Outgoing Quaker Valley School Board members honored for their years of service

Pennsylvania School Boards Association officials recently honored two Quaker Valley school directors for their years of service.

Board vice president Marna Blackmer and board treasurer Jeffrey Watters were given certificates adding them to the PSBA Honor Roll of School Board Service on Oct. 30.

Blackmer has served on the board for eight years and the last three as vice president. Watters served Quaker Valley for 12 years. Both decided to not seek reelection.

Certificates were presented by PSBA member outreach manager Lena Hannah at Quaker Valley’s school board meeting.

“For almost 40 years, PSBA has been acknowledging the contributions of dedicated local school directors with long-term service,” she said. “The honor roll is the association’s way of thanking those individuals who exemplify leadership by giving unselfishly of their time and talents for the betterment of public schools serving students across the Commonwealth.”

Hannah talked about the impact school board members have on public education.

“Today’s school districts are expected to offer more services, along with world-class instructions with limited resources,” Hannah said. “These expectations provide a tremendous challenge for our school directors, unpaid volunteers who dedicate their time to the school communities they serve.”

Blackmer chairs the board’s policy committee. She is also a member of the health and safety/government affairs and facilities and operations committees.

“I will miss spending my Tuesday evenings with this incredible group of community members who volunteer to come together, put politics aside and work collaboratively with the district to provide students with an incredible education,” Blackmer said. “I appreciate that we have such thoughtful, supportive and dedicated teachers, administrators and staff. Having grown up in this district and having raised three children of my own here, I know just how special it is to live in and be a part of the Quaker Valley community.”

Watters is chairman of the finance committee. He also serves on the educational services and strategic planning committee.

“I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with a talented, dedicated and diverse team of QVSD administrators, faculty, staff and directors during my (time) on the board,” said Watters. “We have done our best to lead through a series of unprecedented challenges while remaining focused on serving the interests of current and future generations of this community’s children.

“I believe that the Quaker Valley School District is a powerful testament to the adage that ‘communities that invest in education prosper.”