC., a Pittsburgh-centric company encompassing all things related to the 412(and the 724).

• Helen Spade: A school director since 2015, Spade worked in North Hills’ Facilities Department for 40 years, served as an officer of the SEIU Union for many years, and continues to serve as a member of the Allegheny County Schools Health Insurance Consortium.

• Ashley Stephens: An Oil City High School graduate, Stephens holds a bachelor's degree in international affairs and a master's degree in public policy and management from the University of Pittsburgh. She is the managing director for a national telehealth firm.