School Based Decision Making Council (SBDM)
What is SDBM?
School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Councils create school policies and make a wide range of decisions, from selecting textbooks to hiring new administrators and teachers. Beechwood has two councils (one for elementary and one for high school). Each council includes teacher representatives, parent representatives, and an administrator.
Open Positions:
Voting:
School-Based Decision Making (SBDM) Councils create school policies and make a wide range of decisions, from selecting textbooks to hiring new administrators and teachers. Beechwood has two councils (one for elementary and one for high school). Each council includes teacher representatives, parent representatives, and an administrator.
Open Positions:
- High School representative (1 year term) - 2 open positions for the 2023 - 2024 school year
Voting:
- Voting will be done in person on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in the elementary lobby for both the elementary and high school elections. Voting will be open from 7:30-8:30am and 5-7pm.
- You must show your driver's license when checking in to vote.
- All elementary families can vote in the elementary election if they will have a student in the elementary school next school year. All high school families can vote in the high school election if they will have a student in the high school next school year.
- Each person may only vote one time. If you will have children in the elementary and high school next school year, you can vote once in the elementary election and once in the high school election.
- To vote in this election, you must be the parent, step-parent, or legal guardian of a child who will attend Beechwood for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.
SBDM High School Nominees
For this upcoming election, there are five high school nominees competing for TWO open positions for the 2023 - 2024 school year. The high school representative will serve a one year term, Please read below from the nominees themselves. Remember to vote on Thursday, 5/11!
For this upcoming election, there are five high school nominees competing for TWO open positions for the 2023 - 2024 school year. The high school representative will serve a one year term, Please read below from the nominees themselves. Remember to vote on Thursday, 5/11!
Jessica Given
Greetings fellow Beechwood families.. My name is Jessica Given, and I am running for High School SBDM. My child, Ruby, will be a Freshman next school year, and has been a student at Beechwood since 1st Grade. I have always been the kind of parent who likes to stay informed and to be involved. As our children grow older, the possibilities to volunteer decrease. I feel that the SBDM would be an excellent opportunity to serve my community, our children, as well as remain up to date on the inner workings of our school.
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I believe that good communication and transparency are key to success in any partnership. With your vote, I can be a valuable advocate, and make informed and thoughtful decisions that keep Beechwood competitive AND excellent. Thank you for your time and consideration.
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Sincerely,
Jessica Given
Greetings fellow Beechwood families.. My name is Jessica Given, and I am running for High School SBDM. My child, Ruby, will be a Freshman next school year, and has been a student at Beechwood since 1st Grade. I have always been the kind of parent who likes to stay informed and to be involved. As our children grow older, the possibilities to volunteer decrease. I feel that the SBDM would be an excellent opportunity to serve my community, our children, as well as remain up to date on the inner workings of our school.
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I believe that good communication and transparency are key to success in any partnership. With your vote, I can be a valuable advocate, and make informed and thoughtful decisions that keep Beechwood competitive AND excellent. Thank you for your time and consideration.
.
Sincerely,
Jessica Given
Beth Pabst
Greetings! My name is Beth Pabst and I am running as parent representative for the high school SBDM.
I was born and raised in Northern Kentucky and for as long as I can remember Beechwood has been one of, if not the top schools in the area. Seven years ago, when my husband and I were looking to move, we settled on Fort Mitchell for the Beechwood school system. We loved the small-town, close-knit feel coupled with the vast amount of big opportunities afforded to the students that chose to stay focused and push themselves academically and athletically. We planted our Beechwood flag and have not looked back. Our kids Emma (11th), Nathan (8th) and Addy (7th) love it as much as we do. They are heavily involved in activities and continue to grow because of them.
I think I have a very unique perspective as I’m not just a parent of three active kids at Beechwood, I have been a teacher for the past 22 years in the public-school system. I have my bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education from Morehead State University, a Master’s degree in Arts of Education and I will be working on my Rank I started in the fall. During my time as an educator, I have worked on many committees that directly affect the school such as School Climate, School Wide Discipline, budget, hiring committees, organizing of school events, school schedules, curriculum and textbooks, etc..
My work schedule has not allowed me to be present in my own children’s schooling for years and I feel like it is time for me to give back to my most important students.
Please consider voting for me on May 11th! I would love the opportunity to work with teachers, administrators, students and parents on making the best decisions for our school.
Greetings! My name is Beth Pabst and I am running as parent representative for the high school SBDM.
I was born and raised in Northern Kentucky and for as long as I can remember Beechwood has been one of, if not the top schools in the area. Seven years ago, when my husband and I were looking to move, we settled on Fort Mitchell for the Beechwood school system. We loved the small-town, close-knit feel coupled with the vast amount of big opportunities afforded to the students that chose to stay focused and push themselves academically and athletically. We planted our Beechwood flag and have not looked back. Our kids Emma (11th), Nathan (8th) and Addy (7th) love it as much as we do. They are heavily involved in activities and continue to grow because of them.
