3 candidates vying for 2 Easton Area School Board seats in Nov. 4 election | Armchair Lehigh Valley

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In the Easton Area School District, five regional seats with four-year terms are up for election on Nov. 4, but only one region has a contested race.

In Region 3, incumbent Democrat Meg Sayago, Democrat Edward Keegan, a former school board member, and Republican Shaun Jensen are vying for two seats. School board member Nekisha Robertson, whose term ends this year, did not seek reelection. Region 3 comprises Easton’s Third Ward, all of Forks Township and the independent district in Lower Mount Bethel Township.

In Region 1, which mostly covers Palmer Township, incumbent Brian Snyder is the only candidate for one seat after running unopposed in the May primary.

Similarly, in Region 2, which includes most of Easton, Democrats Shandeka M. Greenfield and Joshua Davis are unopposed for two available seats after facing no challengers in May. Region 2 board members Susan Hartranft-Bittinger and Dionne Wellington, whose terms end this year, did not seek reelection. Hartranft-Bittinger, who ran for Easton City Council instead, is unopposed in November to represent District 3.

Here is a look at the contested race in Region 3.

Edward Keegan – Democrat

Edward Keegan won the Democratic and Republican nominations in the May primary. He served four years on the Easton school board until he lost to Michael Simonetta in 2023. Simonetta will remain on the board until 2027.

According to the Vote411 online voters’ guide, Keegan believes in “improving student achievement for all students by evaluating programs at all levels.”

He said that this can be done using data already available with no additional cost to the district.

“A great school district will benefit all and keep our property values high,” he said.

Keegan has a doctorate from Rutgers University. He worked for 43 years in public education before retiring, several of those years as a school superintendent in New Jersey. He still teaches as an adjunct instructor.

He is married to Northampton County council member Kelly Keegan, a nurse in the district whose alleged social media comments about Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who was assassinated in September, have sparked calls for her removal from council and her job.

Keegan could not be reached for comment.

Shaun Jensen – Republican

Shaun Jensen is a New York City high school science teacher who lives in Palmer and has two sons in district schools. On his Facebook campaign page, Jensen outlined his vision for Easton schools, saying he wants to focus on academic excellence, fiscal responsibility, safety and discipline in the classroom, merit-based advancement for staff and parental rights.

“I am deeply invested in the future of our community and believe it is everyone’s civic duty to make sure it becomes a reality,” he said. “My commitment is to ensure our schools provide a superior education while respecting the values and financial well-being of every family we serve while making it safe for students and staff.”

While graduation rates have seen a slight increase, Jensen said, proficiency in math and literacy has declined alarmingly. A diploma should represent genuine achievement, he said, not just attendance. “I support programs like RAD (Rovers Achieving Diplomas),” he said, “which help students get back on track, but we must re-focus our efforts on rigorous academics and measurable student outcomes — ensuring our children are truly prepared for life beyond high school.”

Jensen believes the school district must stop “spending beyond our means.” He would like to see improvement in educational outcomes without raising taxes, which he says “threaten the stability of our community” and “plac[e] an unfair burden on families, seniors, and local businesses.” He believes tax increases will “drive families away due to a high cost of living.”

“I will advocate for responsible budgeting that prioritizes classroom resources and teacher support over administrative bloat and wasteful initiatives,” he said.

Another concern for Jensen is providing a safe, orderly environment for students where teachers are safe and “learning can thrive.”

“Disruptive and violent behavior has no place in our schools and we should look at protocols that allow revictimization to occur,” he said. “School safety is non-negotiable.”

Students should be held accountable, while the district should actively engage parents as partners in maintaining discipline, Jensen said.

Parents’ values should also take precedence when it comes to “health and moral decisions.”

“I firmly believe that parents have the right to direct their children’s upbringing, education, and well-being,” he said in a Facebook post. “The district should support families, not override their values and choices.”

Jensen could not be reached for comment.

Meg Sayago – Democrat, incumbent

Meg Sayago, a two-term incumbent who has served as board president, talks about her lifetime of experience with the district. Her father came from Easton. Her mother taught in the district for her entire career. She has lived in Easton’s College Hill neighborhood for more than 20 years and her children have attended Easton schools.

“ I am laser-focused on ensuring academic excellence and prioritizing student safety, health and wellness,” she said.

She lists adequate staffing and facilities as the most important priorities for the district, according to Vote411. To make sure the district meets students’ needs, she advocates “careful budgeting and responsible use of revenue from local, state and federal funding sources” with district representatives ready to fight for “fair” funding.

Sayago, who works as a school librarian, has a master’s degree in library and information science and a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/social studies.

Sayago did not respond to email requests for an interview.

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