Sectional Advisors

PSBA's sectional structure, officially approved by the membership of the Delegate Assembly in October 2017, is designed to help PSBA best meet the needs of its membership. The PSBA sectional advisor is elected every two years to serve as a principal representative and sounding board for their section. This position serves as a volunteer voice of the local membership and provides ongoing feedback to PSBA staff related to local issues and areas of concern. PSBA relies on our team of eight sectional advisors and a network of district-level local board liaisons (see below for details) to help maintain member awareness of PSBA, school board-related updates and advocacy issues.

Sectional Advisors

  • Sabrina Backer
    Sectional Advisor Co-Leader, Section 1 Advisor
    Franklin Area SD
  • Thomas Kerek
    Sectional Advisor Co-Leader, Section 2 Advisor
    Kane Area SD
  • Julie Preston
    Section 3 Advisor
    Northern Tioga SD
  • Dr. Gary Smedley
    Section 4 Advisor
    Carbondale Area
  • Marsha Pleta
    Section 5 Advisor
    Washington SD
  • Andrea Christoff
    Section 6 Advisor
    Mount Union Area SD
  • Dennis Helm
    Section 7 Advisor
    East Pennsboro Area SD
  • Amy Goldman
    Section 8 Advisor
    Radnor Township SD

Section 1

Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango and Warren counties

Section 2

Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter counties

Section 3

Bradford, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties

Section 4

Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties

Section 5

Allegheny, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties

Section 6

Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin and Somerset counties

Section 7

Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties

Section 8

Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties

Local Board Liaison

Each member school entity is entitled to appoint a board member to serve as PSBA local board liaison. The liaison is an essential point of contact between PSBA and the local school board. Through contact with their sectional advisor and PSBA staff, the liaison shares timely and important updates with their fellow school directors around pressing legislative and policy changes, upcoming opportunities for continued learning, and information about their statewide association. PSBA provides an exclusive e-newsletter to all liaisons – the Liaison Insider. Liaisons are strongly encouraged to use the Insider to provide a brief update at each school board meeting.