Voters in the Gov. Mifflin School District will have a full slate of choices when picking members for the school board.
Eight candidates will be vying for four seats in the Nov. 4 election.
Candidates Caryn Friedlander, Michele Hill Roby, Laurie Miller and Ralph B. Kabakoff are running as Democrats. Candidates Christina Worley, Emily Reppert, Lazaro Castellon and Janemarie McKay are running as Republicans.
The candidates are competing for four-year seats.
The Reading Eagle asked each of the candidates the following questions.
Question 1: What characteristics do you possess that make you a good candidate to serve on a school board?
Question 2: What is the biggest challenge your district is currently facing and how would you address it?
Here are their responses.
Ralph B. Kabakoff
Ralph Kabakoff
Party: Democrat
Age: 41
Occupation: Program director at a psychiatric rehabilitation program
Response 1: I am a passionate and creative individual committed to bringing our community together to find solutions and keep our school district strong. I am an open-minded thinker and a good listener who works hard to support others wherever I can.
My professional background has given me a deep understanding of the challenges our youth face, the resources needed to overcome barriers and where our community can grow stronger in its support. I also bring the ability to evaluate budgets carefully and identify fiscally responsible paths toward solutions.
As a parent with children in the district, I know firsthand what it takes to help students thrive. I attend events, open houses and board meetings to stay engaged, learn what’s working well, and understand where improvements can be made. I live in this community, work in this community, and I’m raising my family in this community. I want to serve on the school board to ensure that Gov. Mifflin continues to provide an excellent education and a community where families can put down roots for generations to come.
Response 2: The Gov. Mifflin School District has long been a supportive and enriching environment for children. As someone who grew up in this community and is now raising kids in the district, I’ve seen firsthand how strong our schools can be.
Today, we’re facing two major, connected challenges: financial uncertainty and a statewide teacher shortage. The education landscape is shifting, and districts like ours must compete for talent while also managing tight budgets. Without careful planning, these issues could impact class sizes, programming and student support.
That’s why I want to bring creative, forward-thinking solutions to the table. I will explore new funding opportunities, strengthen partnerships and ensure every dollar is tied to student success. I’m committed to working with administrators, educators and the community to maintain a stable, high-quality learning environment where students can thrive.
Our kids are full of energy, potential and creativity. They deserve a district that reflects that same spirit. My goal is to help Gov. Mifflin remain not just a great place to learn, but a district that attracts and retains the very best teachers Pennsylvania has to offer.
Caryn Friedlander
Caryn Friedlander
Party: Democrat
Age: 50
Occupation: Owner and operator of Classic Harley-Davidson
Response 1: I bring nearly a decade of proven leadership as a Gov. Mifflin school director, combined with over 25 years of business ownership experience and a strong record of community involvement. Since joining the school board in 2015, I have served as treasurer, chaired the human resources and negotiations committees and represented the district at the Berks County Career and Technology Center.
At BCTC, I have led as joint operating committee chairperson, while also serving on key finance and personnel committees. These roles have given me deep experience in budgeting, negotiations and governance — skills that directly benefit our district.
Beyond my board work, I am a parent of two Gov. Mifflin graduates, and I’ve been an active volunteer with the parent-teacher organization, Girl Scouts and the Gov. Mifflin Education Foundation. This dual perspective — as a parent and decision-maker — allows me to weigh fiscal responsibility with the need to support students, families and staff.
I believe school directors must listen, collaborate and innovate to address today’s challenges: limited resources, student well-being and teacher shortages. I offer stability, thoughtful leadership and a passion for preparing students for both careers and life. I am proud of our progress and eager to continue serving our community.
Response 2: While there are hot-button topics buzzing in the news and online, one topic has been and continues to take precedence: providing a stellar education experience with available resources. That is the challenge the administration, board and district must rise to every day. It can happen only when we set high expectations for students, teachers and the community and provide the appropriate tools.
It takes teamwork among all the parties to ensure that the next generation is prepared. I will continue to collaborate with my board colleagues to make reasonable, commonsense plans, evaluate performance and seek solutions that serve educators and community members — all in the pursuit of educational excellence.
I will leverage my experience as an engaged community leader and local business owner to help maintain and promote fair school policies, set meaningful standards, measure results, stay competitive and provide the community with the excellent educational experience it deserves.
Lazaro Castellon
Lazaro Castellon
Party: Republican
Age: 59
Occupation: Retired Walgreens manager
Response 1: The characteristics that make me a strong candidate for the Gov. Mifflin School Board are integrity, leadership and accountability. As a retired Walgreens manager, I bring decades of experience in overseeing budgets, staff and operations, ensuring efficiency and responsibility. I believe school board members must treat every tax dollar with respect while prioritizing the needs of students and teachers.
I am deeply committed to listening to the community and making sure families’ voices are heard and represented. Too often, decisions are made behind closed doors, leaving parents and taxpayers feeling excluded. I want to change that by ensuring transparency and open communication at every level.
