Election 2023: Cathy Dress For Bensalem Township School Board

Candidates running in the May 16 primary election are providing background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch individually for each candidate.

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —Cathy Dress is running for the Bensalem Township School Board in the May 16 primary election.

Dress —and all the school board candidates —has cross-filed to run on the Republican and Democratic tickets.

Dress is one of 10 candidates vying for five, four-year school board terms along with school board members Eric Price, Marc Cohen, and Heather Nicholas, and challengers Rebecca Mirra, Stephanie Ferrandez, Bryan Hanratty, Karen Winters, Deborah King, and Jim Kane.

Biographical Information

Name: Cathy Dress

Age: 48

Town of residence: Bensalem

Position sought: School Director for Bensalem Township School District

Are you an incumbent? No

What Towns Does Your Position Cover? Bensalem Township

Party affiliation: Democratic and Republican, as School Director is a non-partisan office.

Family: Yes, spouse and two children

Education: BS Public Health: Environmental / Minor: Biology

Occupation: Environmental Scientist

What are the top issues currently facing your position and how do you plan to address them?

The Bensalem School District includes a diversity of students with regard to ethnicity, ability, economic class, etc... Each student is an important part of our community, and their education needs should be served well. The neighborhood schools have different educational experiences for their students. Each school needs equitable access to educational and extracurricular opportunities, while still maintaining its own individuality.

In addition, policies and programs need to be implemented responsibly and managed with oversight and accountability to ensure our tax dollars are being spent efficiently and effectively.

I graduated from Bensalem High School and my children attend Bensalem public schools. I want my children, and their classmates, to have the success that I did. Being a School Board Director will provide me the opportunity to continue to make Bensalem the enriching school district it has always been.

Identify specific goals or ideas you have to enhance life in your position:

Additional oversight, accountability, and review of implemented policy; increased transparency between the School Board, School District Administration, community, and staff. Further, I will encourage the consideration of a diversity committee and/or diversity coordinator.

What in your experience or background prepares you for election to office?

The School Board Director position requires time and dedication. I am vested in my children and the community of Bensalem. I am detail oriented and inquisitive, with extensive experience writing and reviewing technical policies and documents. I will thoughtfully examine the methods by which policies are addressed and implemented to ensure the correct path is selected. This is important to continue the success of our schools.