Election 2023: Democrat Tracey Osecki For Council Rock 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.

COUNCIL ROCK — Democrat Tracey Osecki is seeking election to the Council Rock School Board in Region 1. Two candidates - Democrat Tracey Osecki and Republican Natalya Khavulya - are vying for one open seat on the board in Region 1.

Biographical Information

Name: Tracey Osecki

Age: 37

Town of residence: Newtown

Position sought: Council Rock School Board Director, Region 1

Are you an incumbent? No

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family: My husband, Jordan and I live in Newtown Borough with our two young children. Our children attend Goodnoe Elementary School. My husband is a software engineer and reminds me daily of the importance of STEAM for our kids and in our schools.

Education: I attended Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, where I received an undergraduate business degree and a Master in Business Administration. I graduated with honors from both programs.

Occupation: I have worked in Private Equity analyzing the financial health of potential portfolio companies and managing employees and expenses of portfolio companies. I am an active community volunteer in Newtown Borough, serving as treasurer and co-Chair of the Newtown Borough Parks and Recreation Board, overseeing the maintenance of our playgrounds and organizing community events like Movies in the Park, Arbor Day, Music in the Park, the Halloween Parade and Caroling through the Borough.

Questions

Why are you running?

I am a homeowner, taxpayer, and mother to two young children in our school district. Like many, when we moved to this area, we were excited that our children would receive a Council Rock education – and we paid a premium for it. Our district has enjoyed a great reputation for many years, and our property values reflect that. We need to support our students and our educators so that our district continues to thrive. I want our district to be known for the opportunities we offer our students and for their many accomplishments. As school board director, I will be a rational voice for research-based best practices for policy-making and curriculum design. I support defined, measurable goals, compromise, respect, and transparency for our school board. I am running for school board because I want to make sure that all our students get the education that they deserve and are prepared for their future – whether that is college, trade school, the military or something else.

What do you see as the top issues facing the district and how do you plan to address them?

I am concerned for our students. My decisions will always prioritize our kids – their emotional well-being and their education. Every child should feel safe at school and should have the opportunity to pursue their academic and personal passions, like sports and the arts. A Council Rock education should prepare our children to compete in any career or academic institution they choose. The pandemic has left our students with learning gaps and our district with staffing shortages. We need to work together to solve these problems, not finger-point. Parents should be respected, teachers should be valued, and tax money should be spent thoughtfully and strategically. We need to model respect for each other so our children learn collaboration and problem-solving for the real world.

What policies would you change, revise, delete or retain and why?

My first concern is for the safety and well-being of students. To that end, I believe we need to revisit our bullying policies and how they are implemented at our schools. All students deserve to go to a school where they feel safe – and are safe. We need to review our plans and policies for all our students and make sure that we are supporting our special needs students, our gifted students, our struggling students, and our excelling students with up-to-date policies reflecting the most up-to-date teaching practices. No one should be left out.

If elected, what would you fight to change or keep the same?

The district’s communication policies need fresh eyes both from the perspective of a parent and a taxpayer. We need better communication with parents both about regular curriculum and issues that can arise within any district. Most people I meet have no idea what is going on in the district – people are busy and it’s cumbersome for them to stay informed. We need to simplify our communication. I'm concerned about the chaos that has engulfed neighboring districts since they elected people who put their personal political concerns about the well-being of our students. I will fight against book bans and other culture war policies that have no place in our schools.