8 of 9 School Board members won their seats on the Democratic ticket.
csciarrino@pennridge.org
Committees: Student Services (Chair), Policy, Finance, Personnel
Carolyn believes in traditional values and, together with her husband, teaches her four children to respect family, faith, and community. For the last decade, she has called Pennridge home and works tirelessly to strengthen her community through volunteerism in her children’s schools, local charities like Pennridge FISH, and her church.
Professionally, Carolyn is a fierce advocate for children with 15 years of experience as a social services advocate. She has worked in foster care, with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and in school programs. Carolyn believes educators and parents should be empowered to prepare children for the future through a strong school district and well-rounded education.
lrash@pennridge.org
Committees: Curriculum, Policy, Personnel, PACC, Vo-Tech
Leah Foster Rash is a Pennridge graduate, proud Pennridge mom, and a firm believer in the small-town, close-knit community of Pennridge. She was elected to the School Board in 2023 and became Vice President in 2025. She is committed to driving consensus on the board.
Since graduating high school, Leah made the decision to raise her family in Pennridge. She has earned advanced degrees in Mathematics and Applied Statistics. Leah uses these skills in making important decisions about how to allocate Pennridge tax dollars. Professionally, she serves as a Statistical Analyst in the pharmaceutical industry, ensuring clinical outcomes are accurately and properly represented by valid data sources.
ckaufman@pennridge.org
Committees: Facilities (Chair), Vo-Tech (Chair)
Chris is a proud Pennridge parent, a decade-plus resident of the district, the husband of an educator, and has served on the school board since 2023. As a union electrician, Chris knows how important embracing and promoting the trades are to the future of our community and country.
As a tradesman, Chris understands and appreciates the importance of making wise decisions with district tax money, especially with aging infrastructure and buildings across Pennridge. He has previously served as an advisor at the Tech School and brings a valuable skillset to the school board. Chris resides in Perkasie Borough with his wife and two children and dedicates his time on the board to bringing back a focus on children using a common-sense, consensus-driven approach to decision making.
bmerklgump@pennridge.org
Committees: Curriculum (Chair), Student Services, Policy
Bradley is a parent, teacher, and proud Pennridge graduate. Growing up in Pennridge, he remembers going to the polls with his parents every election. In those days, it was commonplace to vote for candidates regardless of their party affiliation.
Today, Bradley, his wife Ainsley, and their two children continue to call Pennridge home. As a middle school social studies educator, Bradley knows the importance of a strong civics-based education. He has seen firsthand the challenges that children, parents, teachers, and communities face when a school board lacks leadership and transparency. He is committed to working together as one community to build a better Pennridge for everyone.
rwurz@pennridge.org
Committees: Finance (Chair), Student Services, Facilities, IU
Ron’s professional experiences have prepared him well for serving on the board. He owns his own business and has served as President of a company with over 400 employees. Ron brings strong financial skills and leadership experience to the board and has also served on the boards of numerous nonprofit and for-profit companies.
Although Ron switched parties in 2023, he has always been in the middle and believes the previous direction of the school board was seriously flawed. He believes the school board should ignore outside political agendas and do what is best for students and the community. Ron is committed to being a strong voice of reason, logic, and understanding on the board.
ttrauger@pennridge.org
Committees: Personnel (Chair), Student Services, Finance
Tom has been a proud resident of the Pennridge School District since 2004 and is the parent of three children who attend Pennridge schools. With a degree in Finance and a professional background as a consultant in the skilled nursing industry, he brings strong problem-solving, leadership, and strategic planning skills to the district. His experience in a highly regulated field has taught him how to navigate complex challenges while keeping the focus on people and outcomes.
Tom’s top priority is improving education and strengthening academic excellence in Pennridge. He believes every student deserves access to engaging instruction, strong support systems, and opportunities to reach their full potential. He is committed to working collaboratively with teachers, families, and administrators to promote innovative learning, support educators, and create an environment where students thrive.
nleffever@pennridge.org
Committees: Curriculum, Facilities, Personnel, Vo-Tech
Nathaniel comes from a family business in education. Not only does he come from a family of teachers, but his family also founded and owns a well-known preschool in Doylestown. He worked there his entire life, doing everything from mucking horse stalls after school for the equestrian program to teaching the enriched Kindergarten class over a decade later.
Nathaniel is also a Pennridge graduate and now a parent. His daughter started first grade this year at Bedminster Elementary, and he could not be more excited for her to grow in this district where, as the fence outside her school says, “everyone counts, cares, creates, and collaborates.”
ctaylor@pennridge.org
Committees: Policy (Chair), Curriculum, Student Services
Carly’s career and life experiences have molded her into a community-focused individual with a strong drive to serve. She is a former laboratory manager who primarily focused on process improvement, training, and compliance. There, she learned to balance business needs with employee needs while working within a budget.
Carly has lived in Bucks County for most of her life and now has a daughter in Kindergarten at Grasse Elementary, who reminds her why quality public education for all is so important. She has built a career as a horse trainer and vet assistant for an equine dentist in Bucks County, where she interacts with the community daily and loves being part of identifying creative solutions that positively impact lives.
Lauren Geitz is a Telford native and community advocate raised in a multigenerational small-business family. With over a decade of experience fighting for local families and businesses, Lauren has led successful bipartisan efforts to stop multiple trash transfer stations, a mega-warehouse, and high-density housing development on Bethlehem Pike. She believes in choosing people over politics because “potholes don’t care about party.”
Inspired by her parents’ efforts to unite the community against harmful zoning changes, Lauren felt the call to public service and completed over 1,200 hours of service while earning her accelerated B.A. in approximately three years from Widener University with distinguished honors. She currently resides in Telford with her husband and three rescue cats.
John A. Taylor is a dedicated public servant with over 18 years of deep-rooted commitment to Telford. A current and longtime Borough Councilmember, John brings 8 years of experience on Council and over a decade of leadership with Telford Happenings.
He is widely recognized as the most active member of Council, consistently putting community first. John proudly led the effort to name Telford Veterans Memorial Park and launched the Hometown Heroes Banner Program to honor local service members. With a proven, bipartisan approach and a passion for inclusive progress, John is focused on building a better Telford for all. He serves as Chair of the Development & Culture Committee and is co-founder of Telford Happenings, Inc.
Meredith Torres lives in Telford with her husband, two daughters, and three rescue cats. She holds a BA in French and International Affairs from George Washington University and has 18+ years of experience in international medical and security assistance.
Meredith has lived in France and Canada and assisted with Haiti earthquake evacuations from the Dominican Republic. She and her family are active members of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church.
Katherine Farina lives in Telford with her husband and their menagerie of pets, including dogs, cats, and lizards. A graduate of Cheltenham High School, she earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice in 2018.