Sue Jennato, Bedford School Board Candidate

Sue Jennato

Age (as of Election Day)

55

Position sought (including district number if applicable)

Bedford School Board 3-year seat

Party Affiliation

School Board is a non-partisan position.

Family

Scott (spouse) and 2 children ages 17 and 20

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BS in Business, University of New Hampshire

Occupation

Past experience includes roles in Sales and Forecasting

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I am currently an incumbent on the Bedford School Board and Board Chair

Campaign website

http://www.suejennatoschoolboa...

Why are you seeking elective office?

Since March of 2020 I have been honored to serve on the Bedford School Board and for the last year as the Board Chair. I am seeking re-election as I would like to be able to utilize the knowledge I have gained over the last 3 years and my drive and passion for our community to continue to move the district forward in a positive manner.

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

I think the most pressing topic for our School District is ensuring the academic success of our students. I feel this goes beyond academics and is interwoven with other issues like mental health, retention of quality staff and school safety.

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

I have spent 14+ years volunteering in the Bedford School District, served seven years on the Bedford Parent Teacher Group (PTG) Executive Board (three as Co-President), coordinated four Color Blast Fun Runs, and served on Lurgio’s Stand By Me (an offsite workshop event for 7th graders and their parents) Committee. I was awarded the Champion for Children Award, which recognizes NH citizens who have given distinguished and voluntary service to benefit children. All of this, along with my three years serving on the School Board, provides me with a very unique perspective and understanding of the district, the challenges we face and solution we must strive towards for our continued success.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Beyond academics, also important to me is developing a responsible budget that serves the needs of our students and schools but also respects the community’s ability to fund it. Other focuses of mine include mental health and wellbeing (recognize the intersections between physical, mental and behavioral health, and how they impact student academic attainment) and school safety (continue to work collaboratively with local law enforcement to prioritize the safe and secure environments for our schools). Last but not least, it is important to factor in the needs of our amazing staff and teachers (who work tireless and often thanklessly in support of the success of our students) and our involved and engaged parents and community members.

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

Serving on the board for the last three years I have been able to work on policy updates, District goal development, budget creation and contract negotiations. I have also served on the Curriculum Committee, Professional Development Committee and BHS Community Senate. I helped bring student voice to School Board meetings by suggesting the addition of BHS Community Senate updates and I proposed reinstituting Community Forum Meetings for parents and community members. I have also taken time to connect with staff, the leadership team, librarians, special education director, guidance counselors, students, and community members to better understand the issues facing our schools.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

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

I believe the role of the school board is not to run the district, but to make sure it is run well...providing oversight without overstepping. I respect this distinction and I think it is important to work closely with our Superintendent to ensure policies and people are in place to successfully run the district.

I am experienced, prepared, thoughtful, and involved. I’ve tried to find the right balance between representing the interests of the community and parents and letting our district experts do their jobs. I understand and respect the fiduciary responsibility placed upon a School Board member. I try to have an open minded, level headed approach to meeting the needs of our students and district.

I would be honored to have your vote on March 14th for Bedford School Board.