Election 2023: Karen Winters 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 —Karen Winters is running for the Bensalem Township School Board in the May 16 primary election.

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

Winters 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, Cathy Dress, Deborah King, and Jim Kane.

Biographical Information

Name: Karen Winters

Age: 44

Town of residence: Bensalem

Position sought: School Board Director

Are you an incumbent? No

What Towns Does Your Position Cover? Bensalem

Party affiliation: The school board is a non-partisan office. Therefore, I am running in both Republican and Democratic primaries.

Family: Married with twin sons that are 13, who attend Shafer Middle School

Education: BS Elementary Education, Saint Joseph's University; MEd Elementary/Early Childhood Education, Rutgers University.

Occupation: Elementary Literacy Specialist, South Brunswick School District

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

Running for school board requires a deep understanding of the educational system and a willingness to collaborate with community members, parents, and other stakeholders to address the concerns and issues affecting schools. Here in Bensalem, certain subgroups are not achieving well on state assessments. It is important to determine why this is. My children have had an amazing educational experience thus far. I want to help make Bensalem a place where all our students can thrive. Additionally, we are facing difficulties with transportation. The district has worked on several solutions and I would like to help brainstorm some more solutions to help this area of need.

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

I wish to increase transparency and communication amongst the community. This is one of my goals in order for the community to be aware of the decision-making process. I would also like to make sure that resources are being appropriately used to ensure Bensalem schools can continue to provide a first-class education for our students.

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

There is no more powerful proponent of public education than I am. I attended public school K-12th grade. I have spent 23 years teaching in N.J. public schools. I have lived in Bensalem for 17 years. My children attend Bensalem Public Schools. My family moved last year, and we chose to stay in Bensalem because of the school system. I have an in-depth understanding of public schools from multiple perspectives…as a student, as a teacher, and as a parent. Public schools are the bedrock upon which our communities are built. Schools educate children and create the future of our society. Now that my own children are somewhat older, I wanted to give to the community where I live that which I have given to other school communities.