Jennifer McCormack, Merrimack School Board Candidate

Jennifer McCormack

Age (as of Election Day)

42

Position Sought

School Board, 1 year term

Party Affiliation

Independent

Family

Husband and two boys age 8 & 11

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.A. Psychology and Law, UMass Amherst

Occupation

Accounting and Business Administration, 20 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/vote4JenMcCormack/

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running to ensure that our kids are getting the best education possible, and for our residents know their tax dollars are being spent to achieve a level of excellence in our schools that we can all be proud of.

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

Merrimack schools have been declining and I do not see that the current Board has a sense of urgency or a plan to address the inadequacies. Merrimack students score low compared to their peers in reading and math. Those who are struggling are not getting support they need. Others who want to be challenged are not being provided opportunity to excel. Students are falling behind or going out of district in search of a better education. Parents are frustrated with the current board for poor leadership during covid that has negatively impacted their kids’ education for nearly a year.
I intend to:
*work with administration to evaluate shortcomings and make targeted decisions to drive change.
*hold administration accountable for improving student outcomes.
*Demonstrate an open mindedness to innovative changes that will help us provide the best educational experience possible at all grade levels.
*Improve communication and establish a level of trust between parents, teachers and administration so that all stakeholders feel they have a voice and can bring concerns or ideas to the school board for review.
*Use assessments and data driven decision-making to ensure all students are performing at or above the minimum standards.
*Identify gaps or shortcomings in the curriculum that need to be addressed to be able to set up our students for success and improve assessment results and graduation rates.
*establish a culture and leadership framework that supports both teacher and student success.
*work to restore confidence that our School Board is working to provide educational excellence for our kids.

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

Of all four candidates running for the one year position, I have been the biggest advocate for students and families that has been speaking out about the deficiencies in Merrimack’s educational program, and the school board’s inability to provide continuity and excellence of education despite the covid crisis. I have served on volunteer boards in the past and been a key driver for change. Through my professional and volunteer roles, I have honed a blend of leadership and management skills are the right mix of collaboration and decision making that we need to turn this ship around.

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

One of the candidates for this position has been a School Board member for 7 years, and was the Board Chair this past year. During that time, the Board has implemented policies that have led to the degradation of educational achievement across the district. (Merrimack schools rank an average of 40-60% proficiency for reading and math which is middle of the pack compared to other NH districts). Moreover, during her time as Chair, the Board outright dismissed public participation and voted multiple times against the return to in-person learning, which 78% of parents supported, despite data showing that children are low risk. It is my opinion that the Board needs a change of leadership and new perspectives to restore representation to the community and confidence in the Board’s ability to lead Merrimack schools back to academic excellence.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Navigating the ever changing situation brought on by COVID was challenging, but as I watched the deliberations and decisions at this last year’s school board meetings, I felt that some members of the Board were not looking at the data and engaging with the community and Administration to make informed, logical decisions and implement a plan of action that was in the best interests of the students and families of Merrimack.
What we’ve learned in all this is that one solution doesn’t work for everyone and that the poor planning and preparation of the School Board and Administration had a direct impact on the quality of our kids education for months, leaving many to fall even further behind. As we look to September 2021, we need a School Board that is focused on mitigating the fallout and rebuilding in innovative ways that provides the best education we can whether or not the pandemic is still looming over us.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

*Focus on getting back to the basics of ensuring a solid education in core areas: reading, writing, math, science, history, etc.
*Implementation of meaningful assessment data for student achievement
*Hold the administration accountable to provide data to guide us toward improving the educational experience and student outcomes
*Create a leadership framework that drives a culture in the District of collaboration toward common goals
*Restore representation to the community: (students, parents and teachers) so that all stakeholders voices can be heard

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

I’ve served on multiple boards and committees. I’ve managed people and projects in my professional career. I’ve run my own business. I’m a parent of two kids currently in the elementary level schools here in Merrimack. I’ve demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate with others to achieve common goals. And I am confident that my experience has prepared me to take on the most important role of all, fighting for our kids’ education.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

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

My guiding principles -What I stand for and how I will approach my role (if elected):
*Focus on a path of excellence to provide our kids the best education we can
*Ensure all Merrimack students are getting the support they need for success
*Help restore community confidence in the board and in our schools
*Work on the issues important to Merrimack families and welcome public participation as valuable input in the consideration of all stakeholders points of view
*Decision making that aligns with what the residents of Merrimack see as priorities for our schools
*Compassionate and understanding
*Logical and thoughtful
*Be someone who steps up to make a difference and be part of the solution.
I will work to raise Merrimack to one of the top school districts in NH that prepares our children for success well beyond graduation.
I hope you will consider voting for me on April 13th!
Please visit my Facebook page or email me with any questions.