Name: Holly Charest
Education: Bachelor of Arts Psychology, West Chester University, 1995; Master of Social Work, University of Michigan, currently attending, (@2023)
Family Life: I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I have been living in Valley Township since 2006. I have been married to my college sweetheart Ron for 23 years and we have three children. Our oldest, Donovan, is a proud 2019 graduate of Coatesville Area High School and is currently serving in the United States Navy. Our middle, Ethan, is a senior at Coatesville Area High School and our youngest, Amelia, is a 5th grader at Rainbow Elementary School. We also have a 6-year-old Vizsla/Rhodesian rescue dog named Abby.
Occupation and background: My background is mainly in education and behavior support. I worked for approximately 16 years as an early childhood educator, then as a behavior support professional to children and adolescents for approximately 4 years. I am currently doing community health outreach services for the CDC Foundation while I attend graduate school online. Upon completion of my master’s degree, I hope to serve as a Licensed Counseling Social Worker.
Why are you running for the Board of Education? If elected, what will be your priorities?
I am running for the Board of Education because I feel that having a parent representative on the board is essential for many reasons. Parents of children attending the district’s schools have a first-hand experience of the results from the board's decisions. They also are connected first-hand with other parents in the community via the schools their children attend. Therefore, the parents are more inclined and comfortable to speak to the parent representative regarding concerns they may have. Parents appreciate board members who have children in the district schools because it’s a shared and relatable experience.
If I am elected, my priorities are:
1.) Campaigning to fix the charter school equation - This issue has been plaguing our district for years and it is time for this to change. We need to implore our lawmakers that the current equation is way out of date and it’s time to make the funds going to charter schools fair so that no school district must go bankrupt from the costs.
2.) Addressing ideas to curtail the transportation issue - This is certainly something that is hurting our district as well as the charter school funding issue; however, this is affecting ALL students of the district (public, charter, private, etc.). As a working parent myself, I understand the importance of having safe, reliable transportation of students to and from school. With the current shortages of bus drivers, we need to investigate how other school districts are managing their driver shortages. I would like to consult with Krafps to consider solution ideas that have not been investigated.
3.) Protecting and supporting the rights of often marginalized students - I have spent the better part of my career working with a plethora of children. I would like to ensure that all our students feel safe and comfortable in our schools. I believe there should not only be mental health counselors but mentors who are assigned to schools and are regular, friendly faces for the students. The mentors can be not only used to help monitor hallways and, assist teachers with positive behavior management but can also intervene for a student in crisis or in need of support as a first step before being referred for mental health counseling.
In what ways have you served or currently serve our community?
I have served our community in a variety of ways. I was an early childhood educator for some of the local daycares and preschools. When I was working as a behavior support professional, I was assigned to different schools in Coatesville to work with not only my assigned student but to offer a friendly, kind face to other students as well. I volunteered with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania as a troop leader from 2016-2021. I was also active in the Coatesville Parents Music Club in 2018-2019. I worked the concession stand for the marching band and became affectionally known as the “Walking Taco Lady”. Finally, I helped with the Coatesville Boys Soccer Team Booster Club, along with my husband Ron, from 2016-2019.
Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the board of education?
The three issues I listed previously are what I am most passionate about. I am also a believer that our board and administration should rely on facts, data, and objective information when examining issues for decision-making.
What is the formula for a good educational experience for our youth?
A formula that is a good educational experience for our youth should be non-discriminatory, objective, and factual. There can be much debate about the purpose of using standardized tests (PSSAs, Keystones, etc.) as learning markers. I believe that while these kinds of assessment tests may have their use, they should not be the be-all and end-all how a teacher should teach to their students. Standardized tests like the two mentioned above, do not always incorporate a student’s life experiences, and can therefore be discriminatory towards learning ability, race, cultural background, socioeconomic status, and living situation. A multi-disciplinary approach is the best approach for a student to excel.
How will you engage the community to improve public schools in the district?
I believe it is important for our community to know the board members and for said members to have avenues of accessibility. In addition to email and mobile number, I will also maintain a CASD Board member page on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the people I represent. I welcome feedback from all in the CASD community, in addition to the people I would represent in Region 1. I will be certain to return any email or call within 48 hours of receiving it. I also will try to attend as many community events as I can while serving on the board.
What is your view of the role of charter schools in public education? What is your position on charter schools?
Charter schools offer a great opportunity to parents who feel that their child is better suited for them, and I support that decision. Charter schools can be a better fit for some children. What I do not support is the outdated formula in Pennsylvania that can take excessive funding from districts, like Coatesville, which then leads to decisions to increase property taxes. There must be a better solution for charter schools the receive accurate funding without raising property taxes in Coatesville. I want to be part of that solution.
How does a school board balance the need to provide quality education with the need to respond to the local taxpayer burden?
The keyword is balance. There is a way to find a balance so that both students benefit from quality education and that property owners don’t have to keep having tax increases. I don’t know the answer at this moment, but I would like the chance to work with other board members to find that solution. It can involve contacting other school districts in Pennsylvania or nationwide, if necessary, to find that golden ticket, but I would like to have the chance to find it.
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