Sarah Cook (Lampeter-Strasburg School District, At-large, Pennsylvania, candidate 2023)

Sarah Cook

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Democratic Party

Candidate, Lampeter-Strasburg School District, At-large

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 7, 2023

Education

Medical

Stanford University, 2004

Personal

Profession

Engineering consultant

Contact

Campaign website

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Sarah Cook (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Lampeter-Strasburg School District, At-large in Pennsylvania. She was a write-in candidate in the general election on November 7, 2023.^[source]

Cook completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Elections

Per our coverage scope, Ballotpedia does not provide election results for this particular race. Check your city or county government's election website for vote totals.

General election

General election for Lampeter-Strasburg School District, At-large (5 seats)

The following candidates ran in the general election for Lampeter-Strasburg School District, At-large on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Melissa Herr (R)
	Submit photo	Dean McComsey (R)
	Submit photo	Matthew Parido (R)
	Submit photo	Kristin Staley (R)
	Submit photo	Kari Steinbacher (R)
	Submit photo	Sarah Cook (D) (Write-in)
	Submit photo	Susan Douglas-Reed (D) (Write-in)
	Submit photo	Jerry Henige (D) (Write-in)
		Jen Porter (D) (Write-in)
	Submit photo	Nancy Schmeichel (D) (Write-in)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Lampeter-Strasburg School District, At-large (5 seats)

Melissa Herr, Dean McComsey, Matthew Parido, Kristin Staley, and Kari Steinbacher ran in the Republican primary for Lampeter-Strasburg School District, At-large on May 16, 2023.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Melissa Herr
	Submit photo	Dean McComsey
	Submit photo	Matthew Parido
	Submit photo	Kristin Staley
	Submit photo	Kari Steinbacher

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Cook received the following endorsements.

• Lancaster County, Penn., Democratic Party
• Everytown for Gun Safety

Pledges

Cook signed the following pledges.

• Everytown for Gun Safety

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Sarah Cook completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cook's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a mom of two children and a structural engineer. I'm the product of public K-12, received a B.S. from U.C. San Diego, and M.S. from Stanford University. I have extensive experience in design and construction of large-scale projects, as well as background in litigation and emergency safety. I recently finished 20 years of professional committee work for the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI), concluding with the Executive Committee of SEI's Technical Activities Division. Having participated in and been Chairperson of multiple large endeavors, I'm prepared for and familiar with the process that the L-S School board follows. My family moved to West Lampeter for the strong reputation of the school district. I was moved to run for School Director in response to advances to reduce access to education through defunding and censorship.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• L-S operates on a lean budget in terms of dollars per student, and excess fat in the budget doesn't exist. We as taxpayers deserve stability. With the $136M campus improvements occurring in the next few years, it's important that the client (school district) make smart long-term decisions, and reject added costs that aren't owner-driven. My experience in construction administration provides the district with the insights necessary to push back against unnecessary change order costs.
• Topics such as racism, depression, and sexual orientation are real and present in the world. Insisting that these concepts be stricken from the record doesn't help our youth to gain healthy perspectives around them. I believe in parent choice, but not in censoring these ideas for all. Teachers and staff must be trusted in their expertise to approach these concepts in an age-approproate manner as they come up. Books mentioning these concepts should not be pulled from shelves summarily. Any parent or student may challenge a specific book of concern.
• Some seek to enact new and unnecessary policies rooted in discomfort with differing perspectives. Identity politics should not be inflicted on teachers' and staff's ability to address the needs of each child in the district. The traditional topics historically covered in education should not be reduced or altered.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public school provides children the opportunity to experience diversity, and sets the example of working with and respecting others who may at first seem different from us. I’m the product of public schools, where I experienced a frictionless and welcoming environment for students of all backgrounds. I decided to run for School Director because I’ve witnessed politics absorb the intentions of school boards all around us, dividing communities instead of fostering community and educational values. Public school policies should work for all students and families, rather than serve as a tool in an unnecessary zero-sum game.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to my father, who raised my sister and me as a single parent. He's an aerospace engineer, avid reader, and hiker with a side talent for drawing and fiction writing. His approach to everything in life is thoughtful and deliberate.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'm analytical, organized, and empathetic. I enjoy problem-solving and am driven to find solutions that work for everyone involved. My history of committee work has demonstrated that I lead when needed, but rely just as much on the knowledge and experience of those around me to arrive at the best outcomes. I don't take people's voluntary time for granted and appreciate input as it comes.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

A school director collaborates the rest of the board and the district superintendent to guide the continued success and improvement of outcomes for students by establishing district priorities and vision. This needs to be done within an established budget.

Who are your constituents?

Children get first priority, with teachers and staff second. Taxpayers are the final constituents and must be kept in mind. They do not deserve fluctuations in tax burden.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

L-S has many actively engaged parents who wish to have advanced access to learning materials. I think that this can be accommodated a bit further without overburdening our teachers and staff. Listening carefully to the needs and challenges of families, teachers, and staff is a prerequisite for finding real solutions to district challenges. Recognizing weaknesses where they exist is crucial for true improvement.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Other survey responses

Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Cook completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.

• League of Women Voters

See also

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