ASHLAND — Incumbents John Teevan, Pamela Mowry and Gina Deppert seek reelection against newcomer Noah Gangi for spots on the Ashland City Schools Board of Education.
The four are seeking four-year terms and voters will decide who will serve on the board on the Nov. 4 ballot.
The race is nonpartisan and board members are paid $125 per meeting.
Pamela Mowry
Incumbent Mowry serves as vice-president of the school board. She is a Troy High School graduate and a recent retiree as fiscal officer of the Ashland County Park District.
She was a former substitute in the libraries and offices of the Ashland City Schools.
“I am seeking a second term to continue the good work of this board, the continued successes and to address upcoming challenges. The quality of our schools matters to me,” Mowry said.
If reelected, Mowry plans to:
- Navigate the “financial climate for public education funding at all levels,” Mowry said
- Best serve students to reach their goals
- “Maintain a quality workforce in a time where retirements are reaching a historic proportion in every job across the organization,” Mowry said
- Maintain appropriate fiscal management
- Provide transparent and open communication with all school district stakeholders
“I have a record of getting things done, and a track record to back that up. As a parent of three sons that are Ashland grads, I have experience with the parental challenges and needs of our students’ parents also. I have been well engaged in our community and know the many facets of services and opportunities that can be accessed for our families,” Mowry said.
The 66-year-old believes her experience in organizational governance makes her the right fit for the job. Those experiences include formerly serving on the North Central State College Board of Trustees for nine years as an appointment by former Gov. John Kasich and serving as a board member for the Mental Health and Recovery Board.
“A board member needs to be accessible to everyone. This does not include a board member overseeing the day to day activities in the district, but rather supporting the staff and administration, holding them accountable when there are questions, doing my homework when needed. I am always available to parents. I want every child to succeed and every parent to be heard,” Mowry said.
Gina Deppert
Gina Deppert has served on Ohio district school boards for 23 years, including as a treasurer for Sandusky Schools, president of the Heartland Technical Education Center board and as a school board member of Ashland City Schools.
She is also a mom to six graduates of Ashland City Schools.
“I am also a mother of a special-needs adult son, and advocate as a voice for all special-needs families,” Deppert said, “I currently have family members that are in Ashland City Schools and I understand several issues families are experiencing.”
“I bring a rare blend of financial expertise, transparency, and community-centered leadership to the Ashland City Board of Education. I have served over 15,000 students in my career and continue serving [students] at Northmor Local Schools as an Ohio Public School Treasurer,” Deppert said.
The 56-year-old believes she is the right candidate for the position because of her commitment to students and staff, her value of listening to multiple perspectives to inform decisions and her ability to ask tough questions.
“My goal is to bring honesty, collaboration and a sense of purpose to everything I do on the board,” she said.
Noah Gangi
Gangi is seeking a spot on the school board for the first time. He is a provider relations manger at Hospice of the Western Reserve in Ashland.
If elected, Gangi wants to be an advocate for special-needs children and families. As a father of three children who attend Ashland City Schools, two of whom have special needs, the topic is personal to him.
“Many times families with special needs feel isolated or alone, but I believe that as parents, we all share a primary role to advocate and support our children regardless of needs and abilities,” Gangi said in a Facebook post announcing his candidacy.
He hopes to “build on excellent progress and momentum of current school leadership,” according to a campaign poster.
At the Chamber of Commerce luncheon where Ashland candidates could speak about their bids, the 46-year-old said he represents a younger generation of parents.
John Teevan
John Teevan is seeking a second term on the school board, where he currently serves as president.
“I have a passion for public education, it’s an amazing opportunity to influence and impact the district’s vision for the future. I’m honored to be at the right seat at the table to ensure public participation and representation,” Teevan said.
He has a bachelor’s of science in elementary education from Grace College, which he used in his 12-year career as an elementary school teacher.
If reelected, Teevan plans to:
- Implement mental health education and prevention because “social media isn’t just a distraction, it’s a distortion. The emotional toll of Instagram and Snapchat doesn’t just steal time, it reshapes how students see themselves through the filters, the likes, and the endless comparisons,” Teevan said.
- Advocate for preserving school finances and state funding
- Build morale with teachers and students by continuing to visit Ashland City Schools
“Leaders serve first, lead second, and focus on lifting others higher. The goal isn’t participation, it’s impact,” Teevan said.
Teevan believes his background as an educator, school administrator, school board member and father of two daughters make him the right fit for the position.
Teevan said his candidacy for school board member are built on the following beliefs:
- “Our rights come from God, not the government.”
- “Every deliberation, decision, and action should reflect the best interest of every student that we serve.Each child we serve is created in the Image of God.”
- “The greatest gift Ashland Schools can give parents is the confidence and courage to guide their children to do what God has uniquely wired them to do in life.”
- “The top priority is providing students with a high-quality education in a safe and effective learning environment.”
- “We must reject those who seek to categorize us and divide us by race, class, education or religion.”
- “Ashland City Schools need to teach accurate history, health, personal responsibility and the American way.”
For more information regarding the Nov. 4 election, visit the Ashland County Board of Elections’ website.