Welcome to the Wilson School District School Board
School Board Meetings
The Wilson School Board meets in public session on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Administration Building’s Board Room, unless otherwise noted.
All attendees will be required to sign in and individuals wishing to make a public comment can sign up when they arrive at the meeting. No public comment requests will be honored after the start of the meeting. To watch the meeting, you can access the link here. All meetings are also archived at this link.
2024-2025 Wilson School Board Meeting Schedule (updated 2/15/24)
All correspondence should be directed to:
Wilson School Board
Wilson School District
2601 Grandview Boulevard
West Lawn, PA 19609
School Board Members
Steph Kocher, President
kocste@wilsonsd.org
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Shippensburg University; Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Millersville University
# of years on school board: 6
Work experience: 8th grade Algebra teacher for Wilson from 2004 to 2014, Current substitute teacher in Berks County.
Volunteer/Community Involvement: Helping Harvest Food Bank, Literacy Council of Reading-Berks, Meals on Wheels and Friendly Visitor Programs for Berks Encore-Reading, Online Crisis Counselor for Youth/Teens, Youth sports coach, Trustee for The Reading Musical Foundation and Board member for Opus One: Berks Chamber Choir
Committees you serve on: Chair of Extracurricular Committee
Why do you choose to serve on the Wilson School Board? “I am a lifelong Bulldog. As an alum, former teacher/coach, and current parent, I have a variety of perspectives within the school system and felt that I could influence positive change in our school district. I value community service and public education and enjoy working with our school leaders to make Wilson a place where everyone loves to live, work, and learn.”
Jennifer Denny, Vice President
denjen@wilsonsd.org
Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dickinson College; Master of Social Work Degree from University of Pittsburgh; Juris Doctor Degree from Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
# of years on school board: first
Work experience: Worked in the field of social services as a relief foster parent and as a counselor for at-risk girls in residential placement. As an attorney, clerked for a DC Superior Court Judge, worked in the field of child abuse advocacy in a variety of positions from training child abuse professionals to coordinating a multi-disciplinary team and managing a non-profit agency, and served as a DC prosecutor.
Volunteer/Community Involvement: Volunteers at her church as a member of the Faithful Friends Consignment Sale Committee, a Sunday School Teacher, and a member of the Faith in Action Team. Previously, formed a team of volunteers that turned my idea to start a consignment sale ministry into the very successful Faithful Friends Consignment Sale and served as the Sale Coordinator for its first ten years. Served on her church’s Leadership Team and chaired its Personnel Team. She was a member of the team that established the West Lawn UMC Preschool program and served on its Board of Directors. She also volunteered with Hannah’s Hope, where she and her husband taught single moms financial literacy, and Mom’s Demand Action, where they partnered extensively with Safe Berks. Throughout her children’s time at Wilson, she has been a regular classroom volunteer and has helped with dozens of book fairs, Red and White Days, field trips, and sporting events.
Committees you serve on: Extra-curricular Committee, Facilities Committee
Why do you choose to serve on the Wilson School Board? “I sought a position on Wilson’s School Board because I believe I possess the background and skills to build on our District’s foundation of excellence and to make a positive impact on our school community.”
Sean McCrae, Treasurer
mccsea@wilsonsd.org
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from James Madison University; Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Tulane University
# of years on school board: 4
Work experience: Director of Penske Truck Leasing
Volunteer/Community Involvement: Previously served on various boards and councils at organizations ranging from Atonement Lutheran Church to James Madison University. Proud booster of our Wilson Cheer programs.
Committees you serve on: Finance Committee, Technology Committee
Why do you choose to serve on the Wilson School Board? “Each of my daughters has had amazing experiences in the Wilson School District in both their academic pursuits and their extracurricular activities. My focus on the School Board has been to work to ensure every other student in the district has that same type of outstanding experience and opportunity.”
Ed Case
casedw@wilsonsd.org
Brad Hart
harbra@wilsonsd.org
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown; Master of Education in Leadership from Lehigh University; Principal Cert & Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from Lehigh University
# of years on school board: 9
Work experience: Teacher at Willard Elementary, Long Beach, CA, from July 1997- August 1999. Teacher at Muhlenberg Elem. Center in Laureldale, PA, from August 1999- July 2002. Principal – Northwest Elementary in New Tripoli from July 2002- July 2007; Principal at Whitfield Elementary from July 2007 to June 2013.
Volunteer/Community Involvement: ST Lions President & Member, National Federation of Blind (NFB) Past President & Charter Member; Vision Resource Center Berks County Past Board Member & Community Education and Relations Coordinator; Producer & Host of Insight TV, BCTV; Reading Hospital NICU volunteer, Adjunct Professor from January 2007- June 2009.
Committees you serve on: Chair of Human Resources Committee
Why do you choose to serve on the Wilson School Board? “I have a strong desire to serve as a school board member and contribute towards ensuring that all students receive quality education in a safe learning environment. As I have retired early due to vision loss, I feel a sense of commitment to give back to the community by improving the district’s quality and systematic processes. My professional background in education and active involvement in the Wilson community equip me with a diverse understanding of various viewpoints, which enables me to make informed decisions for educational excellence in the Wilson School District. Having a special needs child and being an individual with a disability has made me an advocate for all students, especially those with disabilities. I am committed to working towards creating an inclusive and supportive educational environment for all students.”
