Meet Jennifer Moshe, New Framingham School Committee Member

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Unless something strange happens, we already know who's going to win the nine Framingham School Committee seats up for election in 2021.

Seven incumbent members are running unopposed this year. District 3 member Scott Wadland and District 6 member Geoffrey Epstein are not running for reelection, and the two candidates running for their seats are also unopposed.

Even still, Framingham Patch reached out to each School Committee candidate running this year to ask why they're running, what they want to accomplish and how to encourage more people to get involved in local politics.

Jennifer Moshe, 48, has three children who have (or are still) attending Framingham Public Schools. Here's what she said about her run for office in 2021:

Why did you choose to run for a School Committee seat this year?

I chose to run for school committee because I feel my district deserves a voice and a passionate advocate. Though I am a busy business owner, wife, and mother, I am fortunate to have some time flexibility in my life and a very supportive family. My children are older now, and while it will still be a juggling act, it will be less of a struggle than when my girls were younger and I feel what I can bring to the table will be helpful. I am not a political person, but I know I want what’s best. I feel Mr. Wadland has done a good job representing our district, and though I had contemplated running in the past, we were in good hands with our representation. Now that Mr. Wadland has decided not to run, I know I can be the new voice for our residents' concerns, but also advocate for high quality, equitable and inclusive education across the district.

Can you tell voters a little bit about your personal background (including your school experience)?

I have lived in Framingham since 2006 along with my husband and three daughters. All three of our children have attended Framingham Public Schools. We started with the phenomenal BLOCKS program, which all of our children were able to attend. All three children went to Brophy Elementary School, our neighborhood school. While at Brophy I was active with the PTO, including serving as Treasurer for several years. For the years I was not on the PTO, I helped in the school with chaperoning or assisting with school events. I got to know many of the families, administration staff, and teachers while at Brophy. My two older children went through Fuller. While at Fuller it was more evident to me that the administration needed more support, and I made sure to go to the school committee meetings and voice my concerns. This past pandemic year our oldest daughter graduated from Framingham High School, our middle daughter is currently a junior at Framingham High School, and our youngest child is the first 6th grade class to attend the new Fuller Middle School. I still have 7 more years in the Framingham Public Schools with our children, and I want to help make sure that every child is able to get a great education.

You were the only person to file to run for this seat. Why do you think no one else wanted to run, and is there anything the School Committee can do to encourage more participation in elections?

I can not truly speak as to why others didn’t want to run, however, being on the school committee takes time, energy and commitment. In light of the busy, complex times we live in, not everyone has that time and energy. Once I know what the role truly entails from every aspect, I can tell others how they can get involved. There are always opportunities to help make a positive change. I would hope other will see that if I can step in to this role, that they can too, and I hope that can be encouraging.

What would you like to get accomplished in your first year on the committee?

In my first year, I would like to understand and improve the communication process. I think the district has to often failed in communication with families. The lack of timely and/or effective communication has lead to a lot of unnecessary confusion, anxiety and finger pointing. I can’t offer solutions until I understand the how’s and why’s things are currently done, but I do feel we have many missed opportunities due to the lack of clear and accessible communication. I expect my first few months after the election will be spent learning the many intricate details of all that the school committee’s responsibilities Once I have a better understanding, I can prioritize what I feel is most important and advocate for what I feel is best for all the students in Framingham. There is always a way to do better.