PDK 2012 Election Results
The 2012 Region E and Region F board member elections have concluded. Congratulations to Dan Hoffman (Region E) and Mark Strauss (Region F) who will serve on the PDK International board through June 2015.
REGION E
Dan Hoffman has served public school children as a teacher, coach, administrator, and professor during his 40-year career as an educator. Currently, Dan is serving as an assistant superintendent of Reynoldsburg City Schools while also acting as principal-in-residence at The Ohio State University’s School of Educational Policy and Leadership. Dan received his doctoral degree from OSU in 1999.
Before Dan’s return to Reynoldsburg schools in 2008, he served as the founding leader of the Ohio Center for Essential Schools (CES). He also served on the board of directors for the National CES organization from 1999-2003. While working at Ohio CES, Dan led the planning team for Metro High School, a small STEM school located on west campus at The Ohio State University.
Since his return, Reynoldsburg High School has been reinvented into four small interest-based academies located on two campuses. He also has provided leadership in the opening of a K-4 STEM elementary, which is leading to a K-12 STEM pathway in the district.
Dan is a longtime member of Phi Delta Kappa, and he served as an appointed member of the PDK Educational Foundation Board of Governors from 1998-2005. He has served as the Region E representative for the PDK International Board since July 2010. His most cherished work on the board was the privilege of working with fellow board member Miss Bessie Gabbard, PDK’s first female member.
REGION F
Mark Strauss, an active Kappan since 1996, currently serves on the PDK International Board, representing Region F. He has served as his chapter’s president, program officer, newsletter editor, leadership representative, foundation representative, and advisor. He has also served PDK as CML for Region G, working with chapters in southern Florida and the Republic of Panama. He was a member of the PDK Constitutional Convention and helped to reshape the future of PDK. He has attended PDK Summits and has served as a member of think tank committees to assist PDK. In 2006, Mark received a Service Key from his local chapter and was awarded the PDK Emerging Leader Award. He has since helped select other Emerging Leaders.
Professionally, Mark is currently principal of a nationally recognized, Blue Ribbon public Montessori Magnet School in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He has been named Broward County Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year, was a finalist for State of Florida Principal of the Year, and was named Distinguished Educator by the University of Florida. He currently teaches as an adjunct professor in educational leadership at Florida Atlantic University and has taught at Barry University. Additionally, he is chairperson of the Florida Education Practices Commission.
Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Buffalo State College (SUNY), a master’s degree in educational leadership from Florida Atlantic University, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.