Elizabeth Dunn - Democrat Running for Special Election Nomination | House District 21

Candidate, Special Election House District 21

About Elizabeth Dunn

Elizabeth was born in the Highland Park neighborhood of Pittsburgh and then attended public school in O’Hara Township, then graduating from Fox Chapel Area High School. Her parents were both University of Pittsburgh professors who instilled in her the values of public service, civic engagement and community partnership. With an educational background in social work, she began her career working as a case manager providing supportive services to unhoused mothers and children in Clairton, PA.

Elizabeth served as Democratic Committeewoman in Clairton for two years. She currently serves as School Board Director in Shaler Area School District, where she was elected to a four-year term in 2021. Additionally, she is the appointed PSBA Legislative Chair for the Shaler Area School Board, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Chairperson and a member of the Burchfield School Counseling Advisory Board. Elizabeth is also the elected Democratic Committeewoman for Shaler 6-4.

Elizabeth has lived in Shaler Township since 2017 with her husband and their six children. While she and her family call Shaler their home, Elizabeth has lived in almost every neighborhood of house district 21 including: Bloomfield, Lawrenceville, Morningside and Stanton Heights.

Elizabeth Dunn is a social services and human resources professional. She has worked diligently for her community, in both professional and volunteer capacities, for the past 20 years.

Elizabeth's most recent professional experience has been in the robust Pittsburgh tech industry, primarily focused on Human Resources and Operations Management, workplace culture development, process design and improvement. Elizabeth is a member of Pittsburgh Feminists for Intersectionality and has served as a grant writing volunteer for the organization. She holds a Facilities Management Professional certification from IMFA and is a PA Notary Public.

Donate to Friends of Elizabeth Dunn to support a progressive, grassroots campaign for state house district 21. Our campaign is funded by small dollar donors like you from our community.

DONATE

My story as an elected official

As a school board director I:

Have been appointed as:
- Pennsylvania School Boards Association Legislative Chair for two years in a row
- Equity, Inclusion + Belonging Chairperson
- Burchfield School Counseling Advisory Board Member
Introduced a board resolution in support of SB 180, that passed unanimously with district data showing a 42% increase in students eating breakfast in the '22-'23 school year with the institution of the statewide Free Breakfast Program
Is currently working in partnership with school administration to pass an MOU to create building level Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (EIB) coordinators in every K-12 building in Shaler Area School District
Developed programming and led teams through implementation of initiatives to streamline operational efficiency + increase fiscal responsibility

My future

In Harrisburg I will:

Work hard to fix the inequitable public school funding system in PA and fiercely advocate for Shaler Area School District and Pittsburgh Public Schools

Continue fighting for the physical safety and emotional well-being of all students through comprehensive mental health programming

Fight for reproductive freedoms for all communities at the state level

Fight for clean air and water by working with the Allegheny County Health Department to fine corporations for their environmental protections violations

Fight for all workers by developing clean energy job programs, living wage jobs, unions for all and safe staffing practices for all workers

Fight for affordable + accessible housing for our communities, rejecting continued gentrification by developers