Council Rock School Board Primary Election: Kimberly Winnick, Region 7

Candidates running in contested races in the May 16 primary election have been invited to provide background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch individually for each candidate.

NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, PA — Kimberly Winnick is running on both the Republican and Democratic ballots as a cross-filed candidate and seeking nomination for an open four-year-seat on the Council Rock School Board in Region 7. She is facing Anne Horner, who also is running as a cross-filed candidate and seeking the nomination.

Biographical Information

Name: Kimberly Winnick

Age: 61

Town of residence: Northampton Township, Holland section

Position sought: School Board Director, Council Rock Region 7

Are you an incumbent? No

What Towns Does Your Position Cover? Northampton Township (Holland)

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family: Dan and I live in Holland with our three adult children. Twins Rose and Joe graduated from Council Rock in 2019 and Eli graduated from CR and MBIT in 2022. We also have a four year old rescue dog named Rumi Skye.

Education: I am a Council Rock graduate. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in business administration from LaSalle University. I also hold certificates in positive psychology and advanced yoga studies.

Occupation: Director of marketing for WXPN at the University of Pennsylvania

Questions

1. Why are you running?

My ties to this community run deep. I’ve lived in Northampton Township for 40+ years. I graduated from and raised my kids in Council Rock schools, I have nieces and nephews in the district, and I own properties here. I want our district to continue to be recognized for and focused on outstanding academics and student outcomes, and not fall victim to the extreme partisan policies, book bans, and history revisions happening across the nation. Our Board is at risk of these tactics that would harm children, threaten the stability of schools, erode trust, and devalue the community. As School Board Director I will prioritize student needs, respect for educators, and the integrity of our curriculum, while safeguarding value for taxpayers.

2. What are your top issues and how do you plan to address them?

The top issue for me is keeping our School Board focused on ensuring all our children get a world-class education that prepares them for future success. Empowering every student with the academic, problem-solving, and teamwork skills they need to reach their full potential is critical. For me this means prioritizing excellence in our curriculum, building an environment that promotes critical thinking and mutual respect, and showing that we value all our students.

Additionally, I feel we need to work on fostering trust among all the stakeholders in Council Rock. Trust is the foundation of effective communication, collaboration and problem-solving, and it’s essential for creating a positive learning environment for our students. I understand that trust can only be built through transparency, accountability, and mutual respect. As a Board member I will prioritize open communication that instills confidence between parents, voters, educators, and the School Board.

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

As the mother of three students with special needs, I spent nearly two decades as a parent advocate collaborating with educators and administrators in the district to provide the varying levels of support my kids needed. I know first hand the value of parent input in student outcomes. It’s important that policymakers listen to parents, students, and educators to develop solutions to challenges facing the district.

In addition to being a concerned parent and homeowner, I have developed a lifetime of skills in strategic planning, collaboration, financial management, and community building as a former small business owner and marketing executive for 35+ years. I am ready to put my experience to work to fight for excellent education and strong fiscal responsibility as the next School Board Director.