A Whitemarsh Township resident, Beth Patruno was re-elected to a four-year term to the School Board in 2023, after having served a previous four-year term that began in December 2019. She was elected as Vice President in December 2021 and President in December 2022 and 2023. Mrs. Patruno is the director of a local preschool and has more than 10 years of experience teaching elementary school students in Philadelphia and working as a literacy specialist for Temple University’s College of Education.

She served on the Ridge Park PTO Executive Board for five years, leading as co-president for three years. She has also been active in the Colonial Elementary School PTO. She volunteers with local community organizations, including her church.

Mrs. Patruno holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gettysburg College and a Master of Science degree in Education from Drexel University.

She has lived in the area since 2003 with her husband, Luciano, and her two children, Edward (Class of 2026) and Annie (Class of 2028), as well as two cats and a dog.

“I’m active with pursuing my dreams and goals, so when the call of action was ignited within me to run for a Colonial School Board Member seat in 2020, I responded with a firm ‘yes!’” 

Raised in an urban Philadelphia community, Mrs. Plant attended the Philadelphia public school system for her middle and high school years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Drexel University in Computer Information Systems and immediately began her 25+-year career. She received her Master’s Degree in Leadership Development in 2015 from Penn State University. 

Mrs. Plant’s family is one of her most joyous and proudest accomplishments. She is the wife of Ronald Plant and mother to three daughters — Sanahji, Zoraya, and Jaylah. They also include their Maltipoo, Nala, as part of the family. 

Mrs. Plant has lived in the Colonial Community for 15 years. 

“I firmly believe that our children’s overall wellbeing is of high priority and should be first and foremost when making decisions regarding their academics and overall interests,” said Mrs. Plant. “When I leave this earth, my aspiration is to have inspired all I came in contact with to open their minds and embrace all that God has planned for themselves, the community, the country, and the world.”

A member of the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Class of 1999, Rick Carpenter brings strong ties to the

community and an extensive knowledge of technology to the Colonial School Board. 

“I'm excited to advocate for our students,” said Mr. Carpenter. “I hope members of the community find me approachable and willing to listen.”

Mr. Carpenter is the president and owner of an information technology (IT) managed service provider in Blue Bell, Pa. His company offers IT consulting, provides help desk and managed security services for small businesses in the region, and donates time to work with nonprofit organizations on their IT infrastructure. He holds a bachelor's degree in IT from the College of William and Mary and a master's degree in Cybersecurity from Villanova.

Outside of work, Mr. Carpenter can be found serving as division coordinator for Colonial Soccer, fields coordinator for Conshy Bulldogs Boys Lacrosse, and assistant division coordinator for Plymouth ABA Basketball, while coaching teams for soccer and basketball. He is also on the leadership council and is active in youth ministry at Storehouse Church.

“This district has been such a positive for both me and my family,” said Mr. Carpenter. “I wanted to contribute to continuing Colonial's outstanding legacy as an asset to the community — and as a great place to learn and to work.”

He married his wife Brooke in 2005. They have three boys: Cole, Tate, and Keene.

A Whitemarsh Township resident, Chris Epstein was re-elected to a four-year term to the School Board in 2023.

Mrs. Epstein has volunteered extensively in Colonial schools having been active in various PTOs, the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Post Prom Committee and the PWHS Band Boosters. She helped develop an after-school program at the Salvation Army in Philadelphia and assisted in mentoring children at a Salvation Army camp for 15 summers. Mrs. Epstein also serves as volunteer director of children’s ministry at her church. She has attended classes at Drexel University and Temple University.

An educational coach and consultant, Ms. Sharon Marino brings more than 20 years of experience working for the

School District of Philadelphia to the Colonial School District, where she was appointed to the Colonial Board of School Directors in January 2021 and then re-elected in November 2023. 

“I am enjoying learning the systems, perspectives, and processes that support our school system and look forward to continuing to listen, learn, and collaborate with our students, families, educators, and community,” said Ms. Marino.

While she was principal at McClure Elementary, the school improved their rating from “intervene” to “reinforce” on the School Progress Report and benefited from a number of grants to ensure access and opportunities for all students and their families. A proud member of the Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders and a Neubauer Fellow, Ms. Marino is using the knowledge and experience she gained as a teacher, coach, and principal to support current educational leaders in their craft. 

Ms. Marino has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Rosemont College, a Masters in Elementary Education from St. Joseph's University, ESL (English as a Second Language) Certification from Penn State Abington, and Principal (K-12) Certification from Cheyney University.

A resident of Conshohocken Borough, Ms. Marino has served on the Conshohocken Dog Park Committee and is a member of the Colonial Area Anti Racism and Social Equity Alliance. She is currently pursuing her Yoga/SEL teacher certification and plans to share her practice with teachers and students in underserved communities.

