Priorities

Why I Ran for School Board

My name is Chris Sykora, and I’m ran for the Southern Lehigh School Board because our public schools are too important to be dragged into divisive battles. I’m a father, an engineer, a former substitute teacher, and a community volunteer who believes in putting students, families, and educators first.

My wife and I chose the Lehigh Valley over a decade ago as the place to raise our family. Our son Benjamin attends school here, and we’ve come to care deeply about the people, the values, and the potential of this district. But I also grew increasingly concerned about the direction our school board was heading in 2021 and 2023.

So, I ran for school board to bring us back to what matters: education, opportunity, and respect.

My Priorities

🏫 Focus on Education

Our school board’s job is to make sure students succeed—not to fight culture wars. I’ll work to refocus the board on educational excellence, not distractions.

👩‍🏫 Support Our Teachers

Teachers are the backbone of our schools. I’ll push for better support, more resources, and policies that help them do what they do best, teach.

🎓 Expand Opportunities for Every Student

Whether a student is college-bound or pursuing a career in the trades or technical fields, they deserve pathways to success. I’ll advocate for programs that reflect the diversity of student goals and talents.

🧒 Full-Day Kindergarten

Southern Lehigh was the only district in the Lehigh Valley that doesn’t offer full-day kindergarten. That's now going to be changing soon, but there is going to be a lot of important work to do as the new full-day kindergarten program is rolled out in the 2026-2027 school year.

🥦 Healthier School Meals

Our students deserve better than processed junk. I support moving toward a healthier, more self-sustaining meal program that helps kids learn, grow, and stay energized. I'm not looking for a massive overhaul. I'm more interested in a change towards more chicken nuggets and less cinnamon buns for lunch.

🚫 No Tolerance for Bullies

I will not tolerate bullying

• Not in our schools

• Not in our community

• And not on our school board

A Voice of Reason. A Focus on Results.

With your support, I’ll bring practical, level-headed leadership to the board and ensure Southern Lehigh remains a district we’re proud of. Let’s protect what works, fix what doesn’t, and make sure every student has the tools they need to succeed.