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UNION TWP. — Northwest Area School Board unanimously voted to have Misericordia University Assistant Psychology Professor Jennifer Yarnell fill the seat vacated last month by the resignation of Michael Kreidler.

The board accepted Kreidler’s resignation at its January 20 meeting without comment. State law gives a school board first crack at filling an empty seat between elections, letting a county court judge step in and make the choice if the board can’t agree on a person. The board’s vote Wednesday settled the issue.

Yarnell was one of five candidates who applied for the position. They each got a chance to answer the same short list of questions prior to the meeting, speaking in the recently refurbished auditorium and broadcast via Zoom for the public.

During her comments, Yarnell said she specializes in trauma, which could be particularly useful for those “in the trenches” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I can offer to the district knowledge in the area of health services, and I’m active in mental health services,” she said, “I’m energetic, very committed, have very high ethical standards and I’m a parent,” she added, noting she has four children, including a third grader “who loves school.”

“I want to be very active in making decisions that are in the best interests of the kids, teachers and staff.

According to the Misericordia website, Yarnell earned her bachelor of arts in psychology at Immaculata University in 1996, her master’s in clinical psychology at the Medical College of Pennsylvania/Hahneman in 2000, and her doctorate in clinical and health psychology at Drexel University in 2006.

The vote was unanimous, and Yarnell was immediately sworn in after it, taking a seat to vote on remaining items on the agenda.

Northwest Area appoints new board member to replace Kreidler