Ms. Marino is married to her husband Mike and is “dog mom” to a pup named Dee. She enjoys traveling, playing softball, yoga, reading, and spending time with her father, siblings, and 14 nieces and nephews.

Bio coming soon!

Mrs. Rasheda Randall brings more than 25 years of teaching experience and a dedication to service to her role on the

Colonial Board of School Directors. She was appointed to the Board in December 2023. 

“Muhammad Ali said it best, ‘service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth,’” said Mrs. Randall.

A graduate of Germantown Friends School, Mrs. Randall holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a Minor in Education from Bryn Mawr College, a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Arcadia University, and a Master of Science Degree in School and Mental Health Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. 

She has used her education to teach in large urban school districts, as well as private and independent schools, where the student population has included incarcerated youth, undocumented youth, foster care and homeless youth, and adolescents receiving therapy in a behavioral health hospital. She currently teaches Special Education at a technology high school.  

Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Randall volunteers with Best Buddies, where she’s paired with an adult with special needs for social group outings like bowling or the movies. She also serves meals to people with food and shelter insecurity with her daughters through Philly Serves.

Mrs. Randall lives in Plymouth Township with her husband Ahmed and is the proud parent of two daughters: Safiyah (Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Class of 2018 and recent Temple University graduate) and Rayannah (current PWHS student and member of the Bowling Team). The family has a box turtle named Optimus Prime and a rescue cat named Prince. 

“As the parent of Colonial School District students, I appreciate the support and guidance that my children receive from their teachers and support staff members daily,” said Mrs. Randall. “I look forward to learning about the many behind-the-scenes moving parts of a school district. I am excited to meet and dialogue with members of the Colonial School District community at both formal and informal events.”

Mrs. Randall enjoys traveling, reading poetry, and learning about diverse cultures and languages. Her bucket list includes climbing to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Mr. Santiago brings his passion for community service and his experience as a behavioral health worker to his School

Board position. He was elected to serve in November 2025.

“I wanted to be a School Board Director because I am very thankful for our community and the awesome school district that our children are in,” he said, adding that he wants to serve as an example to his own children to be a positive role model for others.

Mr. Santiago believes that his experience in the education field and his time living in the community will serve him well as a Board member, where he hopes to work with others to make a difference and help Colonial to be successful.

“I’m looking forward to growth and being a part of the team that will continuously help with change,” he said.

Mr. Santiago grew up in a small town in Puerto Rico, later moving to West Chester, where he became determined to learn English. Through English as a Second Language classes and much persistence, he was able to soon communicate with new friends. In high school, he played sports and dreamed of attending college. He made that dream come true by earning a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University.

“This proves that no matter where you are from, whether rich or poor, or with a language barrier, through determination anything is possible. I am a living testament to that and that’s why I love what I do. It’s totally gratifying helping my students achieve their goals,” he said. 

Helping students achieve their goals has been a theme throughout his career. Following college, Mr. Santiago worked as a case manager and Assistant Dean of Admissions at Shippensburg University. He later moved on to become a behavioral health worker for the WES Health System in the Philadelphia School District, and has been in this role for 20 years. 

“I love the fact that with my education and life experiences, I am able to make a difference in others’ lives and help individuals find a way to be successful or better their lives somehow,” he said. 

He lives in Lafayette Hill with his wife, Chanel (an Army veteran), and his two sons, Jayden and Jaylan, who are both Colonial School District students. The whole family is regularly involved in community service, which includes cooking meals for Mr. Santiago’s students, collecting toys for children in need and helping families with clothing and food. Mr. Santiago is also a coach for his sons’ sports teams.

Jeremy Schwartz brings his experience in finance and a sense of community to his role on the School Board. He was elected in 2023 to a four-year term. 

Mr. Schwartz, who holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Temple University, is currently employed in finance at the National Philanthropic Trust, one of the country’s largest grantmaking institutions. Previously he worked for a public accounting firm for 14 years. In the community, he serves on the Board of Trustees and holds the Treasurer role for a Lafayette Hill synagogue. 

He hopes to utilize his personal and professional background, along with other volunteer service, to further the mission of the Colonial School District.

“School Board members should have the needs and well-being of all students, teachers, administrators, and all community members as the primary reason for getting involved, and I try to live by example while serving on the School Board,” he said.

Mr. Schwartz has enjoyed the opportunity to meet teachers and students of all backgrounds across the District. Listening to students and teachers talk about the resources they have available to them, what they are doing to further their education, and what they are doing to make a positive impact on the world has been memorable.

“I have a tremendous sense of community and look forward to meeting as many residents as I can to help foster the best environment possible for students and teachers,” he said.

Mr. Schwartz lives in Whitemarsh Township with his wife and two children, a first-grader at Ridge Park Elementary School and a pre-schooler, and a boxer-mix named Violet.