Sarah Zeiders for School Board

10/19/2026

When: Elizabethtown Area school board meeting, Oct. 13. Board member Liza Bazarian was absent.

10/16/2026

Happy Homecoming, Bears! Let’s have a fun & safe night!
💙🤍🐻
Go Bears!

10/15/2026

Congratulations, Bears! 💙🤍

🏆💙 INTRODUCING YOUR 2026 SECTION 2 CHAMPS! 💙🏆

The Etown Bears are officially your 2026 L-L League Section 2 Champions! 🐻🏑

These girls have worked so hard for this. They’ve pushed through the tough games, celebrated the big wins, and kept showing up for each other. So proud of everything they’ve accomplished together, and even more excited for what’s ahead. 💙

A championship worth celebrating. A team worth believing in. And a whole lot more field hockey still to play. 🔥

THE POSTSEASON AWAITS.

SET THE STANDARD. 💙🐻

10/14/2026

I've been thinking about the leadership remarks shared following the October 13 Elizabethtown Area School Board workshop, particularly the comments about negative media coverage and its impact on our community.

Board President Kelly Carter stated:

"The continual negative press we are receiving—which often presents inaccurate information—is actively hurting our community."

She went on to question whether negative coverage attracts families, helps local businesses, or supports employee recruitment.

I think those are fair concerns to discuss. But I also think we're missing some important questions.

**What impact are the underlying incidents and district decisions having on our community's confidence in its schools?**

We've had an ai***ft gun incident at a football game in which two students were struck. We've had a confirmed measles case. We've had ongoing concerns about facilities, mold, curriculum, and school policies.

These issues weren't created by the news media or by community members discussing them.

That doesn't mean every headline is perfect, or that district leadership is responsible for every incident. Inaccuracies should absolutely be corrected.

But reporting on a problem isn't the same thing as causing the problem.

And asking questions about district decisions isn't the same thing as attacking our schools.

**I believe we can celebrate our students, support our teachers and staff, and still expect meaningful accountability from district leadership.** Those things aren't mutually exclusive.

I'm particularly concerned about the recently announced changes to athletic-event supervision following the October 2 football game incident. While requiring younger students to remain with an adult may improve supervision, I still want to understand how that change addresses the risk of prohibited weapons or replica fi****ms entering an event.

I've already sent those questions to the district and am awaiting a response.

I want our community to be known for excellent schools, safe students, supported educators, and responsible leadership.

And I believe we get there by addressing problems openly—not by focusing primarily on how those problems look in the headlines.

**Are we asking how to reduce negative coverage, or how to address the issues that generate it?**

I think our community deserves a thoughtful conversation about that.

If these issues concern you, I encourage you to read the district's October 13 leadership remarks, review the reporting, and reach out to the school board with your own questions.

Ask what steps are being taken to improve safety at athletic events, how the district evaluates whether those measures are effective, and how the board is providing oversight.

You can also attend board meetings, offer public comment, and request clear answers to concerns affecting our students and schools.

Whatever your perspective on the board, I hope we can agree that informed community participation and respectful questions are important parts of public accountability.

Source:
https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1792007298/etownschoolsorg/kartdf2jnnnvpigk6rjx/BearBrief-FullLeadershipRemarks-10132026.pdf

10/13/2026

I was unable to attend tonight’s meeting, as I was at a game, cheering for one of kids. Kristy Moore for School Board has all of the important details here.

Tonight's workshop meeting has been called to order. All board members are present except Mrs. Bazarian. Follow along!

09/09/2026

Congratulations!

Celebrating EAHS FFA Success!

At last night’s School Board meeting, EAHS FFA students were recognized for an impressive series of state competition accomplishments, highlighted by a State Championship in Floriculture!

Our students also earned Reserve Champion honors in Agricultural Marketing Plan, third place in Livestock Evaluation, and fourth place in Agronomy.

Congratulations to our students and FFA advisors on these outstanding achievements and for representing EAHS and EASD with distinction!

Read the full story:
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/bd7mdvna

This is the Elizabethtown Story.

08/26/2026

I was only able to attend a portion of the school board meeting tonight. Here are my public comments:

Good evening
First, I want to thank Mr. Strickler, Mrs. Carter, and Mrs. Bazarian for attending the marching band’s community preview a couple weeks ago. While the weather wasn’t what we hoped for & the show was moved indoors, I think we can all agree they put on an awesome performance.

