Andrea Rizzo Is Running For Great Valley SD Board Of Directors

Pennsylvania's Primary Election is May 18. Andrea Rizzo is running for school director on the Great Valley School District board for Region 1. She brings experience in education and budgets she says would add to the board.

She explained why she is running for election.

Andrea Rizzo

Age: 42

Position Sought: School Director, Great Valley School Board, Region 1

Party Affiliation: Cross-filed on the Republican and Democratic ballots

Family: Husband – Nick; Daughter – 7; Son – 4

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No

Education:
Post-doctoral Fellowship — Harvard Graduate School of Education
Ph.D., Applied Developmental Psychology — Fordham University
M.A., Applied Developmental Psychology — University of Maryland, Baltimore County
B.A., Psychology — Yale University
Birth-Kindergarten Teaching Credentials — Yale University
Pittston Area High School, Pittston, Pa.

Occupation: I've spent more than 20 years researching the impacts of educational decisions on student, teacher, and community outcomes. I have conducted research for universities, non-profit organizations like Raising a Reader, and for-profit institutions like Scholastic, exploring the impacts of curricula, professional development, parent engagement programs, and even summer book distribution, weighing the expenditures on those resources against tangible gains.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: None

Why are you seeking elective office?: As an education expert, a taxpayer, and the mother of two young children, I am uniquely suited to serve on the school board because I can take into account a wide range of community members’ interests and experiences. I'll use my professional expertise to drive serious conversations about effective spending and short- and long-term investments in Great Valley's public education.

The single most pressing issue facing our school district is: The single most pressing issue facing our district is how to economically and sustainably reintegrate all students into the school system after the COVID-related disruptions to the past two school years. Our district needs to be prepared for students, families, faculty, and the community to have new and different needs than in the past. Whether these needs are academic, mental health-related, or life resources (like addressing food instability), I will use my 20 years’ experience in education to balance taxation against expenditures so Great Valley continues to produce award-winning schools and students who are prepared for college, career, and beyond.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?:
Currently, no other candidate or member of the school board has a background in education. I have helped school districts make data-based decisions while weighing the impacts on achievement, social-emotional factors, and the larger community. I will draw on 20-plus years of professional experience, plus my personal experience as a Great Valley taxpayer and mother, to identify challenges our district faces and solutions to these challenges. I will also use my extensive experience with curricula, professional development, and other educational initiatives to guide the board and the superintendent on the most effective use of investments to maintain the high-quality education we expect from our schools.
There are two school director positions open this year in the Region 1 district and only one is being sought by an incumbent.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform: I am committed to reinvigorating Great Valley schools post-COVID-related disruptions by: Maintaining high-quality education in a changing environment (with the addition of virtual options), sustaining effective curricula and teacher professional development that produces conscientious citizens, supporting the mental health and health of our students and faculty, ensuring all students and families have a voice and are considered in decisions made by the board.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?: My professional successes make me uniquely suited to be a school board director and get to work right away. I've managed large multidisciplinary teams on multi-year educational research projects. I’ve used my expertise and tact to manage conflict and divergent opinions to reach a common goal. Additionally, I have handled complex school-related budgets. I understand the intricacies of school systems and the funding it takes to run them effectively. I also have amassed two decades worth of experience in understanding how various expenditures – like curricula or technology – truly impact learning and can use that information to drive crucial conversations about the most cost-effective way to allocate funding.

The best advice ever shared with me was: The best advice I've ever received was to remember I'm not made of glass. I won't break in tough situations. This means it's OK to stand up for what I believe in because even if I get knocked down, I can get back up again. I won't be broken.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?: I understand that the quality of Great Valley schools impacts far more than the students currently enrolled-- it impacts our community, our property values, and our values as a community committed to a wonderful place to live. I will use that understanding to consider parents of current, former, or upcoming students, as well as taxpayers without students in our schools when weighing decisions. I also understand where my perspective may be limited and will listen to fellow parents and community members when they share their needs and concerns regarding decisions made by the board especially when they differ from my experiences or needs.

Andrea Rizzo's campaign website can be viewed here.

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