Patch Candidate Profile: Jennifer Maxon Kennelly, Board of Education

FAIRFIELD, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in Fairfield will be on the ballot, including Board of Selectman, Board of Education, Board of Finance, RTM and others.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 7, Fairfield Patch has reached out to local candidates to share their views on various topics of importance in town.

Patch will post these candidate profiles over the next few weeks, so check back often to see the latest.

Name

Jennifer Maxon Kennelly

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

https://www.fairfielddemocrats.com/board-candidates/jennifer-maxon-kennelly-

What city or town do you live in?

Fairfield

What office are you seeking?

Board of Education

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education.

BA English - College of the Holy Cross; MA Secondary Curriculum and Instruction - Fairfield University; 6th year degree and 092 - Sacred Heart University

What is your occupation?

High school English teacher

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

My husband Jim and I have three children -- all graduates of Fairfield Public Schools -- Fiona, Emma, and Jim

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

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

Yes, I am a current BoE member

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 have devoted my adult professional life to education, and this office presents the opportunity to be involved in education from a very different perspective from the classroom. I enjoy the work and believe I add a point of view that benefits the Board and FPS.

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

"balancing fiscal priorities as they impact student success"
We have myriad issues -- facilities, contracts, changing curricula and standards, data from test results, SEL concerns, to name a few -- requiring thoughtful investment of finite resources. As I have done for 12 years, I bring this awareness of competing interests to each meeting and ask lots of questions, always with a focus on how do we best meet the needs of our students to achieve the District's mission.

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

I am the only current educator on the Board, and will continue to be the only one if re-elected. That perspective would be sorely lacking in so many important decisions without my serving at this post.

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

N/A

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

During my campaign? We will be having significant budget discussions, capital planning discussions, and a really important presentation and vote on the English Language Arts curriculum -- all of which tremendously impact the district moving forwards. And that's just in the next two months....

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

I have been serving for 12 years as a BoE member and Chair of the Policy Committee, and I have been working in education for 33 years. As a teacher, English Dept. Chair, and school administrator, I have overseen the complete rewrite and vertical aligning of an outdated curriculum, written successful grants for building upgrades, created from scratch an entire alumni database and founded an alumni association, instituted standards and recruitment that led to the flourishing of a struggling school (and the capturing of a state basketball title!)....I would encourage any member of the public who has any doubts about my ability to handle this job to please reach out for a conversation!

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

It never hurts to ask.

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

I will bring to all my work on the BoE an interest in hearing varying perspectives, a resistance to "confirmation bias," and an independence that is focused on the students of this district in all discussions and votes.