Brian Hagberg
WARREN, Pa. – Warren City Councilman John Wortman announced Wednesday that he is seeking election to a Region 1 seat on the Warren County School District Board of Directors.
Wortman, a 2012 Warren Area High School graduate, is the current Warren City Council Vice President. His City Council term expires at the end of 2023. Region 1 represents the City of Warren and Elk and Glade Townships.
“I am running for the WCSD Board to ensure that young people growing up in our community today have the same educational opportunities that my grandparents, parents, siblings, and friends had,” Wortman said.
Wortman earned a degree in Secondary Education Studies from Penn State University. He taught in the Durham, North Carolina Public School System before returning to the area to teach at West Forest Secondary School. Wortman re-enrolled at Penn State to study social studies curriculum and instruction at the master’s level. He said his graduate work has been incorporated as part of Penn State’s Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education Initiative.
Wortman is tenured social studies and gifted educator in the Forest Area School District, where he also directs the West Forest Drama Club, coaches the Forest Area golf team, chairs the Professional Development Committee, and advises the senior trip. He has volunteered with the All-County Musical productions within the WCSD.
“Given my life experiences, I believe that I would be an effective representative for the citizens of Elk and Glade townships and the City of Warren,” Wortman said. “If I am given the privilege to serve, I will fight to ensure that the Warren County School District continues to offer rigorous academic and extracurricular programming, heightens focus on career readiness, vocational education, and college preparedness, while ensuring fiscal responsibility.”
In his announcement, Wortman said he had been informed that long-time Region 1 board member Arthur Stewart would not seek reelection.
“I want to thank Mr. Stewart and his family for their service and wish them the best in all of their future endeavors,” Wortman said.
Wortman said he believes his experience and work on City Council has prepared him to be a school director.
“Education is not a partisan issue,” Wortman said. “It is about making our school system the best it can possibly be. My work on the Warren City Council demonstrates my ability to work with all parties involved to solve problems. It has been an incredible honor to be unanimously elected twice by my Council colleagues, of both parties, to serve as vice president. Additionally, I have engaged with Senators, House members, State legislators, County Commissioners, business leaders, citizens, and municipal officials of all parties to make our community stronger.”
