Our Kids. Our Schools. Our Future.
We—Kerry Sautner, Anna Shurak, Juanita Kerber, and Jennifer Rivera—are running as the Democratic Party-endorsed slate for the Lower Merion School Board on the Tuesday, May 20th Ballot.
Our team brings together seasoned leadership and fresh perspectives, united by a shared dedication to students, our entire community, and the advancement of public education.
With Kerry and Anna as experienced incumbents and Juanita and Jennifer bringing fresh perspectives, we are committed to strong, inclusive, and student-focused leadership.
Over the past three years, we have fought to strengthen public education, uphold equity, support educators, and ensure transparency in decision-making. Now, political groups are trying to roll back our progress. We need your support to keep our schools thriving and our board focused on students, not politics.
Join our team to help us make a difference in our schools. Volunteer today!
Anna Shurak — Lower Merion School Board Director
Anna Shurak brings over 20 years of experience in education, serving as a teacher, principal, Chief Schools Officer, and nonprofit leader. As a current Lower Merion School Board Director, she has helped implement full-day kindergarten, adjust school start times, preserve Oakwell, and collaborate with commissioners for lights on Arnold Field — all in response to long-standing community priorities.
Juanita Kerber
As a parent and member of this community, Juanita was inspired to run because she believes at this time in our history, ALL voices must be valued, respected and heard. She will step up to help preserve the quality of our public education, promote initiatives that enrich the academic experience for all children within our school district, and address the concerns of our community in a healthy and productive way.
Dr. Kerry Sautner — Lower Merion School Board President
Dr. Sautner serves as president of the Lower Merion School District Board of School Directors, where she is committed to fostering excellence in education, inclusion, and student success. In this role, she works closely with fellow board members, district leadership, and the community to ensure that all students have access to high-quality learning opportunities in a supportive and safe environment.
Jennifer Rivera
Jennifer is committed to strengthening the foundation of our schools by advocating for our teachers, equipping them with the resources they need to excel in the classroom. She will champion collaboration with families to build trust and foster transparency. Jennifer’s 20+ years of experience working with leaders and boards have equipped her to navigate policies, resolve challenges, and ensure that every decision reflects our shared commitment to stability, consistency, and excellence in education.
We are committed to serving the Lower Merion School District with steady, experienced, and collaborative leadership.
Our focus is on prioritizing students, championing equity, and fostering community-informed decision-making to ensure every child thrives.
Together, we represent a powerful balance of proven leadership and fresh perspectives. We are educators, parents, neighbors, and advocates committed to strengthening public education for all. Our shared vision prioritizes student success, inclusive practices, and transparent, community-driven decision-making.
We believe in a school district that works for every learner, every family, and the future we build together.
Our Record of Leadership & Accomplishments
We bring proven experience, collaboration, and results to the work of strengthening our schools and supporting every student.
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We’ve championed policies that expand student access to high-quality education, ensure fairness, and uphold the highest standards for all students in every classroom.
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We are committed to making sure every student feels seen, valued, and supported - no matter their background, identity, or ability. Equity and inclusion guide every decision we make and belonging is a the heart of the policies we support and the values that drive our slate.
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We know strong schools depend on strong partnerships. That’s why we prioritize supporting our educators and school teams with the resources they need and ensuring families are engaged, informed, and heard.
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We believe every student deserves to learn in a safe, welcoming environment. We are equally committed to transparency and accountability so that families and community members can trust how decisions are made. (Example – working with school leadership for a dashboard or a report card on incidents of harm in school and how they were addressed)
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From strengthening student achievement and reducing the opportunity gap found in our district, to investing in innovative programs and teacher training, we will support initiatives that prepare our students for success today and into the future.
Our Path Forward: A Vision for LMSD
Maintain Stability & Experience
With most board members serving less than two years, our proven leadership provides the stability and experience needed to guide the district through the complex challenges we see in our community as well as supporting the new superintendent as they navigate this work.
Defend Public Education
We stand strong against politically motivated attacks, protecting inclusive, high-quality public education so every student can thrive.
Foster Collaboration & Trust
We are committed to open dialogue with parents, students, and educators, ensuring that every decision reflects our shared values and strengthens community trust. We will support our school teams in leading this work as they are the lifeline to building home school trust.
Why This Election Matters
Public education is one of our community’s greatest strengths. Together, we’ve built schools that reflect our values of inclusion, opportunity, and academic excellence.
But these gains are not guaranteed. Without experienced leadership on the board, we risk losing the progress we’ve made.
If we lose steady, proven leadership, we could face:
❌ Rolling back protections that ensure every student feels safe, respected, and supported
❌ Destabilizing the board at a critical time, delaying important initiatives for students and families
❌ Allowing outside agendas to distract from our shared commitment to high-quality education
Our schools deserve leaders who put students, families, and educators first, and who will protect the values that make our district strong. Our slate is a strong gathering of four experienced education leaders who do this work every single day!
This election is about our future.
This election is about who we are, and who we aspire to be, as a community. Together, we can choose unity over division, protect the values that define us, and ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
We are asking for your vote and your support so that we can continue building strong, inclusive schools that prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Let’s keep Lower Merion’s schools a place where excellence meets equity, where every student is valued, and where our community’s future shines bright.
Your voice, your vote, and your contribution all make a difference. Join us in shaping a stronger tomorrow for our schools and our children.