After a life-changing house fire eight years ago, Tina was inspired to give back to the Manville community that supported her. Encouraged by a conversation with the late Ned Panfile, she joined the Board of Education to turn her passion for public service into action.

Tina is a passionate advocate for the district motto, "Every Child, Every Day," and is currently focused on solving space constraints to reduce class sizes.

When she isn’t in the boardroom, you can find her on the golf course, where she runs clinics for beginner women golfers!

Q: What inspired you to serve on Manville’s Board of Education?
Tina: There are a few things that inspire me to serve on the Board of Education. The first goes back
to a life-changing experience eight years ago, when I had a house fire. The first responders
from Firehouse #3, along with the rest of our firehouses and surrounding towns, literally
saved my house from burning to the ground. That moment gave me a deep appreciation for
public service. I knew then that I wanted to give back to the community that had given so
much to me.

As my kids grew older in the school district, I was fortunate to have a conversation with Ned
Panfile after a board meeting one night. I had spoken during the public portion of the meeting
about a few things I thought the board and administration should have been aware of. Ned
came up to me afterward and said I should consider running for the Board of Education one
day. At the time, it never dawned on me that I could bring value there. But after the fire, I
remembered that conversation and thought to myself—yes, this is where I belong. This is
how I will serve my community.

Throughout my Board of Education journey, I have been humbled by the greatness in our
district—the leadership, our administrators, our teachers—all working to give students the
best education and school experience possible. While I enjoy the business side of the district,
what truly makes it worthwhile is when I can attend school events, walk into the buildings,
and see the smiles on students’ faces. To witness the joy in their day and realize that what we
do around the boardroom table comes to life in the children—that’s what it’s all about.

Q: What is one goal you hope to accomplish during your term?
Tina: We have so many wonderful initiatives happening right now in the district. At the same
time, space continues to be a major concern. I would like to keep working toward solutions
that create more space for more students and help reduce classroom sizes. Smaller class
sizes make a big difference in student success, and that remains one of my top priorities.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being involved in education?
Tina: What I enjoy most about being involved in education is knowing that the work we do has a
direct and meaningful impact on students’ lives. Every decision made at the board table
ultimately comes to life in our classrooms and our school buildings. Seeing the students
thrive and knowing we are helping them learn, grow, and succeed is what inspires me. Our
motto, Every Child, Every Day, truly reflects what I believe in, and it guides me in everything
I do on the Board of Education.

Q: Can you share a fun fact or hobby people might not know about you?
Tina: A fun fact about me is that I only learned how to play golf about three years ago. What
started as something I picked up for business quickly turned into a passion. I now run ladies’
clinics for beginner golfers, helping women ease into the game without the intimidation
that sometimes comes with it. It has been such a rewarding experience to see more women
build confidence and enjoy the sport. On top of that, I’m especially excited that we
launched a golf team in our district.

Q: What advice would you give to the students in our district?
Tina: My advice for students is the same advice my mother always gave me: you can be anything
you want to be, and you can do anything you set your mind to. One of my favorite quotes is,
“She believed she could, so she did.” I carry that with me every day, and I share it with our
students because I truly believe in them. If they believe in themselves, there is no limit to
what they can achieve.