Zoë Colón — Rose Tree Media School District

This installment of our series of interviews with school director candidates across Pennsylvania brings us to the Rose Tree Media School District.

Zoë Colón is running for school director in the Rose Tree Media School District, located in Delaware County. She is a registered Republican and a retail insights manager.

Why are you running for school board? 

I am running for school board because I want to serve my community and help to make it a place where taxpayers can trust that their tax dollars will be spent judiciously and effectively, and where parents are assured that their children will be equipped with an education that best prepares them to be successful in the workforce.

What are the most important issues facing your district?

Many voters are concerned with the lack of transparency and accountability from the current school board and school administration regarding how taxpayer funds are spent, particularly in regards to the multimillion-dollar bond that was intended to be used for a new elementary school but which disappeared and was left unaccounted for; the potential new K-1 center that the administration is proposing to launch full-day kindergarten; and the wasteful litigation costs spent when the school bought land that was not zoned for a school and lost the case to get it rezoned. The school district has not been transparent or open about costs, nor does it directly address community members’ concerns about the impact of the K-1 center on local traffic, the environment, or tax burden. 

What is your professional background/experience? What skills would you bring to the board?

I have lived in Delaware County for nearly thirteen years after graduating from high school in Central Pennsylvania and know the area well. I have five years of teaching experience at the undergraduate level, which I attained during my doctoral work at the University of Delaware. Currently, as an insights manager, I am an expert at combing through copious amounts of quantitative and qualitative data and making recommendations based on detailed analyses. I would apply this experience and skillset to my service as a school director.

Have you run for political office previously? Have you been politically active?

While I have volunteered for local and national campaigns, I have never run for office and don’t have any political aspirations. I’m running for school board not out of personal ambition, but to help make my community a better place.

Are you running with other candidates?

Yes, I’m running with United Voices For RTM, a bipartisan ticket of five like-minded individuals who prioritize transparency from the school to the voters and better accountability for school board decision-making.

What is the most important role of the school board in your opinion? 

To represent the concerns of the voters and advocate for them.

Please list any campaign websites and social media sites.

United Voices for RTM website

We contacted the Democratic and Republican committees in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, and Montgomery counties and asked them to share the questions with their school director candidates. Broad + Liberty will post the responses throughout the summer to assist voters in learning about the candidates running in their district. The series is open to any school director on the ballot in November. Please contact barosica@broadandliberty.com for more information.