Education — A Wonderful Gift

On April 27, Middle Township elected me to its school board. My friends and family wonder why I would want to take on such a responsible, challenging and often controversial task. Besides the fact that I now have time to be involved in community service, I have always been a fierce advocate of education feeling that one of the greatest gifts that can be given a child is the opportunity for a good education – an education that will allow that child to develop into a responsible adult who is ready and willing to tackle life’s challenges.
I realize the problems that come with this position including pacifying many interest groups who often have conflicting agendas. But, I also realize, that after all is said and done, it still boils down to what is right for the children in providing them the best education possible. When invited to address a group about my opinions and stance concerning current spending, budget cuts and restrictions, I reiterated that all decisions must carefully consider what best will serve our school children.
Our son, Dan, graduated valedictorian from Middle Township High School in 2002. I felt then, as I still do, that Middle has a good school district, but issues with perception and State ranking need to be addressed; issues that some time pale in priority compared to funding cuts, budgetary considerations, salary negotiations and the day-to-day process of keeping a school district functioning efficiently. It seems that a good school district runs like well-oiled machinery consisting of many important parts each integral in helping it to run best.
An important part is parental and community involvement with the educational process. Studies have shown that children who have a positive support system are more likely to do well, graduate and move on to higher education. Perhaps, this is where we need to focus our efforts in making sure that we encourage, support and participate in our children’s’ education. I know, as a school board member, this is an area that I certainly will investigate.
If the Middle Township School District has good schools, good educators, good curriculum, good extra-curricular activities, a caring school board, then what part of the system is failing to provide higher State rankings? As a parent and a grand parent, I feel quality education must be sustained and maintained for our children. As a taxpayer, I feel we must get the most value for our tax dollar. School ranking and school district performance is linked to home values.
The children, the community, the tax payers all deserve a school district that can be recognized as being as good as the service it delivers. I am hopeful that as a member of the Middle Township School Board that I can make a positive contribution in helping to make our school district all that it could and should be. I want to help give the gift of a good education to all our children.A graduate of Temple University – School of Communications and Theater, Linda Elia Koch has had an extensive and successful career in the field of written and verbal communication. She brings over 25 years of experience as a professional writer for business, industry and the non-profit sector. As director of public relations for a college, she received an award from the National Council of Marketing and PR for her script writing and production of a college video. She is published in both magazines and newspapers, and has written a novel that she hopes to get published. In addition to her writing career, she has taught English composition, developmental English, speech communications, journalism, business and creative writing at both the secondary and collegiate level and for corporate continuing education programs.
Koch, who resides in Court House with her husband and three children has always placed great emphasis on education and has always been enthusiastic about helping young people to acquire the necessary communication skills that are so essential for success in our ever-expanding world.
Her children are a testimonial to her beliefs. Kristopher, her oldest son, graduated with honors from Lehigh University and works as an industrial engineer for a large global manufacturer of glass products; her daughter Julie, a graduate of the University of Delaware in hospitality management, is employed as the director of sales for the prestigious Congress Hall in Cape May, and her youngest son, Daniel, a 2002 Middle Township High School valedictorian, was accepted at 15 years old to the University of Pennsylvania as a Ben Franklin Scholar. At 19, he graduated Magna Cum Laude from Penn with a degree in electrical engineering and minors in mathematics and economics. He is employed by Accenture as an engineering consultant and has his Masters degree in Business Technology from Villanova University again graduating with highest honors.