Joe, Pam and their 17-year-old son, Danny, live in Limerick Township where they purchased a home in 2001. He was elected in 2003 to the Spring-Ford Area School Board, where he has served for 10-plus years, including three years as president and three years as vice president.
For the last 14 years, Joe has worked as the Director of Sales and Promotions at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, a world-class arts center in Philadelphia. In this role, he works with Fortune 500 companies — executing multi-million dollar productions and building corporate partnerships.
One of three children, Joe was born in Long Island, New York, to Maria and James Ciresi. His father worked at a hydraulic filter factory and became a shop steward for the United Auto Workers.
His parents instilled the values of hard work and sacrifice. With the assistance of student loans and part-time jobs, Joe was the first in his family to attend college. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami in 1992, where he met his wife. After graduation, he worked odd jobs to make ends meet until he was able to pursue a sales career at the national theater publication, Playbill.
Joe has led the charge as board president for Petra Community Housing, which builds affordable housing options for seniors and the disabled in our community. This non-profit organization, based in Spring City, helped successfully open the Freedom House in Royersford, as well as the Flag House and Bard Complex in Spring City.
He promoted and strengthened vocational training at the Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center as chair of the joint operating committee. Enrollment at the center has increased by 30 percent.
Joe’s involvement in the district also includes the Trappe Community Music School, where he serves on the board of directors.
In Pottstown, he combined his interests in the performing arts and community revitalization by serving on the Steel River Playhouse steering committee. Today, Steel River “attracts new audiences to live theater, with convenient, affordable and high quality performances, comprehensive educational offerings, and enriching volunteer participation in all aspects of theatre arts, both onstage and off,” according to the theater website.
These experiences and contributions to the community would help make Joe Ciresi an effective state legislator.
Bipartisan Record
While reducing debt by over $125 million, Joe and his fellow board members moved Spring-Ford Area School District into the top 2 percent out of Pennsylvania’s 500 public school districts. During his tenure, the district expanded the high school’s Advanced Placement program and implemented the nation’s first-of-its-kind Hybrid Learning Center.
In 2012, Spring-Ford received the National Blue Ribbon Award — the first in district history.
Efforts to expand students’ horizons included the establishment of a student exchange program with Limerick, Ireland. This Limerick-to-Limerick partnership included a meeting with Ireland’s president and prime minister to discuss ways to enhance education.
Joe has served for seven years as a board member of the Western Montgomery Career and Technical Center, including three years as chairperson. This school provides excellent opportunities for high school students to learn a trade or skill not offered at conventional four-year universities.
During Joe’s time on the school board, the district expanded engagement with parents and taxpayers — holding a town hall meeting and reaching out through social media. Joe has lobbied at the state Capitol in Harrisburg on several occasions regarding pension reform, fair funding of education, property tax reform and unfunded mandates.
