Strengthen the Education of Our Children!

I grew up in Minnesota benefitting from a robust education in local public schools. After completing a Bachelor's degree in Engineering at Winona State University, I moved to Michiana in 1997 for a career opportunity. In 2001, I received a Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Notre Dame.  Following graduation, I worked in the local manufacturing industry as an engineer for many years. Earlier this year after many hours of study, I passed the professional engineer exam and obtained my Professional Engineer License. My current professional goals take me in the direction of expanding  in local residential property development.

​My wife Elisabeth and I met at church and were married in 2002 at Trinity Evangelical Free Church in South Bend. We currently attend New Life Church in Osceola. Elisabeth graduated from Bethel (College) University in Mishawaka in 2002 with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. She is a Labor & Delivery nurse and has cared for countless babies in our community!

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We have three children, Joey, a recent 2022 Penn High School graduate, Matthew, and Ellie. Our children have attended Elsie Rogers, Schmucker and Penn High School.  When Elisabeth and I became parents, we knew that our children's education would be a top priority.  We even moved from South Bend to PHM when Joey was in elementary school so that he could be in an environment more focused on core education.

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Service to community has always been important to me.  I enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard the day I turned 17 years old.  I went on to serve in the Army National Guard as a combat medic for 10 years and US Navy Reserves as an officer for 2 years. 

While in college at Winona State University in Minnesota I also trained and became certified as a firefighter, serving part-time and on call for the city fire department.

I remain engaged in my community often helping with community clean up days, taking part in volunteer task forces, participating with my children's schools, and involvement with local wildlife habitat restoration efforts.

I believe my past experiences in my family, career and community have prepared me to be an asset on the PHM Board of School Trustees.​

It is my high regard for Penn-Harris-Madison schools that has led me to pursue a position as a member of the Board of School Trustees. I am concerned at the direction the school district seems to be heading, a direction that leads away from Transparency, Integrity, Hard Work and Excellence.  

I see secretive decision making, lack of enforcement of rules and standards, politics in the classroom, and many students falling far short of their potential.  I see parents pushed to the wayside when it comes to key decisions regarding their own children.  I see the school accepting funding from sources outside of Indiana with "strings" attached leading to unpopular changes in education policy and curriculum.
I believe these actions are having a detrimental effect on the overall quality of education provided to our children. This is a betrayal of trust for both parents and members of the community who are funding the schools with their tax dollars. I am committed to ensuring our district gets back to the basics of quality education, fiscal responsibility, and transparency to the community. 

 I WILL WORK TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THESE GOALS AT PHM:

• ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT SCHOOLS
• PARENTAL RIGHTS
• RESPONSIBLE USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY
  • NO "STRINGS ATTACHED" OUTSIDE FUNDING
• EDUCATION FOCUS ON READING, MATH, SCIENCE & HISTORY 
  • PROVIDE A WELL-ROUNDED EDUCATION WITH A VARIETY OF ELECTIVES FOR EVERY STUDENT
  • EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION MEANS NO POLITICS OR CRT IN THE CLASSROOM