To the Editor (and Newtown);

Hi, my name is Jennifer Padilla and I am running for a seat on the Newtown Board of Education in our municipal elections November 2, 2021.

I have lived in the heart of Sandy Hook for 13 years with my husband and two daughters. I love our town, with its modern yet bucolic feel. Like so many Newtowners before us, one of our main reasons for moving here was for the wonderful schools. I have spent almost a decade in our town, learning about how our school district works, while serving our community through various volunteer commitments, education-related boards and committees, and working directly with our educators and district staff.

In spending six years on a PTA board (four of those as a president/co-president), I have learned how to advocate for all children and staff that work in our schools. I’ve learned to listen for opportunities to improve our programs and processes and to think through creative solutions to problems, while adapting to constantly changing circumstances. That has been critical these past few years. Through my years of work on the Parent Educator Advisory Council’s (PEAC) Community Partnership and Budget committees, I’ve learned how important it is to create bridges between our schools and other organizations in our town, so that the community at large understands how education is evolving and how our children are learning to become productive and supportive members of our community.

My time on our District Safety and Security Committee has taught me how important it is to look to experts in fields that fall outside of my experience and to use quality data to inform my decisions while remaining focused on the goal at hand. These are commitments I still hold today and are opportunities that have been invaluable on my path toward understanding the mission and role the Board of Education plays in both the education of our children and the success of our community as a whole.

I believe in celebrating and supporting our diverse community, creating transparency into our processes and programming, and making sound financial decisions for our schools. If elected, I will work tirelessly for all of the families of Newtown and the staff in all of our schools, to keep our schools safe, our policies fair to all, and to bring new creative ideas in the areas and subcommittees for which I am responsible.

I would love to hear from the members of our community and hope that you will come out and support our town this November by casting your vote for some amazing candidates, all committed to keeping Newtown strong. Today. Tomorrow. Together. Every voice, every vote counts — and this is your opportunity to have your voice heard and have an impact on how your taxpayer dollars are put to work… and of course, I hope that you will consider casting your vote for Jennifer Padilla, for Newtown Board of Education.

Jennifer Padilla

Newtown