Falls Resident to Run for School Board

Cuyahoga Falls resident Mike Penta on Monday announced plans to run for a seat on the Cuyahoga Falls Board of Education. Two seats will be up for election on Nov. 8.

The seats are held by Therese Dunphy and Dave Rump.

“I see this as an opportunity to invest my skills, knowledge and resources for the betterment of each student, parent and our community as a whole,” Penta said in a press release Monday.

Penta is an applied sociologist at the University of Akron and includes educational background in family and child development, parent and family education, psychology, consumer science, conflict management and finance.

“I have a unique academic background that brings with me an understanding of social systems and organizations. I can address a number of issues that confront our district because I understand group dynamics and human behavior,” Penta said.

Penta and his wife, Meika, have three children enrolled in the school district.

In addition to a traditional door-to-door campaign, Penta plans to post updates on Facebook and Twitter.

“Facebook reports almost 15,000 adults in Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake use the popular social media site,” Penta said. “I can pass along updates and information to the community, while at the same time answering questions and receiving instant feedback.”

Penta is a member of the school district’s Planning for 21st Century Steering Committee. Outside the school district, Penta serves on the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) committee for Summit County. The JDAI seeks alternatives to detention for nonviolent juvenile offenders to streamline the juvenile justice system and save taxpayers money.

Return to Cuyahoga Falls Patch on Tuesday for a Q & A with school board candidate Mike Penta.