October 19, 2025
From Mark Hensen, Pickerington Board of Education Member
This represents my views and does not necessarily reflect those of the PLSD Board of Education (BOE) or my colleagues. I’m speaking for myself, NOT the board.
The status quo needs to change.
Below are the Pickerington Education Association (PEA) endorsed candidates for the PLSD Board of Education:
Ryan Holstine
Brooke LaGrasso
Charles Newman
I fully support the PEA’s candidates and strongly encourage everyone to consider voting for them in the upcoming election.
Serving on a school board requires leadership. All three candidates have shown leadership through their professional and personal experiences in different ways.
All three possess the necessary passion and intellect and will be collaborative, open-minded, and engaged leaders, focused and committed to their roles.
TO BE CLEAR, voting for other candidates risks preserving an ineffective status quo on our board, either directly or indirectly (through vote splitting). Each of us has unique gifts and talents, but unfortunately, not everyone is suited for every role – as we’ve seen on our board.
Ultimately, the district’s success in enhancing student outcomes depends on engaged, focused, and committed leaders.
Ryan, Brooke, and Charles present the best opportunity for success going forward, and I believe they will focus on prioritizing students’ interests.
The status quo needs to change.
Other letters in Hensen’s series discussing the 2025 Pickerington School Board Election:
