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Dear Editor:
As a graduate of Noblesville High School, who purposefully moved back to Noblesville to raise my family, I can attest to how important educational opportunities are for our children and young adults. A strong school board can make all the difference in what programs are available for our students and what funding is obtained. I attribute much of my success in higher education to the multitude of experiences I had throughout my career at Noblesville High School – academically and athletically.
When I think about who will best lead our school board, there are qualities that those members must possess. Leadership is imperative to achieving goals and working together for a common cause, and experience in leadership is a must. Chuck Haberman has leadership experience. Whether it was leading his troops while working in the Marine Corps, teaching English to Japanese schoolchildren, serving as a board member for the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce or continuing his community involvement with the Hamilton County Leadership Academy, Chuck has the leadership experience to guide our school board over the next four years.
I’ve had the pleasure of talking with Chuck Haberman several times. As a parent with two young boys in the Noblesville school system, I wanted to know who he was and what he brings to the table. He too has young children and a vested interest in the Noblesville school system. He was very approachable and listened to my concerns. Having attended school board meetings, where there is little to no conversation, rather one-sided statements, I would like to see board members be accessible to parents. We need board members who are available, approachable, and will listen. Chuck is exactly that person.
Chuck’s current role in workforce and economic development brings a new fresh perspective to the board. His path to his degrees were not “conventional” and he can bring that insight to the board. The importance of providing opportunities and programs that prepare our children and adolescents for both higher education and the workforce is imperative. He has been on the employee development and retention side within the private sector and knows what training and life-skills our graduates need to succeed after high school.
Chuck is a leader with experience. He knows how to collaborate for the common good. He is a listener. He is caring. He is a parent.
I’d like to take a moment to thank Joe Forgey for his service. He was my dentist growing up, and I can’t think of a more enthusiastic individual who genuinely cared for every single patient. As a teenager deciding on a career path, I was drawn to dentistry as a possibility because of my interactions with him over the years. He was a leader in our community then, whether it was sponsoring an athletic team – we all wanted to be Forgey Flossers – or donating his time to teach kids about the importance of oral health. His true love for our community, kids, and schools is unmatched. I remember any time you were in the Ledger he would cut out the article and mail it to your home, congratulating you. He is passionate about the future for our children and is a natural leader, and he has been for nearly 40 years.
Our future is our children, our schools are a quintessential component to our future, and we need strong, proven leaders to continue Noblesville’s excellence. I support Chuck and Joe. These two men won’t let our schools, teachers, and students down.
Natalie Muir Eden
Noblesville