Enfield Candidate Profile: Jean Acree, Board Of Education

ENFIELD, CT — The 2023 municipal election season is heating up in Enfield, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Enfield Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Name: Jean Acree

How old will you be as of Election Day? 66

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://www.enfieldrtc.org

What city or town do you live in? Enfield

What office are you seeking? Board of Education

Party affiliation: Republican

Education: Bachelors of Music Education from Boston University

What is your occupation? Retired teacher and currently Guest Advocate at Target Corp.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

I am blessed to have my mother, four siblings, two sons and three grandchildren.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Currently on the Enfield Board of Education.

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I am a retired teacher, who taught in the Springfield Public Schools for forty years. I feel I would be an asset to the board because of my expertise, longevity and experiences in the field of education. I care about the community where I reside, and I would like to do as much as I can to ensure that the Enfield students receive the best education. It would be an honor and a privilege to make that happen for our children.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is promoting academic improvements for the Enfield students. My number one concern for this school district is raising the reading and math scores. I would like to see the curriculum for Language Arts have a strong foundational rigor that stresses phonetics, reading, writing and the utilization of quality literature. For math, the focus should be on learning strategies such as computation and problem solving. These educational practices will prepare our students for a competitive and technology driven world. I feel our school system needs to promote academic growth in a timely manner.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

During my tenure as a teacher, I was professionally trained in curriculum and educational standards/ practices on a constant basis. Therefore, the knowledge that I gained during my forty years of teaching and professional development would be an asset to this board.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

I am not directly challenging a specific individual, but I do feel that the current board majority focused on issues that were more political than the academic issues that needed to be addressed. Our children deserve the best education we have to offer!

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I would like to see a Health and Wellness committee formed on the new Board of Education. I feel this committee will address the needs of our students that pertain to their social, emotional and behavioral issues. A collaboration of board members, behavior technicians, counselors and community members will offer support and resources to students who are experiencing problems/difficulties in the school setting.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I feel I can handle this job because I was an educator for forty years. As an educator, I taught the curriculum required by the district, served on school decision boards, conferred with parents frequently and mentored a student for many years.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

“YOU CAN DO THIS!”

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

As a retired teacher, I would like to give back to my community. Serving the Enfield Board of Education would be an honor. I feel quality education should be an integral part of the Enfield Public Schools.