Justin and his family moved to Plum in the summer of 2013. They chose Plum after researching the surrounding Pittsburgh areas and found that Plum was rated the 6th safest neighborhood in the state! Another selling point was the Plum was in the Top 100 schools in the state, out of close to 500 schools. A safe place to live and great educational opportunities for his kids secured Plum as the ideal place to purchase his first home. Justin is a proud Pitt alum, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Media Communications in 2003. Pitt is where he met his wife Shanna, married her on campus in 2005 and is also his employer, as he works in the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid as the Customer Service Manager. Justin has been on a sideline of either soccer at Larry Mills with Plum Area Youth Soccer or on a basketball court with the Plum Boro Basketball Association since 2013 for his sons Quentin(7th grade) and Kenyon(3rd grade). Justin is also a co-founder for Barbecue Chicken University, a free sports program for area youth. As a father of 2 boys,the focus on the physical and mental well being of children has always been very important to Justin, so the School Board is a logical next step. It will help to ensure his children and their peers are set up to succeed inside and outside the classroom. His ultimate goals are to ensure the school board is making the best decisions to ensure the best educational options are being provided to our students. That our teachers are equipped with the tools they need to thrive, all while keeping tax payer interests at the forefront.

Justin’s reason for running for School Board, is two-fold. “One, no one on the school board looks like me and that doesn’t sit well with me. I think the school board should be as diverse as our community. I want to be a voice for the voiceless. I want to show my children that if you fight for what you believe in, you can make a difference.” The second reason is I have a huge stake in the future of the educational choices with having 2 students in the school district for the next 10 years. These decisions matter to me. As someone who is employed in higher education at Pitt and sits on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, I understand the importance of education and the impact it has on higher education. I know the steps needed to prepare students for the next step in their educational journey. I also understand the importance of having a diverse group of voices at the table. and the amazing impact it can have.

“It’s NOT about the politics, it’s about OUR kids!”