Jennifer McCormack, Merrimack School Board Candidate

Jennifer McCormack

Age (as of Election Day)

43

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

School Board, 3 year term

Party Affiliation

Registered Independent. I have been endorsed by a majority of our Merrimack State Representatives.

Family

Husband and two boys ages 9 & 12

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.A. Psychology and Law, UMass Amherst

Occupation

Business, Finance and HR, 20 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/vote4JenMcCormack

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have been a Merrimack resident for 17 years. I have two boys (4th grade and 6th grade) at Thornton’s Ferry and JMUES so I have a vested interest in improving Merrimack schools so that our kids are equipped with a foundation of learning that will set them up for career and future success.

I would bring to the Board the valuable perspective of parents and the Merrimack community as we re-focus our attention to getting back on track with educating post-pandemic, providing students and teachers with the leadership, support, and tools to help them thrive.

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

There's an imminent need for working to bridge the gap in learning loss caused by the pandemic. The burden of the last two years has had a significant impact on both teachers and students. We are seeing that many students are behind grade level in academic performance and also an increase in behavioral and emotional issues that have resulted from two full years of interrupted learning and socialization. Our amazing teachers are working hard to support our students, but the risk for teacher burnout is high given all we are asking of them. As a Board member, I would work to support both students and teachers as we work to get back on track.

My focus would be on working to identify gaps in foundational areas of learning across all grades and implement a remediation program to help get students where they need to be for grade-level proficiency. Pre-pandemic, Merrimack had mediocre scores in reading, math, and science. We have to work to make sure they don't slip further behind and work to address learning gaps so that we can help set our kids up for success as they move forward in their learning journey.

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

Consider electing me for the perspective I bring as a parent and a member of the larger Merrimack community with an interest in working together to ensure we have a school system that runs efficiently and produces high quality outcomes. I will work to: ensure that all our kids are getting an education that meets high standards, provide our teachers with the resources and support they need to do what they do best, and for our residents to know their tax dollars are being spent wisely. We have some great educators and education administrators on the Board. I will bring to the Board a balance of representation, for parents and community members to ensure their voices are heard.

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

There are no incumbents running for open Board seats this year.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I hope to help foster strong and collaborative partnerships between families and teachers and to help instill public confidence in the Board and its oversight of District activities. I hope to work on building a partnership between school administration and Merrimack families, one that is rooted in transparency and collaboration, working toward the common goal of improving the quality of education for Merrimack students.

I support our fantastic teachers and staff and their tireless commitment to educating our kids. And I support parents’ involvement in their child’s education. I see it as the Board’s responsibility to ensure that all stakeholders are being consulted and informed about proposed policies, curriculum, and initiatives so that district leaders, teachers and parents are working together to ensure our programs are meeting the needs of Merrimack students and resulting in strong academic outcomes for our kids.

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

I’ve been involved in the Merrimack community, interfacing with families and serving on boards and committees for organizations like: Cub Scouts and Cardinals football.

I’ve had a 20 year professional career of leadership in the areas of finance, business administration and people operations (HR).

And I’ve been a NH small business owner, a youth coach. I’ve even done some substitute teaching here in Merrimack.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Work hard. Stay focused. And surround yourself with good people.

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

If elected to serve our community, I will work to lead the district on a path of excellence by diving deeper into Merrimack’s mediocre academic rankings and providing a plan to address findings to move the needle in a positive direction.

I'd like to see more focus on district goals with specific, measurable outcomes. We need to address the areas of weakness by making sure we have data-driven, evidence-based methods for teaching reading, writing, spelling and math. Research shows that students who fall below grade level in these fundamental areas of learning, continue to struggle throughout their academic career. The result is: compounded learning challenges as they move from one grade to the next, lower test scores, student behavioral issues, and in an increase in apathy and drop out rate. We can do better for Merrimack.

I'd also like to see some way of objectively measuring an individual student's progress or achievement. I am passionate about supporting all our kids to reach their personal best. I hope to work alongside our current Board members to raise Merrimack to one of the top school districts in NH that prepares our children for success well beyond graduation, whichever path they choose.

You can reach out to me with any questions or concerns and follow my Facebook page for updates over the next few weeks: Jennifer McCormack for Merrimack School Board. And I sincerely hope you will consider voting for me on April 12th!