For those of you who were not in attendance- you’re in luck. Tonight at 8:30, they will be performing a full preview under the stadium lights at the end of their rehearsal. You can simply walk on over after this meeting adjourns.

(UPDATE: Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Bazarian, Mrs. Yoder, and Mr. & Mrs. Lindemuth accepted the invitation.)

I believe showing up is important. Not just for our music ensembles or athletic teams, but for all students in the district.

I recently saw a district post reminding us that we need to keep students at the center of every decision and those words were echoed at the start of the meeting
“to stay focused on what matters most, build coherent systems, create meaningful learning experiences, strengthen teacher-student relationships, and work together so every student has what they need to learn, grow, and thrive”.

Those are good words. I’d hope every person in this room can get behind them.
But words only matter when our actions match them.
And over the past year or more, I think it’s fair to ask whether they have.

We have seen valuable learning opportunities removed. Field trips scaled back. The Full-Day Kindergarten pilot eliminated. Mental health screenings removed and, to my awareness, still not restored. The new proposed specials schedule for the Middle School - removing art & music from an entire school year… with the option for students to join lunch time learning opportunities instead ? We’re essentially modeling for middle schoolers how to have a working lunch.

We have fewer staff available to support students, and fewer administrators available to support educators as they navigate the day to day challenges in our schools.
We have watched student representatives be silenced and made to feel unwelcome at your table when their perspectives differed from the board.
And we have watched educators face increased scrutiny, rather than being trusted & supported as the professionals they are.
So when we say “students at the center,” I think we have to ask: Which students? And are we considering the whole student?
The student who needs academic support.
Those who needs mental health resources?
The student who learns outside the classroom or whose only time they feel engaged is in an art or music class? The student whose voice challenges us to think outside of our own perspective or experience?
Student-centered leadership doesn't mean every student gets what they want, but they do get what they need in the form of opportunities & support.
It means we listen. We consider the impact of our decisions. We trust the professionals closest to our students. And when something isn't working, we have the humility to change course and the ability to collaborate and compromise.

I believe in this district. I believe in our educators. I especially believe in our students. And I believe we can get back to a place where the words “student-centered” aren't just something we share on social media, but something our students, families, and educators can actually feel.

There is no shortage of people willing to work toward that.

So in the spirit of a new school year -

where can we work together, listen to one another, and make actions match words.
Thank you.

08/25/2026

Kristy Moore for School Board and I are in attendance at tonight’s board meeting. It’s an Action Item meeting, including our district’s policy regarding AI use as well as Policy 109/Library materials. The agenda was amended to discuss these policies prior to public comment.
You can get updates in real time on Kristy’s FB page (I will need to head out early to assist with Music Club duties).

08/16/2026

From running mates to running buddies!
Kristy Moore for School Board and I laced up for the Etown Common Sense 5K for K9’s - supporting our amazing facility dogs and their humans.
These dogs do so much more than make us smile. They provide comfort, connection, and support to students and staff. I’m aways happy to put in some miles for something I believe in:
Strong public schools and the students they serve!
💙🤍🐾

08/13/2026

This interview is really disappointing for several reasons. First, I’m still concerned about how one person can juggle such important, high stress roles at once - and for potentially 3 years? I hope he has plans to preserve his energy from burnout, because that is a very real concern. And how quickly that deck of cards can topple means negative impact on our valued educators & students

Second, the mention that any article has focused on policy & not students is not at all correct. There have been NUMEROUS articles about the impact of policy on students. There have been articles featuring our student walk-ins, which our board ignored for months. There was media attention during the conversations about the band buses. The fact our facilities are constantly in need of repair, sewage spilling into bathrooms (ruining field hockey players equipment at one point). Articles about our student reps, pronoun policies… it goes on.
Our policies directly impact our students.

One thing Mr. Strickler and I can agree on is we need to focus on supporting students first. Not using them as cogs in culture wars or to boost political agendas and push religious ideologies.

I hope we can find our way back to that.

Elizabethtown Area superintendent talks juggling two roles, plans to refocus on student success

Elizabethtown Area School District’s new superintendent, Tom Strickler, is taking a different approach to the role than his predecessors took.