There are 6 available
slots so all 6 candidates will be on the School Council, and no elections will
be held. The School Council assists in developing our school improvement
plan, helps identify the educational needs of JFK students, and reviews the
annual budget. The School Council is an elected body required of Massachusetts
Public schools.
Michaela O’Brien
Michaela O’Brien
As the parent of one current JFK student and one
JFK grad, I am interested in being an involved part of how this school best
serves the needs of all students; how it sets educational goals and works to
meet them; how well it allocates resources set forth within the budget
parameters; and to be involved with the process, successful implementation and
assessment of the School Improvement Plan.
Over my first 11
years as a Northampton Public School parent, I have been very active in the Bridge
Street School community, where I helped found and run BASE, the Bridge After
School Enrichment program; co-managed the renovation of the Bridge playground
-- a $250,000, 16-month project which involved CPA grant writing, business and
community fundraising, and vast project management skills; managed several of
the PTO fundraising programs like Stop & Shop’s A+ Bonus Bucks; volunteered
time for fundraising, school events, and more. As a publicist, I helped
promote the successful “The Day The Music Thrived” concert which showcased the
talents of the JFK Jazz Band, and other school arts and music groups, in June
2013. I look forward to investing my time now in JFK by serving on the
School Council, to help ensure that our students, staff and family community
have a meaningful academic, broad artistic and enriching social
experience.
Melissa
(Childs) Phelan
I am a native of Northampton. My family
has been in the area for generations. My grandfather was heavily involved
in the Williamsburg School Committee and I hope to carry on his legacy of
service in education. I attended both Hampshire Regional High School and
Northampton High.
We recently retuned to the Valley from Western
North Carolina so that we could be closer to family and our daughter could
attend school in Northampton. My daughter, Meriel has just begun her
journey at JFK Middle School and has had a wonderful experience with the
transition from the Bridge Street School.
I would be honored to be considered part of the
School Council. As a student, I was a member of the student council, a
principal search committee for Hampshire Regional High School and participated
in student government in college.
Prior to relocating back to Western
Massachusetts, I was a fifth grade teacher and literacy coach for the Buncombe
County School District and am a NC Licensed Educator and have been entrenched
in the Common Core Curriculum since it's adoption/transition in NC five years
ago. Additionally, my resume includes a tenure in financial services as a
corporate trainer, group facilitator, retail manager, and senior leadership
member.
I think you will find that my skills and
experiences a benefit to the council and hope that you will consider my
application.
Heather Morini
I
wish to express my strong interest in serving JFK Middle School on its School
Council. For years I have been active in
Northampton school activities as I have a daughter in high school, a son in
middle school and another son at Leeds Elementary. I am a positive and enthusiastic supporter of
our schools and willing to advocate for top notch education for the children of
Northampton. In fact, I am a life-long
resident of the city, I am a proud graduate of JFK Middle School and
Northampton High School myself. As a
member of the council I would see my role as one serving all the students in
the school to provide the curriculum and instruction, the technology and
equipment, and the activities needed for a well-rounded education. I believe in a safe and welcoming environment
for all.
Working
with the principal, teachers and my fellow parents on the School Council is
inspiring to me. I do understand that
the council must review with the principal annually the school budget and the
School Improvement Plan. By being
involved and informed I am confident that I will make thoughtful and
constructive contributions to these important meetings.
I
look forward the hearing from you as I am a ready and willing candidate as a
parent representative on the JFK School Council.
Mark Watts
I am the father of two daughters: a
current 7th grader and another who will be entering JFK next
year. Both girls attended Bridge Street School. I served on the BSS
school council for 3 years and am a current board member of the Northampton
Education Foundation (NEF). I find the school council a great way for
parents to have a voice and to work with teachers and administration in helping
guide the direction of the school. As a parent representative, I promise
to be available to any parent who has concerns or who needs more information on
any issue the council can address.
I am a survey researcher. Over
the last 15 years, I have conducted many surveys and focus groups across the
country of the public and of teachers on variety policy issues related to
public education. I was also very actively involved in the past two
override campaigns to make certain our public schools receive the funding they
need. I was deeply involved in Bridge Street School and want find a way
to better serve the new school in my children’s life: JFK.
Richard H. Conner
I
would like to serve on the JFK Middle School Council and respectfully ask for
your support.
I
am the parent of two JFK students, one in sixth grade and the other an eighth
grader. Both of my children attended
Bridge Street School, and my spouse, Beth Goldstein, and I are both actively
involved with the public schools in Northampton. I feel that a vibrant public school system
must be continually focused on improvement, and this is most effectively
accomplished through collaborative efforts between teachers, school officials,
families, and other stakeholders. The
School Council is one forum where this can happen, and I would like to have an
opportunity to contribute to their efforts.
Thank
you for your support!
Doug
Wheat
I would like to be part of the JFK
School Council. My wife and I have a 6th grader, Zachary, at JFK and a
4th grader, Davis, at Leeds Elementary. As a Leeds parent I was a member
of the School Council and wrote a grant to bring an artist in residence to the
school. I am an active youth soccer coach and volunteer for several
organizations, including the United Way where I am the board chair. As a
member of the JFK School Council I hope to help the school identify educational
goals that support and challenge all students.
Thank you to all our
candidates for their strong interest in JFK!
School Council minutes are
posted on the NPS JFK website.