My values rooted in faith, fairness and service guide me to lead with honesty and courage. Leadership means more than occupying a seat; it means standing firm when it’s unpopular, asking hard questions and demanding accountability. I am not afraid to challenge wasteful spending or policies that fail our children. I believe my background in business, my commitment to students and my dedication to fiscal responsibility will make me a strong advocate for both academic excellence and the responsible use of taxpayer money.
Response 2: The biggest challenge facing our district is the mismanagement of taxpayer money. Families deserve to know how their hard-earned dollars are being spent and whether it is truly benefiting students. Instead, we see rising property taxes, out-of-control waste, runaway administrative costs and unnecessary construction projects draining resources. On top of that, teacher contracts that guarantee automatic raises without regard to merit add to the burden on taxpayers while doing little to reward true excellence in the classroom.
The result of this mismanagement is clear: low test scores and poor student outcomes. Gov. Mifflin is currently ranked 15th out of 18 districts in Berks County. That is unacceptable. We cannot continue raising taxes while delivering subpar results for our children.
My approach is to bring commonsense leadership that ends reckless spending, restores accountability and prioritizes students first. Taxpayers must be protected, and resources must go where they belong into classrooms, supporting teachers who perform and ensuring our students have the tools to succeed. Our children deserve better, and taxpayers deserve accountability.
Laurie Miller
Laurie Miller
Party: Democrat
Age: 43
Occupation: CEO and business owner
Response 1: I’m running because I care deeply about our kids, our schools and the future of our community. I’m someone who listens, asks thoughtful questions and works to bring people together.
As a parent and a business owner, I understand both the personal side of what families need and the practical side of managing budgets, building teams and making fair decisions. I believe in supporting new ideas in our schools, while also making sure every dollar we spend reflects our values and goals.
I know that stability matters, too. Real progress takes time, consistency and trust. Our district is at a turning point, and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves, work across differences and keep the focus where it belongs: on delivering an excellent education for every student, now and into the future.
Response 2: The biggest challenge is finding the right balance between innovation and financial responsibility. With most of our revenue tied to property taxes and charter school costs rising, we are watching critical dollars leave the district. I believe we can keep more of these funds here by offering strong in-district programs, especially for special education and English language learner students, since both groups are growing.
We also need to recognize that nearly 80% of our tax base is residential. Without smart economic development in partnership with our townships, the long-term financial picture will be difficult.
Finally, we need to address the spread of misinformation. One number pulled out of context should not outweigh the full story. The truth is, we have dedicated educators, strong programs and students who are thriving. Our responsibility as a board is to provide clarity, maintain stability and make sure our schools remain a place where every learner and teacher can succeed.
Christina Worley
Christina Worley
Party: Republican
Age: 71
Occupation: Retired
Response 1: As one of the incumbent school directors, my focus continues to be “what is in the best interests for our students to succeed while keeping costs manageable?”
I have been involved with the school district for over 20 years.
Response 2: Improving reading and math proficiencies is crucial. The administration should be willing to implement curriculum changes to address these deficiencies.
Providing a safe school environment. This is a continuing process for staying vigilant to protect against threats.
Unfunded mandates — there is no simple way to address this issue.
Janemarie McKay
Janemarie McKay
Party: Republican
Age: 59
Occupation: Graduate teaching administrator at Total Experience Learning at Alvernia university
Response 1: I am a lifelong Gov. Mifflin resident and proud graduate who has dedicated my career to education and our community. With a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education and a master’s degree in education, I spent 34 years teaching in the Gov. Mifflin School District. Currently, I teach graduate-level courses to educators across Berks County, helping them enhance their instructional practices and create meaningful learning experiences for students.
My three children are all Gov. Mifflin graduates and have chosen to make their homes in this district, which speaks to the strength and sense of community our schools provide.
As a school board candidate, I bring firsthand knowledge of public education, a deep understanding of the needs of students and staff and a commitment to making thoughtful, fiscally responsible decisions. I believe strong schools are the foundation of a thriving community. My philosophy — committed to students, dedicated to the community — guides every decision I make. I am passionate about putting students first, supporting educators and school personnel and ensuring every child in our district has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Response 2: One of the biggest challenges our district is currently facing is the uncertainty created by the ongoing delay in passing the Pennsylvania state budget. Without a finalized budget, school districts across the commonwealth are left in a difficult position — working to maintain high-quality programs and services for students while facing potential revenue shortfalls.
As a district, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to fiscal responsibility and student success. This means prioritizing expenditures to ensure that essential student programs, classroom resources and staff supports remain intact. At the same time, we must continue advocating for our community by lobbying state legislators to pass a fair and timely budget that fully funds public education.
While financial uncertainty presents challenges, it also underscores the importance of strategic planning, transparency and collaboration. Our focus will remain on doing what is best for students — protecting instructional quality, supporting educators and ensuring that every decision aligns with our mission of providing equitable and excellent educational opportunities for all.
Michele Hill Roby
Party: Democrat
Did not respond.
Emily Reppert
Party: Republican
Did not respond.