Guadalupe Kasper
kasgua@wilsonsd.org
Education: Bachelor’s Degree from Shippensburg University; Master of Arts in Anthropology from Temple University
# of years on school board: 5
Work experience: Assistant Teaching Professor at Penn State Berks in the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Division since 2003. Lead administrator for the Penn State Berks Educational Partnership Program (PEPP) since 2005. Since 2022, serves as the Penn State Berks Liaison and Program Co-facilitator for part of the Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative at Penn State University. Since 2019, Adult ESL 2 Instructor for the Reading and Berks Literacy Council.
Volunteer/Community Involvement: Wilson parent volunteer, Youth Volunteer Corp of Reading participant, member of the Harwood Initiative of Reading and Berks in both the ESL and the After School Activities Teams.
Committees you serve on: Co-chair of Human Resources Committee, member representing Wilson on Joint Operating Committee for BCTC
Why do you choose to serve on the Wilson School Board? “My educational and professional acumen covers a wide array of service and leadership experiences. I am a staunch advocate for making quality education accessible and achievable for all populations and am always eager to work with local communities and institutions to make that possible. I ran for school board in hopes that I could provide a voice for all educators, particularly our classroom teachers, who I have always described as the black box of education as they possess all the knowledge about what goes on in the classroom yet oftentimes are rarely consulted for their expertise. My experience in working with the teachers at the Wilson School District has been positive and fruitful and I feel like our highly-invested teachers in the district should continue to be nurtured in what they do best. All educators deserve to be supported in carrying out their role and I would like to work to make sure our teachers have a voice in our children’s education. Additionally, partnerships, such as higher education and local industry partnerships, offer opportunities for schools to be fiscally responsible in that they often contribute resources at little or no cost to either partner. I would like to work toward enhancing and increasing our community partnerships. I truly believe that all students deserve to have the necessary tools and supports that they need in school. As a parent I have been noticing more and more that youth consistently need emotional and mental-wellness supports to accomplish their day-to-day tasks and activities. I would like to further explore how this plays out in and out of the school environment and find measures that could alleviate anxieties, pressures, and overall burnout among our youth and those who work with them. I believe that Wilson has all of the resources to provide our students with all they need to be successful in life. Most of all, I have witnessed the passion and investment that this community has for this district and would like to ensure that it delivers on being “the place where people love to learn, work, and live!”
Dr. Amy Kennedy
kenamy@wilsonsd.org
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Kutztown University; Master of Education in Reading, Writing, and Literacy from University of Pennsylvania; Doctor of Education Reading from Widener University
# of years on school board: 6
Work experience: Teacher at Whitfield Elementary August 1997- August 2010; Current Assistant Professor at Kutztown University
Volunteer/Community Involvement: BCIU Board Member; Van Reed Cheer Coach
Committees you serve on: Curriculum Committee, Student Services Committee, BCIU Board
Why do you choose to serve on the Wilson School Board? “I am a believer in and a proponent of public schools. I think strong public schools lead to strong communities, and Wilson is an example of that. Having taught in the district and having the opportunity through my position at Kutztown to observe at many different schools in many districts, I feel I have a great deal of experience and knowledge that I bring to the board. We have an outstanding, faculty, administration, staff, and of course, student body. I am so lucky to have been part of the positive change that has transformed our district over the past six years and look forward to being a part of the continued success of the district.”
Bernard McCree
mccber@wilsonsd.org
Robert Schneider
schrob@wilsonsd.org
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Penn State University; Master’s Degree in Education from Wilkes University
# of years on school board: 5
Work experience: High School Social Studies Teacher
Volunteer/Community Involvement: Cub/Boy Scout volunteer, youth soccer coach and youth/middle school water polo coach
Committees you serve on: Curriculum Committee, Technology Committee
Why do you choose to serve on the Wilson School Board? “I chose to serve on the board because, as a civics teacher, I am always telling my students that being an active participant in government is important. I went to Wilson, and my children go to Wilson, so I felt it was my duty to do my part to ensure that Wilson remains the premier district in the county.”
Laura Burkholder, Board Secretary, (non-voting)
burlau@wilsonsd.org
John Miravich Esq., Solicitor, (non-voting)
jmiravich@foxrothschild.com
OTHER APPOINTMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS
- Berks County Intermediate Unit Board (3-yr. term): Dr. Amy Kennedy
- Berks Career & Technology Center Joint Operating Committee (3-yr. term): Guadalupe Kasper
- Berks Earned Income Tax Bureau: Christine Schlosman, Chief Financial Officer
- Legislative/PA School Board Assn. Representative: Robert Schneider
- PA School Board Assn. Employee Relations Contact: Brad Hart
- Township of Spring Recreation Board (annual appointment – 2 members): William Herbine and Keith Stamm