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My name is Scott Spera and I'm running for Wyoming School Board.
My wife and I have lived in Wyoming for 30 years, raising four children who attended Wyoming Schools from Kindergarten at Hilltop through 12th Grade at WHS.Our kids received a wonderful education, where they were challenged academically and set on paths of excellence in college. Their educators prepared them for the rigors of the classroom and also helped them develop socially and emotionally.I am running for School Board to ensure the next generation of learners has the opportunity to experience the same positive outcomes as our kids.I appreciate you taking the time to learn about me and my priorities for Wyoming City Schools. Please reach out if you have any questions or thoughts to share.

Question: Some parents have pointed to slipping academic performance of Wyoming schools. What improvements, if any, can BOE make to ensure we stay academically competitive?Answer: I agree we should be focused on the rankings of our schools, but it is especially important to understand which rankings are being discussed (US News & World Report, Niche, or Ohio Board of Education Report Card, among others). Often, each ranking uses different measures,which can result in very different pictures of success relative to peer schools. The Administration and BOE should review these results on a regular basis, investigate the contributors, and consider changes to address the high priority factors. In addition, I believe it is critical for parents to bring the details of their specific concerns to the Administration and BOE for their attention, which would support collaboration and cross-community problem-solving.
Recently, US News & World Report published positive WCS results from their latest high school rankings, which you can read to the link below.
As a BOE member (and a professional analyst), I will prioritize digging into the data to ensure we enhance the factors that raised our position and address any that have caused hurdles.

• Cincinnati Enquirer Story

Question: Student access to resources and opportunities within the schools is an important value in the Wyoming community. According to the recent WCS Citizens Advisory Committee report on Gifted Education, a common challenge for US schools is that there is a lack of proportional representation in Gifted Education for groups differing in racial, cultural, linguistic, and economic factors. If you were elected to the Wyoming Board of Education, what steps would you take to ensure all high achieving/gifted students are appropriately identified?Answer: I strongly believe equitable access to resources in WCS is a crucially important issue to address. I will urge the Administration to analyze identification data to uncover which stages in the process contribute most to this lack of representation, and to research approaches with fewer negative impacts. My graduate training in psychology, and projects I’ve led in my 30+ years in business often focus on evaluating tests to identify candidates for hiring and promotion. In these situations, the choice of tools must always balance their effectiveness with fair treatment. These priorities are clearly relevant when identifying students for gifted programs.I am committed to ensuring that resources for gifted education are not a limiting factor for our students. I will work to make sure there is always space in those classrooms for students who truly want to challenge themselves.

Amy and I relocated to Wyoming 30 years ago, and I have sought out ways to engage with neighbors and contribute to the positive development of our children ever since. I’ve coached youth soccer and t-ball, led Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, facilitated church youth groups for middle-school-age students, and shared my career journey with high school students. I’ve advocated with Wyoming City Schools (WCS) administrators for policy and practice changes to improve achievement of all students as a leader in Wyoming Community in Action. I believe devoting my time and skills in these various ways demonstrates my commitment to the Wyoming community, broadens my perspective to understand different parts of our neighborhood, and enables advocacy and policy work on the Board.

After my graduate work in Psychology, my career has led to Human Resource-adjacent roles in large companies as well as teaching at Xavier University and UC College of Business. My work focuses on analyzing data and processes to identify and remove barriers, enabling people to achieve more. I regularly collaborate with and advise teams and leaders to drive our organization ahead, while always prioritizing our values, evidence, and shared goals. This mindset will translate directly to my work on the Board of Education.My training, experiences, energy, fresh perspective, and a collaborative spirit will strengthen the Board of Education. As a member of the Board of Education, I will strive to represent the entire community, not a specific constituency, and to ensure our schools are responsive to the needs of all students and families.

Question: What are the biggest challenges to the school system remaining financially viable in the future? What steps should the BOE take to address those challenges?WCS has been very fortunate that the community has repeatedly supported building and operating levies so our children can continue to receive an outstanding education. Simultaneously, our administration has directed those funds in a responsible and transparent manner, returning exceptional results to the community.
Clearly, the elementary school building project is ambitious and will require the Board to be vigilant to the financial constraints while meeting future educational needs.
I plan to continue to learn about the intricacies of school finances, as there are many complexities in our current environment. Additionally, changes are being debated in the statehouse that may impact that funding source. The Board will need to be watchful about potential changes to the Fair School Funding Plan formula, expansion of private school voucher programs, and movements to reduce or eliminate state property taxes.
WCS is partially shielded from these issues because three-quarters of our budget comes from local sources. Dramatic changes in state funding levels will be a challenge for the Board and Administration.
In light of those concerns, I am dedicated to collaborating with the finance team, other Administration members and the broader Wyoming community to successfully address whatever changes confront us.

Question: Any thoughts on the school system’s plan regarding the new elementary schools including both schedule and costs? Is there anything about the planning and execution you would’ve done differently?Answer: The elementary schools’ building plan is a complicated and vitally important project for the future of WCS. I believe the team has done an outstanding job listening to community members, taking into account various perspectives, adjusting plans to reflect learnings about stakeholder priorities, and balancing fiscal realities. I will work to make sure the project continues on this positive path and that students are in their new classrooms as quickly as feasible.
It’s an example of an amazing community effort, with residents generously trusting WCS and choosing to pass a building levy, organizations like Friendship United Methodist Church opening their doors to students and teachers, and parents and teachers coping with disruptions to their daily routine.
I will encourage the Administration and the Board to continue the open and transparent updates, maintain the trust that has been placed in them, and support adherence to project timelines and fiscal guardrails.

Question: What would be your definition of Inclusive Education and what are your views on inclusive education and examining the intersection of race, disability, gender, and sexual orientation and school policies to determine the impact on student performance?Answer: For me, inclusive education is the mindset that all students belong in WCS, and the belief that the education system must adapt to meet their diverse needs, regardless of ability or background. It is a shift from forcing students to fit into the system to the system welcoming every child to fully participate in school life.Moving in this direction requires a clear vision and evidence-based review and reflection. I will prioritize:Encourage the Administration to invest in professional development, ensuring educators have skills to differentiate instruction across the spectrum of learners.Advocate a review of all curriculum and learning materials to ensure they reflect the diversity of our students and the wider world, affirming and respecting every student’s identity.Advocate for diverse hiring practices that accelerate an inclusive culture and boosts the achievement of all demographics.Leverage the flexible, accessible learning spaces in the new elementary buildings.

Question: How can Wyoming hold true to its values to promote DEI even if the Ohio Department of Education, the US Department of Education and lawmakers at many levels take strides to continue to make this more difficult? What would you do to support educators and administrators hoping to live up to those values?Answer: I believe WCS can hold true to its values by focusing on practical, legally defensible educational principles already rooted in our mission and strategic plan. I will encourage the Administration to continue to link inclusion practices to non-controversial goals like closing achievement gaps, improving school climate, addressing unfair disciplinary practices, and preparing students for a diverse global economy. In doing so, we will simultaneously live out these values while performing duties that state and federal laws already require of WCS.We should also continue to invest in professional development centered on how our varied students learn best, and leverage the School Board’s local control over curriculum and materials to reflect the needs and experiences of the whole of our student body. By adopting these approaches, WCS will continue to build a sense of belonging without running afoul of state restrictions on DEI programming.