A Seneca Valley school board candidate was recently appointed to fill a seat she was expected to step into in December.
Susan Harrison, 59, of Cranberry, was sworn in on Sept. 21 to represent Cranberry Township West III, Region 3.
A 26-year township resident, Harrison replaces Robert Hill Jr. who decided to retire earlier this year from his role on the board after 16 years of service.
Harrison, a Republican, was expected to fill the role in December after running unopposed in the primary and the upcoming November general election.
Harrison said she was contacted Friday before the meeting because board members wanted to see if she'd be interested in starting a little earlier to make it a more seamless transition. A feasibility study and demographic study were presented at the last board meeting, she said.
“They thought it would be good for me to be present for those presentations,” she said. “I said ‘I'll go and get my feet in right away.' It was really quick.”
Eric DiTullio, school board president, said they are appreciative of Harrison's willingness to take the seat early.
“Her private enterprise and public school employment brings a unique perspective to the board that we are fortunate to have. She is another fine example of good people willing to volunteer and serve the greater good in our district.”
Harrison currently serves as treasurer on the Cranberry Library Board and works as a math teacher in the New Brighton Area School District.
She has been teaching for 18 years, but worked in the business world prior to that as a computer programmer, systems analyst and project manager in banking. Feeling burned out, she left banking after her second child was 1-year old and began teaching college part time as a computers programming teacher at Clarion University's Venango County campus.
“I really enjoyed it,” she said.
She later transferred to Pittsburgh, leaving Cranberry behind in Venango County for Cranberry Township in Butler County. She was a math major in college and minored in computers and business science, but not education. She decided to return to college for a teaching certification and attended Robert Morris University, to complete three necessary courses. She did her student teaching at Seneca Valley High School. In less than a year, she had her full-time teaching position at New Brighton.
“I've kind of had two careers,” Harrison said.
Harrison said she decided to run for school board because she recognized there was a need.
“Nobody was running. I always said I wanted to give back whenever my kids were grown and I just think education is really important,” said Harrison, who has a son, 32, a daughter, 23, and six grandchildren. Her husband also has three children.
“I consider it a privilege to serve on the board and I hope I can be beneficial as an asset to the board.”
In addition to the administration and board members reaching out, Robert Hill Jr. also called Harrison at the beginning of this week to offer his assistance anytime she needs it, she said.
“They've been very welcoming. The whole board has, they've been great.”
Harrison said education is facing a lot of struggles, from test scores to social and financial issues. She feels that being a teacher gives her a different perspective and brings a fresh perspective to the board. Her highest priority will be “to keep Seneca as a top school district.”
“Cranberry is such a great place to live. I honestly believe that,” she said. “I want to maintain the school district to stay as high quality as it is now. That's a work in progress all the time. You can never sit back.”
Larissa Dudkiewicz is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media,
