Election 2023: Rebecca Mirra For Bensalem Township School Board

Candidates running in the Nov. 7 general 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 —Rebecca Mirra is running for the Bensalem Township School Board in the Nov. 7 general election.

Mirra, a Democrat, 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 Karen Winters, Stephanie Ferrandez, Bryan Hanratty, Cathy Dress, Deborah King, and Jim Kane.

Biographical Information

Name: Rebecca Mirra

Age: 41

Town of residence: Bensalem

Position sought: School Board Director

Are you an incumbent? No

What Towns Does Your Position Cover? Bensalem and part of Trevose.

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family: Married with three sons: Two attend Valley Elementary School and one begins preschool at Christian Life Academy this fall.

Education: BA Binghamton University; JD Villanova University

Occupation: Attorney

1. What concerns or issues prompted you to run for School Board, and how do you propose to address them?

My priority is to make sure my children, and all children in Bensalem, receive the best possible education. To do this we must preserve our school district’s greatest resource: our amazing teachers and staff. Every single day, our teachers lack planning time because they are called into other classrooms to provide coverage.

I plan to address this problem by using funds that the School Board currently has to give our teachers the support they need to take care of our kids and avoid burnout. Additionally, our district lacks appropriate resources to meet the emotional and social needs of our kids. I support professional development and additional staff to better identify and meet the needs of students at all grade levels.

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

I support STEAM learning opportunities, challenging academics, and extracurricular activities for all students. Further, I will encourage the growth of our fantastic music program. These measures will not only ensure that our students have a well-rounded and enriching experience in Bensalem schools, but that they feel safe and connected to their school community which is key to good mental health.

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

I am an informed parent and spend a lot of time volunteering at my sons’ school. I can see firsthand things that are going well and instances where our school district is falling short. As a parent and attorney, I will use my abilities to assess current practices, research alternatives where necessary and suggest appropriate changes.

I’m willing to work collaboratively with the administration and other board members to get things done. I’m happy to donate my time and talents to the worthy cause of our children’s education, no matter which of the district’s schools they attend.