The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School

The Playwickian

Suessegger: the right choice for school board

By Reed Hennessy
Editor-In-Chief

Doug Suessegger, who is currently running for one of two open seats in the 2nd Region for Neshaminy’s School Board of Directors, has worked and been involved in government and public policy for most of his professional career. Suessegger, born and raised in Hamilton, New Jersey, moved to Middletown Township in 2008 and is currently living in the Juniper Hill section of Levittown with his wife Jena Champion-Suessegger.

During his earliest days as a young college student, Suessegger’s life has been marked with accomplishments. Graduating from Drew University, Suessegger received his Bachelor’s degree in 2006 on a full scholarship from the Bill Gates Foundation earning him the accolade of “Bill Gates Millennium Scholar”, which was presented at a private luncheon with Gates himself in New York City.

Suessegger would go on to work in the public sector, starting by working for his hometown Mayor and would eventually become his Chief of Staff. Suessegger has also worked for a Governor of New Jersey, a member of US Congress, members of the State Assembly, and various community leaders. Suessegger has also worked for many community based programs and organizations including but not limited to the Big Brother, Big Sister of America program, the Hamilton Township Patriotic Committee, working with and participating in Boys State, the American Legion, Governor’s School, Rotary Club, Key Club, and DeMolay.

Story continues below advertisement

Currently, working as an account manager at W.W. Grainger and a scholarship reader for the Gates Foundation Suessegger is certainly more than qualified to be a member of the Neshaminy School Board. His election along with the election of Paul Murdock (Region 2), Steve Buffardi (Region 1), and Karen Lowry (Region 1), could mark the beginning of a much more enlightened era in the history of the Neshaminy School District.

Suessegger’s background will bring a new, fresh, and much more cooperative attitude to the school district which is clearly stated in his platform. “Make Neshaminy a place where teachers and support staff want to work again by breaking down the boundaries of incivility and fear and soliciting the input of those who know more than anyone how to educate our children – the teachers and support staff.”

In addition and more specifically, Suessegger would also like to ensure that renovations and new construction are conducted in an environmentally conscious fashion, reverse the school boards rash decision to move the 5th graders to the middle school, keep as many services as possible “in-house” and to halt the construction of a new elementary school at Tawanka and the closing of three, neighborhood elementary schools. Rather, Suessegger would erect a true “Citizen’s Taskforce for Neshaminy,” consisting of educators, administrators, students, and community members who are not under the instruction of the District to independently evaluate the validity of the data presented to and by the school board regarding classroom utilization, transportation costs, building renovation costs and propose an exhaustive recommendation that will account for both the quantifiable and unquantifiable impacts of any kind of consolidation.

Ultimately Neshaminy’s leadership needs to change and Suessegger has the experience and tenacity to bring about real change with tangible results. If elected, especially alongside Murdock, Buffardi and Lowry, transparency, reason and civility will come to the Neshaminy School Board.

More to Discover
Activate Search
The Student News Site of Neshaminy High School
Suessegger: the right choice for school board