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Tara Greathouse
Tara Greathouse was a candidate for at-large representative on the Appoquinimink School District school board in Delaware. She ran for the one open seat up for election on May 12, 2015, but was defeated.
Greathouse was asked why she was seeking election to the board by the Middletown Transcript. She responded:
| “ | I would consider serving the families and educators of the Appoquinimink School District as a board member an honor and privilege. If elected, I will provide positive input and direction needed during challenging as well as prospering economic times. My only agenda is to provide a safe and fun learning environment along with educational opportunities and programs that make sense for our children while managing costs responsibly and effectively. As a board member, my goal would be to encourage collaboration between teachers, parents, administrators and the district office which is essential to increase transparency and communication to all stakeholders in our district and state. I will uphold the values and principles needed to continue and improve the legacy of the most desirable school district in our state.[1] | ” |
| —Tara Greathouse (2015)[2] | ||
A first time candidate for the board, Greathouse faced the most competitive election in the past 16 years for the district. It was also the most competitive election among Delaware's largest school districts in 2015.
Biography
In 1999, Greathouse earned a degree in business administration from Delaware Technical Community College and a degree in finance from Wilmington University. From 2008 to 2013, she was worked in cash reconciliation for BlackRock Financial Management.[2]
She serves as a board member for MOT Little League and volunteers at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Easter Seals and the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware.[2]
Elections
2015
Opposition
One of the five seats on the Appoquinimink Board of Education was up for election on May 12, 2015. At-large incumbent Julie Johnson's seat was up for election. Newcomer candidate Michelle Myers Wall won the election.
While Johnson did not file to run for re-election, the following eight candidates filed to seek the open seat: Joanne Christian, Tara Greathouse, Michelle Myers Wall, Debbie Harrington, Dainelle Hampton-Morton, Mark Heck, Ryan Scott and William Weller.[3] However, Hampton-Morton and Heck withdrew from the race in time to have their names excluded from the ballot.
Results
| Appoquinimink School District, At-Large General Election, 5-year term, 2015 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  Michelle Myers Wall |
55.9% | 609 | |
| Nonpartisan | Debbie Harrington | 19.8% | 216 | |
| Nonpartisan | Joanne Christian | 10.7% | 117 | |
| Nonpartisan | Tara Greathouse | 8.9% | 97 | |
| Nonpartisan | William Weller | 2.4% | 26 | |
| Nonpartisan | Ryan Scott | 2.2% | 24 | |
| Total Votes | 1,089 | |||
| Source: Department of Elections for New Castle County, "Appoquinimink School District: May 12, 2015 School Board Election," accessed May 28, 2015 | ||||
Funding
Greathouse reported no contributions or expenditures to the Delaware Commissioner of Elections as of May 7, 2015.[4]
Endorsements
Greathouse received no official endorsements as of May 7, 2015.
Campaign themes
2015
Greathouse participated in a candidate question-and-answer from the Middletown Transcript. The questions and her responses are below:
| “ | Q Why are you running for the school board seat?
A I would consider serving the families and educators of the Appoquinimink School District as a board member an honor and privilege. If elected, I will provide positive input and direction needed during challenging as well as prospering economic times. My only agenda is to provide a safe and fun learning environment along with educational opportunities and programs that make sense for our children while managing costs responsibly and effectively. As a board member, my goal would be to encourage collaboration between teachers, parents, administrators and the district office which is essential to increase transparency and communication to all stakeholders in our district and state. I will uphold the values and principles needed to continue and improve the legacy of the most desirable school district in our state. Q What are the three most important issues that you think are affecting the district? A 1. Common Core curriculum standards including high stakes testing assessments eg. Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium were not driven, researched and written by experienced educators. The significant expense of the federal and state assessments do not benefit our children and removes critical funding needed inside the classroom. Q What would you do as a school board member to address those issues? A 1. Establish a diverse set of experienced teachers in our district to review the current curriculum standards and provide recommendations that will enable an improved educational pathway for our students. This will also involve working in collaboration with our board members as well as parent and guardian input and support. |
” |
| —Tara Greathouse (2015)[2] | ||
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Tara + Greathouse + Appoquinimink + School + District"
See also
- Appoquinimink School District, Delaware
- Appoquinimink School District elections (2015)
- Analysis of incumbency advantage in the 2014 school board elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Middletown Transcript, "Q&A with Appoquinimink Board of Education candidate Tara Greathouse," April 17, 2015
- ↑ New Castle County Department of Elections, "May 12, 2015 School Board Candidates & Filing Dates," March 6, 2015
- ↑ State of Delaware, "Campaign Finance Reporting System," accessed May 7, 2015
| 2015 Appoquinimink School District Elections | |
| New Castle County, Delaware | |
| Election date: | May 12, 2015 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Joanne Christian • Tara Greathouse • Michelle Myers Wall • Debbie Harrington • Ryan Scott • William Weller |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