I think I have a very unique perspective as I’m not just a parent of three active kids at Beechwood, I have been a teacher for the past 22 years in the public-school system. I have my bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education from Morehead State University, a Master’s degree in Arts of Education and I will be working on my Rank I started in the fall. During my time as an educator, I have worked on many committees that directly affect the school such as School Climate, School Wide Discipline, budget, hiring committees, organizing of school events, school schedules, curriculum and textbooks, etc..
My work schedule has not allowed me to be present in my own children’s schooling for years and I feel like it is time for me to give back to my most important students.
Please consider voting for me on May 11th! I would love the opportunity to work with teachers, administrators, students and parents on making the best decisions for our school.
Stephanie Phelps
My name is Stephanie Phelps and I am a nominee for Beechwood High School' School Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council for the 2023 2024 school year. I have been married to my husband, Jamie, for 23 years and currently have a rising 12th grade student at Beechwood High School and a rising 4th grade student at Beechwood Elementary. A nearly 10-year age gap in children is not for the faint of heart... I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduated from the University of Cincinnati and moved to Northern Kentucky almost 20 years ago. In my professional career, I have spent the last 19 years in Human Resources and currently serve as the Vice President of Human Resources for the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Community Action Agency, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide opportunities, support and resources to help lift people out of poverty. Throughout my career, I have served in various roles to develop leaders and organizational cultures to be more transparent, communicative and collaborative and believe these experiences and skills will translate and serve me well in this role.
Our journey to Beechwood reminds me of an "oops" in a Bob Ross painting...a happy little accident. When our oldest daughter began to express serious interest in Fine Arts, we agreed to tour a few schools and Beechwood quickly rose to the top of the list. If it was not for our daughter and her desire to succeed not only in the classroom, but in the world of performing arts, we would never have found the community that is Beechwood. For our family. it truly is a "happy little accident." Before moving to Ft. Mitchell, we spent one year as a tuition family, and now four years later, I still refer to Ft. Mitchell as one of the last remaining small towns. It just feels good to be here! We were welcomed into this community with open arms from the start. Even before the start. We had people looking for houses for us even before we decided to officially move. That is how it happens though, isn't it? Someone knows someone who is selling a house who tells your Uncle George whose mechanic told him because he previously attended Beechwood. Everyone knows everyone and everyone wants to help everyone. Such a welcoming and kind community to live in, only made so special and unique by all those who live in it. We feel so blessed to be here and there is nowhere else we'd rather be!
Since my daughters arrived at Beechwood, they have been involved in so many things: from volleyball, basketball and softball to musical theatre, choir and marching band. Oh marching band, looking at you Austin Bralley! My FIRST year at Beechwood, I co-chaired the Festival of Bands with my husband...oh, and the COVID pandemic hit as well. Despite its challenges, the festival was a great success and one of the only marching band exhibitions in Kentucky that year. Throughout my three years as co-chair, I have had tremendous opportunities to not only lead and serve a phenomenal group of parent volunteers, welcome bands from across the state, but to collaborate cross functionally with other dedicated Beechwood leaders within the Athletics Boosters, Facilities and Administration. The success of the festival could not have been achieved without the support, guidance and collaboration with these amazing groups! I have also served in support of various other school activities, including as a parent volunteer with Musical Theatre, PTSA member, classroom support and chaperone.
I strongly value collaboration and service to others. I am a champion and advocate for equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging and prioritize kindness and respect for others as a non-negotiable in raising my children. Most importantly, I am a champion and advocate for diversity of ideas and opinions, regardless of my own personal views, while remaining aware of my own implicit bias. I am not a staunch supporter of the right. Nor am I a staunch supporter of the left. I am supporter of the middle, because that is where our community of children live every day. They all have different backgrounds, experiences, traditions, trajectories and they live every single school day in the middle. Each and every one of them, with their own unique strengths, opportunities, values and differences is what makes Beechwood such a special school. "Being different is no longer a weakness. It is a strength. As we become aware of other cultures, we realize that accepting the differences of others does not require a personal loss. We can be different and stronger because of it." (Deborah Green Zackary) If I have learned anything having two children almost 10 years apart, there is no one size fits all and one size fits most isn't good enough. Our teachers, day in and day out, meet our children in the middle and help to provide support that often times surpass the boundaries of their classroom walls. In order to effectively and best support our educators, I strongly believe we must be able to meet in the middle as parents as well. I am a proponent of diverse opinions and disagreements without damage - we can disagree and keep our relationships in tact; we can value and embrace our differences, our ideas and opinions - it is what makes us unique, it is what stirs innovation, it is what inspires.
