Jim Kelly Announces Bid For Framingham School Committee

Jim Kelly, a father of two boys in the Framingham Public Schools, announced his bid for one of two seats on the Framingham School Committee. He was one of three candidates, who took out nomination papers, today, Nov. 24, the first day they were available. There are two 3-year seats available. Voters will decide in April 2015.

The following is announcement, as submitted to Framingham Patch:

The heart and soul of every community is its educational system. Framingham’s school system is attractive to families because of its diversity, and for the academic and social opportunities it provides. We must foster growth and commitment by families in the years to come to achieve even greater success. Studies have shown a positive impact on communities when there is more family involvement in and support for the education children receive. Crime decreases, property values grow, and families are likely to support local businesses. The town and all of its residents benefit from a forward thinking and strong educational system.

Further, I believe we should support teachers as they expand their teaching methods to reach students of many different learning styles. The use of current technology and expanding our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) programs are a necessity for our children to maintain an advantage in the twenty-first century.

I am committed to working with parents and teachers in building Framingham’s educational system as the cornerstone for our community and children’s futures.

I met my wife Marion, a Framingham native and 1:1 aide at C.A. Dunning Elementary school, at Bridgewater State College. We have lived in Framingham for just over eight years with our two sons ages nine and twelve.

Over the past five years, I have been involved with coaching Framingham Baseball for my sons’ teams. This winter, I look forward to my second season coaching TBA (Temple Beth Am) basketball. We are pleased with the educational and community experiences our children have had in Framingham and I hope to ensure similar experiences for other families.

While at Bridgewater, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and took part in training through the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program. I began my career with at-risk youth on the South Coast. I spent several years as a Residential Care Manager for youth at the Saint Vincent’s Home. Later, I became a case manager for homeless youth ages 18-21 and a crisis intervention specialist for 14-18 year olds in Somerville. There, I helped young men and women obtain steady work, complete high school, and even enroll in college courses to build their educational experience. Today, my role as a consultant to colleges and universities on student recruitment and retention displays my strong belief in the power of education on our students’ lives.

I respectfully ask for your support in the upcoming election. I am committed to open discussions about the Framingham Public Schools. I am looking forward interacting with the residents of our town to share in the growth of our most valuable asset, the schools.