Kaleb Best
“I’m running for School Board because I value high-quality public education. I believe that all students deserve to have the best education available and deserve to feel included as part of the larger community. School should prepare students for the future, whatever that future may hold for them.”
Originally from Salt Lake City, Kaleb met his wife, Jordan, a Lancaster native, while earning a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California. After graduation, the couple returned to Lancaster and have been residents of East Petersburg for the last 8 years. They have two children attending East Petersburg Elementary. Kaleb is employed as a Controls Engineer and designs automated warehousing systems. Through his work in the manufacturing sector, he has seen firsthand the need for more skilled workers in various trades and professions. Kaleb believes our school system should prepare students for non-college career paths and trades as well as college education.
Kaleb’s community involvement includes nine years as a Cub Scout leader and service at two churches. Kaleb initially became drawn to serving as a school director when he heard of potential book bans within Hempfield and other nearby districts. An avid and life-long reader, Kaleb understands the enduring value of free access to books and reading.
“Books must be treated with respect. We feel that in our bones, because words have power. Bring enough words together, they can bend space and time.”
― Terry Pratchett’s “Going Postal”
Megan L. Eshleman
“I believe in public education and know that all children can thrive in a Hempfield School District that supports students, teachers, and the community. I, along with Judy, Kaleb, Erin, and Peter, will put kids over politics and multiply our strengths instead of dividing our community. In doing this we know that Hempfield will continue to attract those who want a school community that will make decisions based on facts, with compassion and integrity”
Megan Eshleman is a graduate of J. P. McCaskey High School with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Millersville University. She spent six years teaching 6th grade in the Central York School District while earning a graduate degree in Early Childhood Education, also from Millersville University.
Megan and her husband became Hempfield School District residents fourteen years ago after deciding the Hempfield area would be the perfect place to invest in a home and raise children. Upon starting a family, Megan left her teaching position and spent the next six years raising two kids and working part-time at the Manheim Township Public Library, primarily in the Youth Services Department. Once her oldest daughter started Kindergarten at Centerville Elementary, she quickly became aware of the need for quality substitute teachers. This inspired Megan to become a substitute teacher at all of the elementary schools in the district, which she had the privilege of doing nearly every day for the two years that followed. Megan enjoys regularly volunteering at Centerville Elementary.
In 2019, Megan became concerned when elementary and middle school redistricting was announced for Hempfield. She, and many others, felt there was insufficient transparency and a grave lack of input from the community and experts in the field of long-term planning. In addition, Megan has witnessed community and school board members use the human rights of specific groups, the safety of students and staff, and the censorship of literary materials as political weapons.
Megan’s experience as an educator and volunteer demonstrates her unwavering commitment to not only the betterment of the district, but also the success of all students.
Judy L. Brady
“While treasuring all the excellence that Hempfield represents, I want to be part of a leadership team whose energy and time focus on the values of true public education for all with compassion, reason, and integrity. Hempfield should be in local, state, and even national spotlights for the right reasons: how the district advocates for and meets the needs of all students and staff and empowers their growth and achievement in academics, arts, citizenship, and athletics. I am eager to apply decades of experience as a Hempfield parent and teacher to benefit the schools and community that have meant so much to my family for so long.”
Judy was born and raised in Lancaster County and has lived in Landisville for 35 years. She and her husband Pat chose to build a home and raise their family here based on the excellent reputation of the Hempfield school system. The simple beauty of the area, the multitude of cultural experiences available, and the quality of business and professional services nearby, cemented their choice. Their adult children, Meghan, Kyle, and Duncan, are all Hempfield HS graduates. Judy and Pat are now grandparents to two little ones who also live - and will soon attend school - in the district.
After graduating from Ephrata High School, Judy earned a B.S. in Home Economics / Human Nutrition & Food from Rutgers University. In addition, she earned an Elementary Education certification from Millersville University and a Masters of Education in Reading and Literacy from Eastern Mennonite University. After a fulfilling career teaching Family Consumer Science at Hempfield High School (primarily Baking and Pastry Arts and the Preschool Child lab class), she retired in June 2019. Additionally, she ran a home-based Pampered Chef business for a total of 18 years, training and leading a sales team of over 100 other consultants.
Judy understands the needs of the district from the perspective of a taxpayer and parent of children within the district; from the perspective of a Hempfield teacher of both high school and preschool-aged students; from the life stories and perspectives of the wide variety of students she had the pleasure of encountering in her classroom and through extra curricular activities; and now from the perspective of a grandparent wanting the best education for young children who will soon be students within the district.
Peter G. Langseth
“I am proud to call Hempfield home and I want to see our district continue to excel in academics, athletics, and the arts. School directors need to keep an open mind and be guided by facts and the input of professionals and experts. I will use all the tools at my disposal to support our students, teachers, and families as we strive to make Hempfield an example of integrity, fairness, diversity, and community.”
Born in Providence, RI into a corporate management family, Peter’s family moved quite often. His travels resulted in time spent and experience gained in Rhode Island, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Mississippi, and Northern California before settling in Pennsylvania where he has lived for over 48 years.
Peter holds a BS in Finance and Economics from Lehigh University. Peter worked as a certified public accountant for many years before moving to industry positions in accounting and taxation with various companies including: Kerr Glass, GE Capital Modular Space, and Penske Truck Leasing.
Peter’s volunteer experience includes serving as a Boy Scout leader, acting as a judge for the board of elections, and participation in local sports organizations, including the Millersville Youth Athletic Association and the Lancaster-Lebanon Soccer Officials Association.
He and his wife Julie have a family that includes seven boys, all graduates of the Hempfield School District. They are retired and enjoying life in East Petersburg.
Erin L. Small
“I’ve been an advocate of public education my entire adult life as a teacher, volunteer, and parent. I’m running to support students, families, and educators, protect academic freedom, and voice the needs of the under-represented. I am committed to listening to varied perspectives and seeking common ground while maintaining a focus on what best serves the needs of all.”
Erin Small is an educator, parent, and resident of West Hempfield Township. She grew up in Southwestern Ohio and attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. Erin spent eight years teaching high school Language Arts in the Cincinnati area. She gained valuable experience through teaching at the university level while pursuing a master’s degree in creative writing, also from Miami University. While in Ohio, she also gained experience with homeschooling methods. For the last three years, Erin has been a substitute teacher for Hempfield School District.
In 2017, Erin and her husband Jim chose to relocate to Hempfield due to its exemplary reputation for academics and community. They are the proud parents of three children who are students in the district, the oldest set to graduate this spring. You can often find her in the stands supporting her son playing Mountville baseball or her daughter at Hempfield lacrosse. She always has a book with her in case she might find a moment to read.
She volunteers with community groups including Friends of the Lancaster Public Library and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate with CASA of Lancaster County. In this role, Erin is assigned by a judge to work closely with resource parents, biological parents, caseworkers, providers, and the affected children in order to advocate for the best interests of those in the foster care system. Additionally, Erin volunteers with Hempfield Power Packs where she helps provide local families with groceries so students can arrive at school ready to learn. Erin is also an involved volunteer in the Landisville Parent Teacher Organization, where she helps in classrooms and at events and has served on multiple district committees.
As an active volunteer in the Landisville elementary buildings and a substitute teacher throughout the district, Erin brings to the board an insider’s perspective on the needs of the district.