I commit to all of you, to support the entire community of Beechwood High School, by serving as an approachable voice and resource who prioritizes collaboration, transparency and communication in advocating for and celebrating all that makes Beechwood such an inspiring place to be!
My name is Stephanie Phelps and I am a nominee for Beechwood High School' School Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council for the 2023 2024 school year. I have been married to my husband, Jamie, for 23 years and currently have a rising 12th grade student at Beechwood High School and a rising 4th grade student at Beechwood Elementary. A nearly 10-year age gap in children is not for the faint of heart... I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduated from the University of Cincinnati and moved to Northern Kentucky almost 20 years ago. In my professional career, I have spent the last 19 years in Human Resources and currently serve as the Vice President of Human Resources for the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Community Action Agency, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide opportunities, support and resources to help lift people out of poverty. Throughout my career, I have served in various roles to develop leaders and organizational cultures to be more transparent, communicative and collaborative and believe these experiences and skills will translate and serve me well in this role.
Our journey to Beechwood reminds me of an "oops" in a Bob Ross painting...a happy little accident. When our oldest daughter began to express serious interest in Fine Arts, we agreed to tour a few schools and Beechwood quickly rose to the top of the list. If it was not for our daughter and her desire to succeed not only in the classroom, but in the world of performing arts, we would never have found the community that is Beechwood. For our family. it truly is a "happy little accident." Before moving to Ft. Mitchell, we spent one year as a tuition family, and now four years later, I still refer to Ft. Mitchell as one of the last remaining small towns. It just feels good to be here! We were welcomed into this community with open arms from the start. Even before the start. We had people looking for houses for us even before we decided to officially move. That is how it happens though, isn't it? Someone knows someone who is selling a house who tells your Uncle George whose mechanic told him because he previously attended Beechwood. Everyone knows everyone and everyone wants to help everyone. Such a welcoming and kind community to live in, only made so special and unique by all those who live in it. We feel so blessed to be here and there is nowhere else we'd rather be!
Since my daughters arrived at Beechwood, they have been involved in so many things: from volleyball, basketball and softball to musical theatre, choir and marching band. Oh marching band, looking at you Austin Bralley! My FIRST year at Beechwood, I co-chaired the Festival of Bands with my husband...oh, and the COVID pandemic hit as well. Despite its challenges, the festival was a great success and one of the only marching band exhibitions in Kentucky that year. Throughout my three years as co-chair, I have had tremendous opportunities to not only lead and serve a phenomenal group of parent volunteers, welcome bands from across the state, but to collaborate cross functionally with other dedicated Beechwood leaders within the Athletics Boosters, Facilities and Administration. The success of the festival could not have been achieved without the support, guidance and collaboration with these amazing groups! I have also served in support of various other school activities, including as a parent volunteer with Musical Theatre, PTSA member, classroom support and chaperone.
I strongly value collaboration and service to others. I am a champion and advocate for equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging and prioritize kindness and respect for others as a non-negotiable in raising my children. Most importantly, I am a champion and advocate for diversity of ideas and opinions, regardless of my own personal views, while remaining aware of my own implicit bias. I am not a staunch supporter of the right. Nor am I a staunch supporter of the left. I am supporter of the middle, because that is where our community of children live every day. They all have different backgrounds, experiences, traditions, trajectories and they live every single school day in the middle. Each and every one of them, with their own unique strengths, opportunities, values and differences is what makes Beechwood such a special school. "Being different is no longer a weakness. It is a strength. As we become aware of other cultures, we realize that accepting the differences of others does not require a personal loss. We can be different and stronger because of it." (Deborah Green Zackary) If I have learned anything having two children almost 10 years apart, there is no one size fits all and one size fits most isn't good enough. Our teachers, day in and day out, meet our children in the middle and help to provide support that often times surpass the boundaries of their classroom walls. In order to effectively and best support our educators, I strongly believe we must be able to meet in the middle as parents as well. I am a proponent of diverse opinions and disagreements without damage - we can disagree and keep our relationships in tact; we can value and embrace our differences, our ideas and opinions - it is what makes us unique, it is what stirs innovation, it is what inspires.
I commit to all of you, to support the entire community of Beechwood High School, by serving as an approachable voice and resource who prioritizes collaboration, transparency and communication in advocating for and celebrating all that makes Beechwood such an inspiring place to be!
Sandeep Reddy
My name is Sandeep Reddy. I work as a Software Systems Architect and Project Manager in the IT field.
