My name is David Siedell and I am a candidate for election to the Haddonfield Board of Education. I would like to introduce myself and explain why I chose to put my name on the ballot.
I believe the state of education in Haddonfield is at a crossroads. We have 20th Century buildings and policies to support the rapidly changing foundation of 21st Century teaching and learning. State mandated student evaluations like NJASK and PARCC, new computer-based learning techniques and even college placement tests are moving toward on-line and web-based platforms. We need to ensure that our district is ready for this new digital education paradigm through focused allocation of our capital resources as well as a litmus test to guide our selection of new teachers, tenure grants and administrator evaluations.
Our schools consistently rank at the top of every academic and co-curricular metric while coming well below state averages of costs-per-pupil. Although we have strong faculty, students and capable administrators we fail to fully capitalize on these advantages with academic partnerships at all grade levels. The Drexel-HMHS advanced class credit partnership was a great start for our high school, but we need to do much more. These partnerships can create expanded opportunities for students and faculty, sources of alternative revenue through research and sponsorships as well as a source for needed equipment and capital improvements. Partnerships are an underutilized tool to keep our taxes in check while improving our district.
I have worked for the last decade at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Specifically I am in charge of the Learning Technologies Group, which is responsible for infusing technology into instruction through classroom flexibility, simulation, video and distance-based connected learning. I also oversee the designing and construction of "smart" classrooms, labs and study spaces on our Philadelphia and San Francisco campuses. Prior to my time at Wharton, I spent ten years in professional executive education as a computer-based simulation developer, facilitator and curriculum designer for Fortune 500 companies, the Federal Reserve System and corporate universities.
I have been a resident of Haddonfield for thirteen years. My wife Kate and I chose Haddonfield for its small-town charm, the high level of civic involvement engaged in by its residents and the strength of its schools. I have three children who will be in 5th, 3rd and kindergarten at Elizabeth Haddon this fall. I have been a Haddonfield Civic Association Governor since 2009 and have spent the last year as President of that organization. I have coached baseball and basketball for town teams, and for the last eight years I have been the moderator of HaddonfieldTalks. Since 2008 I have been involved in the Elizabeth Haddon PTA as its Webmaster.
Over the summer I will be calling or visiting homes throughout Haddonfield to better understand what the schools mean to you and your family. As a School Board candidate I am running to maintain the scholastic excellence that is the trademark of Haddonfield's schools. As an elected member of the school board I will represent all Haddonfield taxpayers and fight for the issues you care about as they affect the education of our students.
If you would like to contact me please call me at 856-671-1429 or email me at dsiedell@yahoo.com
November 5th is a long time off. Other than one-to-one talks, I promise to spare you campaign season until the next school year. As the song says, "See You In September."
David Siedell
Chews Landing Rd, Haddonfield
