Dr. Kurt R. Venator for Williamsville School Board: A Top
Candidate
Kurt R. Venator, PhD, DVM has the leadership, educational, and budgetary experience necessary to ensure Williamsville schools maintain their reputation for academic excellence and continue to develop students into thoughtful, productive, and empathetic members of society. Explore this site to learn more about who Dr. Venator is, what issues he is concerned with, and ways you can join the cause.
Who Is Dr. Venator?
Committed to Excellence
Dr. Kurt Venator is the Chief Veterinary Officer for Nestle Purina Pet Care and a product of the Williamsville schools, having attended Maple East, Heim Middle, and Williamsville East (class of '90). He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Union College, majoring in Biology and minoring in English.
Dr. Venator completed his Ph.D. in Neurobiology from The University of Texas at Austin, where he served as an Assistant Instructor in Medical Physiology and Adaptive Physiology. He then completed his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Cornell University, receiving the prestigious Dorothy Sullivan Prize in recognition of his exemplary efforts to strengthen and enrich the activities, outreach, image, and environment of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Venator frequently speaks across the country on the topics of pet nutrition, veterinary medicine, and professional development to students, faculty, and staff. He has been featured in a host of national and regional media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Business Week, NPR, and the Martha Stewart Show.
Dr. Venator and his wife, Kristin Campbell, Ph.D. (also a 1990 Williamsville East graduate), currently have three boys in the Williamsville schools (Maple East, Transit Middle, and Williamsville East).
What Are The Issues?
Transparent Decision-Making
It is imperative that we provide parents, teachers, and community members with a meaningful voice in district matters. Decisions should be made in a transparent and collaborative manner so we can continue to build on the legacy of this respected school district. Parents, teachers, and community members should feel empowered in district decisions and I want to ensure this happens by keeping the lines of communication open.
Eliminating Drug Use and Bullying
We need to place more emphasis on and apply more resources to eliminating drug use and bullying in our middle and high schools. Many families have first-hand experience with one of these negative aspects of our schools--some have even experienced both. This is unacceptable and I know as a district we can do better through stronger character education programs, greater enforcement efforts, and more community group involvement in our schools.
Improving Education
We need to continue to decrease class sizes in the elementary schools to facilitate effective learning and social development. Twenty-four students in a first-grade class is too many. In the middle schools we need to ensure our students are offered science and social studies every day. We also need to encourage the creative side of education in the elementary and middle schools through theater productions, science experiments, and field trips--not just an emphasis on the "Common Core."
Make Your Vote Count
May 16, 2017 @ Williamsville North HS
Please show your support for Dr. Kurt Venator by voting on May 16, 2017 at Williamsville North High School between 7am-9pm. Absentee ballots are available from the district office in Casey Middle.