My son, Neel Reddy, will be a sophomore in the 2023-2024 school year. My wife, Sharmili Reddy, Neel and I have been Ft Mitchell residents since 2014. I served on Beechwood Elementary SBDM for three years. All my education was in India and being new to the US school system, I learned a lot about how the school operates in those three years. I would bring that same inquisitiveness and drive to Beechwood High School SBDM.
We are closely involved in our son's education and strongly believe in the importance of a partnership between parents and the school to achieve the best results. If elected, I will continue to assist the School Administration in making decisions that enhance learning for all students while maintaining Beechwood's tradition of excellence..
Thank You for your time.
My name is Sandeep Reddy. I work as a Software Systems Architect and Project Manager in the IT field.
My son, Neel Reddy, will be a sophomore in the 2023-2024 school year. My wife, Sharmili Reddy, Neel and I have been Ft Mitchell residents since 2014. I served on Beechwood Elementary SBDM for three years. All my education was in India and being new to the US school system, I learned a lot about how the school operates in those three years. I would bring that same inquisitiveness and drive to Beechwood High School SBDM.
We are closely involved in our son's education and strongly believe in the importance of a partnership between parents and the school to achieve the best results. If elected, I will continue to assist the School Administration in making decisions that enhance learning for all students while maintaining Beechwood's tradition of excellence..
Thank You for your time.
Korey Yelton
Dear Beechwood Family,
Thank you for the opportunity to be re-elected to the High School SBDM Council at Beechwood where I started serving in July 2022. I am the mother of 4 children - McKinley (Freshman at WKU and alumni of Beechwood), Miles (junior), Macy (8th grade), and Maggie (4th grade). My husband Chris and I moved to Fort Mitchell 4 1⁄2 years ago with our children so that they could all be a part of this amazing school community.
I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Miami University in Ohio in 1999 and went into banking shortly thereafter. I am now a Branch Manager for a large national mortgage company called Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. This is my 23rd year in the mortgage business. I love helping people become homeowners...especially those who didn't previously think it possible.
In 2018, I was asked to serve on the Board of Directors at Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky (HONK). HONK is a non-profit organization that works to bring the underserved into homeownership through education and a lease to own program. In 2021, I was elected to be the President of The Board which is a position I continue to hold. I also serve on the Client Selection Committee where we review and mentor potential candidates for the lease to own program.
Over the last year I have really enjoyed getting closer to the inner workings of Beechwood High School while I have served as a parent representative on SBDM. As a council, we largely focus on monitoring student achievement, reviewing school policies, and interviewing prospective teachers. Throughout this past year my goal has been to assess each situation with the lens of, will this further the education of students at Beechwood? I have tried to keep in mind the mission of the school and ensure that we don't veer off course as we make decisions.
Kids today have higher expectations and more opportunities than ever before. It is extremely important to me to make sure their foundation laid at school is solid and will prepare them for being contributing and kind adults.
It would be my pleasure to continue to serve the Beechwood Community as a parent representative of the SBDM Council. Please let me know if you have any questions or want any additional information about me. I can be reached at 859-620-8053 or by email at harperko@yahoo.com.
Thank you,
Korey
Dear Beechwood Family,
Thank you for the opportunity to be re-elected to the High School SBDM Council at Beechwood where I started serving in July 2022. I am the mother of 4 children - McKinley (Freshman at WKU and alumni of Beechwood), Miles (junior), Macy (8th grade), and Maggie (4th grade). My husband Chris and I moved to Fort Mitchell 4 1⁄2 years ago with our children so that they could all be a part of this amazing school community.
I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Miami University in Ohio in 1999 and went into banking shortly thereafter. I am now a Branch Manager for a large national mortgage company called Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. This is my 23rd year in the mortgage business. I love helping people become homeowners...especially those who didn't previously think it possible.
In 2018, I was asked to serve on the Board of Directors at Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky (HONK). HONK is a non-profit organization that works to bring the underserved into homeownership through education and a lease to own program. In 2021, I was elected to be the President of The Board which is a position I continue to hold. I also serve on the Client Selection Committee where we review and mentor potential candidates for the lease to own program.
Over the last year I have really enjoyed getting closer to the inner workings of Beechwood High School while I have served as a parent representative on SBDM. As a council, we largely focus on monitoring student achievement, reviewing school policies, and interviewing prospective teachers. Throughout this past year my goal has been to assess each situation with the lens of, will this further the education of students at Beechwood? I have tried to keep in mind the mission of the school and ensure that we don't veer off course as we make decisions.
Kids today have higher expectations and more opportunities than ever before. It is extremely important to me to make sure their foundation laid at school is solid and will prepare them for being contributing and kind adults.
It would be my pleasure to continue to serve the Beechwood Community as a parent representative of the SBDM Council. Please let me know if you have any questions or want any additional information about me. I can be reached at 859-620-8053 or by email at harperko@yahoo.com.
Thank you,
Korey
