Wayland 2020 Election Profile: Jeanne Downs For School Committee

WAYLAND, MA — The Wayland spring 2020 election is coming up on June 9, and Patch has reached out to candidates in several key races to learn more about why they're running this year.

Wayland School Committee member Jeanne Downs has served on the board for the past six years, and is running this year for her third term. There are two School Committee seats up for election this year, and two non-incumbents — Amanda Miles and Christopher Ryan — are vying for the second open seat.

READ: Wayland 2020 Election: Who's On The Ballot

Wayland will be holding regular in-person voting on June 9, but the Town Clerk is encouraging absentee voting due to the coronavirus crisis. You can vote absentee by mail or in-person. Find out more details on how to apply on the Town Clerk website.

Jeanne Downs

Age (as of Election Day): 57
Family: Married to Ben, 4 children (Travis 27, Emily 26, Mary 24, Anna 23) - all four children went through the Wayland Public Schools.
Education: BA in Economics, Harvard University
Occupation: Head Coach Wayland Junior Warriors Swim Team (12 years), formerly consultant Coopers and Lybrand (now known as Price Waterhouse Coopers) (6 years), prior to that various positions at Wells Fargo Bank (5 years).
Campaign website: downs4schoolcommittee.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

It has been a joy and privilege to serve on the Wayland School Committee the past six years. The Wayland Public Schools have been an incredible experience for our family and I want to make sure that remains true for all Wayland families. There is still much I would like to see accomplished.

The single most pressing issue facing our district is, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most pressing issue facing the School Committee right now is how we will get students back to school in the fall and deliver the learning curriculum. It goes without saying that school will look very different in the fall due to the current health crisis and I will continue to work with the School Committee and School Administration to determine what the fall plan will be. At this point Wayland has two working groups (Operations and Teaching & Learning) that are working very hard on this issue. We will have a proposed plan for the fall in mid-June but must remember that the plan needs to be flexible as there is no question that things will continue to change as we get closer to September.

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

The biggest difference between myself and the other candidates is experience. I have served for two terms on the School Committee and am well versed in the school operations, policy and budget. I have also had children at all levels in the district, K-12.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I’m a strong believer that every child deserves a chance to shine, and our schools offer Wayland’s students that chance. Whether it be in academics, athletics, the arts, or other activities, children in our town have the opportunity to find their passions and pursue them. When they leave the school system and begin the next chapter of their lives, our goal is that they leave as articulate, well-educated, and well-rounded young people. This only happens with the excellent teachers, administrators, staff, academics, and programs in our schools. I will continue to advocate for all of those in the future.

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

Through my work both as a consultant and a swim coach (two very different yet strikingly similar vocations) I have had the opportunity to plan and see projects through to the finish, help children and adults set goals and achieve them, work collaboratively with a wide variety of people, and listen to many thoughts, opinions and suggestions. All those skills will be very useful in serving on the School Committee.

Additionally as a member of the School Committee for the past two terms, I have worked in partnership with others to steward our school budget and have learned to push for a budget that is innovative, forward-thinking, and meets the needs of our students while at the same time respects our town’s fiscal constraints. I will continue to do so.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Always listen.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

This coming year presents itself with a unique set of challenges. We don’t know yet what school will look like in the fall, but we know it will be different. We will also be searching for a new Superintendent. I believe I have the experience and skills to help navigate these uncharted waters.

I love the town of Wayland and would be honored to serve another term as a member of the School Committee. My background in business, my leadership roles in the schools and other organizations in town, and my experience already on the School Committee give me what I need to serve our community well.