Shannon Zimmerman, the new vice president of the Manheim Township School Board, is at the forefront of its decision process. The board, consisting of nine members, makes impactful decisions about students, their families and their everyday lives.
This past fall, Zimmerman ran for her position on the board. Though it was a difficult process, with many new experiences and challenges, she said that it was worth the hard work and dedication.
“It was a longer and more arduous process than I ever thought before running for political office,” Zimmerman said. “You have to put yourself out there in ways that you never have had to before as a person and as a resident of the district.”
On Dec. 1, 2025, at the school board’s reorganization meeting, she was officially nominated and elected for the vice president role by her fellow members. On the board, Zimmerman helps approve the district budget, board policies and oversee the superintendent, along with addressing community issues.
Though she has only been on the board for two months, Zimmerman is a part of many major changes. Some relevant issues being discussed at board meetings include Nitrauer’s potential renovation and drafting the school calendar for the 2026-2027 school year.
One of Zimmerman’s main goals as a decision maker for the district is to make sure that everyone is heard and supported, whether that means trying to structure some school days for students who observe different religious holidays, or including student perspectives in discussions.
“One of the key factors that the board wanted to see was: did we have a lot of conversations with different members of the community,” Zimmerman said. “Did we talk to students, families, teachers, administrators, and do we have all the right voices at the table to make the decisions that are best for every member of the district?”
One of her favorite parts of being on the board is the ability to connect with her community. Zimmerman said that she started noticing her focus on the township and its residents while she was campaigning, and she stated that it got her excited to use her passion for the benefit of others.
“What I love about living in the district and being known as a school board member is that people will talk to you about different things that are impacting them, or their students, or their families,” she said. “I love to hear what’s on their minds, and I feel like it makes me a better decision maker. I want to make sure that my vote represents what people want.”
Zimmerman has ties to school staff and students; her parents worked in a school, while her three adolescent children are directly impacted by her decisions. She has a strong belief that every staff member has the power to contribute positively to the learning environment, which is why she wants to empower them through her position as vice president.
The students in the district are also important for her, driving her focus on creating a prosperous education and extracurricular setting. She urges students to approach the school board with any and all concerns they may have.
“Students, come to us anytime,” Zimmerman said. “Whether you have questions, want to give us feedback for consideration, or there’s something that you want us to know, it’s really important. If there’s something that you want to see that you think is absent from schools, we’d like to know that too.”
The school board, along with its members, hopes to continue to make the school district a positive environment for everyone who is a part of the education process. If you would like to bring up an issue to the board, they host meetings on the second and third Thursdays of each month at the district office.
