2021 Candidate Profile: Marshall Bleefeld, Wissahickon School Board

Marshall Bleefeld - Wissahickon School Board Director

Age (as of Election Day)

49

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

I am proudly supported by my wife, Amy, and our two boys, Ben (23) and Max (18), who both attended the Wissahickon School District from kindergarten through high school graduation. My parents, sister, brother-in-law and nephew all live in the School District and know I am passionate about serving our community. Our cat, Maggie (13), does not seem to care that I am currently on the Board or running to retain my seat.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

I graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and from the University of Akron with a Juris Doctor.

Occupation

I am a civil litigation attorney concentrating my practice in the areas of personal injury, disability and breach of contract matters. For more than 23 years, I have tried cases to verdict in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It has been an honor to represent so many clients in need of legal representation throughout our area.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I am a Wissahickon School Board Director having been appointed in December, 2019.

Campaign website

www.team4wissahickon.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am an active community volunteer. Our family has benefitted from Wissahickon School District and because of everything the School District has given us, I believe in giving the same in return. In December, 2019, I was appointed to the Wissahickon School District Board of Directors. Since joining the School Board, I serve as chairperson of the policy committee and advocate for our students, families and staff relative to each issue we face ranging from district policy and racial equity to labor matters and navigating the global pandemic.

In addition to my commitment to the School District, I am a volunteer and was a long-serving Board Member of the Whitpain Recreation Association (WRA), supporting our community programs for youth sports. After serving as WRA President from 2014-2018, I helped organize and continue to serve as Commissioner for WRA’s Bambino Buddy Ball and TopSoccer programs for exceptional athletes with special needs. I also serve on the Whitpain Township Park & Open Space Board.

I have a passion for serving our community and believe my experience, training and background give me the tools necessary to lead our School District as we tackle issues faced by our students, administration and staff.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Shortly after joining the Board, we were all impacted by the Covid-19 global pandemic. In addition to the day-to-day issues school districts typically face, our focus became simple - returning our students to the classroom. We were able to provide multiple options for our students last year, both virtually and in-person, and we continue to ensure our students receive the education they come to expect from our highly rated school district. For the current school year, our students have returned to the classroom while we maintain safety standards in order to give our families piece of mind. The pandemic is not over and we continue to find ways to provide the best possible education and extra-curricular activities while ensuring our students participate as normally, and safely, as possible.

I also realize that everyone has been impacted differently by the changes in our daily lives. While some continued to thrive, others struggled. We have to ensure each of our students receives the support needed for both mental health and academic growth. As a Board member, I am keenly aware that success is measured not only by grades and test scores, but also by the ability of our students to adapt, grow and accomplish their goals while maintaining a healthy attitude and lifestyle away from the classroom. I believe we should remain committed to ensuring each student receives the resources needed to be successful at school and beyond. If we lift up everyone, especially those who need extra help and support, then we all succeed.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Experience. Having served on the School Board for the past two years, while navigating the global pandemic with my fellow Board members, I have relied upon my temperament and ability to tackle any issue faced by our District with a calm and reasonable resolve. After being thrown into the deep end shortly after joining the Board, I was able to learn quickly and understand not only the pressing issues at hand, but also ensuring we continue to operate the District to the standards our community expects. My unique set of skills, not only as a lawyer, but also as a committed parent and involved community volunteer, have provided me with the tools and ability to deal with issues faced by the Board, our District and families.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

N/A

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Not only am I committed to keeping our students and staff safely in school, but also I believe we have to ensure all students, regardless of who they are, get treated fairly and with respect. We must provide the tools necessary for our students to succeed knowing each and every one is unique and exceptional. As a District, we have not been perfect. Realizing our shortcomings will help as we navigate solutions to ensure our students know their worth and can confidently map a future for success.

We also have to do a better job listening to our families. As a Board, we are entrusted with ensuring our students receive the best services extending from the classroom and beyond. Whether it relates to transportation, classroom studies or extra curricular activities, our job is to make sure those services are provided seamlessly and when they are not, we have to provide solutions that work for as many of our community members as possible.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

First and foremost, my wife and I have done the best we can to help our children succeed. As a result, our boys put themselves on a path to success in their chosen fields of interest. As a Board member, I make decisions in the same way - as if I am doing it for the benefit of my own children and I believe our fellow district members see my passion for helping and seeing others succeed.

As an attorney, I have developed organizational skills, as well as, the ability to listen, research and communicate with others on all manner of topics. Within our School District, no week or Board meeting is ever the same. People are passionate about their children and when that passion manifests itself, I understand it comes from a perspective of love. We all do that for our children. That is why I do my best to remain even-keeled in order to make the best decisions possible for our community.

Having served on multiple Boards, including the Whitpain Recreation Association and the Whitpain Township Park & Open Space Board, I have not only interacted with so many members our our community, but also I have been closely involved with issues ranging from budgets and infrastructure to liability and conflict resolution. I have seen, and dealt with, so many of the issues we face as School Board Directors.

Finally, I am a current School Board Director. Nothing quite prepares you or provides the experience necessary as doing the job. For the past two years, I have expended so much time and effort not only learning about our School District and how it functions, but also how to prepare for each issue we face. It has not been easy, but having dealt with the pandemic, a global issue never seen or experienced previously in our District, I believe I have the skills, experience and trust of our District families, administration and my fellow Board Members to continue to succeed on behalf of everyone I represent.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Don't sweat the small stuff.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

No matter the issues or concerns facing our School District, I will always take the time to listen, research, review and use common sense to be a voice of reason in reaching any decision that serves the best interests of our students, families and staff. I consider it an honor to serve our community and despite hearing it is a thankless job, I am thankful for the opportunity to represent our community and our School District.