Three incumbents and one newcomer will go toe-to-toe in the Affton School District, vying for three open seats on the Board of Education. President Bridget Sinamon, Vice President Justin Carney and Director Jeanette Schoenberg compete to reclaim their seats, while newcomer Ben Wagner campaigns to get a first-time spot on the board.
Chad Bernstein and Dennis Ellis, also newcomers to public office, have withdrawn from the race. Due to printing deadlines, their names will still appear on the ballot, but they no longer seek the position.
Directors have a three-year term on the board. The general municipal election will take place on April 7. The following statements from candidates were taken from the school district’s site.
Schoenberg will appear first on the ballot. She was first elected to the board in 2023; if re-elected, this would be her second term. Schoenberg has worked in the financial service industry for 25 years, and she has one child in the district. She serves as the board’s liaison to the Special School District’s Governance Council, and has lived in the district for 16 years.
“I can’t imagine not serving on the board. The students are my number one motivation,” Schoenberg stated. “Our students work hard. They deserve a board who is focused on their success, safety and emotional wellbeing. I want to continue to support curriculum growth that helps our students achieve their potential, continue to support efforts to increase attendance and continue to advocate for extracurricular activities for all students.”
Carney was elected in 2020; if re-elected, this would be his third term on the board. Carney is an urban planner with 28 years of community, economic and strategic planning experience under his belt. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), and he coaches soccer and leads youth groups in addition to his commitment to the school board.
“I love serving our Affton community and want to be a part of the continued success of the district,” Carney stated. “Since starting on the board during the pandemic, I have seen our student performance improve, pay for our teachers increase and energy efficiency of our buildings increase. The camaraderie and respect shared by the board makes serving enjoyable and rewarding.”
Sinamon was elected in 2020; if re-elected, this would be her third term on the board. Sinamon previously served as a parent educator for Parents as Teachers in the Fox School District from 2018-2020. She worked at Affton from 2012-2018, starting in the cafeteria before moving to the Early Childhood Center, where she was the lead before and after care facilitator. She has two children who graduated from Affton.
“Right now, our public schools are taking a hit from multiple directions, but my support of them is unwavering because I want to ensure each student is provided the means to obtain a high-quality public education,” Sinamon stated. “As times change, school needs change so I want to make sure our community has a voice in our education. Throughout my tenure on the board, I make time to listen to stakeholders in Affton, but also in our state. I focus on building relationships within our community, but also with those who can help our district grow.”
If elected, this would be Wagner’s first time on the Board of Education. Wagner, who works at FCB Banks, moved to Affton in 2022 with his wife. In the past, Wagner interned for Chicago’s Ward 49 Alderman Joe Moore, helping run a participatory budgeting election.
“Now that my wife and I look to start a family, I have turned to look at my future children and the future of all of the children in our community,” Wagner stated. “I want to ensure that every child has the best possible chance at their education and that the teachers and staff of these schools have the best possible chance to achieve that goal. Education is such an important issue today, and I want to give back to the community that has been so welcoming to me. I want to ensure the future of our community is as ready as it possibly can to face the future.”
Editor’s note: Each candidate was sent a questionnaire from The Call. No completed questionnaires were returned.
