Patch Candidate Profile: Jennifer Jacquet, Amity Board of Education

ORANGE, CT — As the 2023 municipal elections get closer in Orange, there are plenty of races with candidates who are eager to serve in elected office.

Orange Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will publish candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Jennifer Jacquet, 42, is running for a seat on the Amity Board of Education in Orange as a Democrat candidate.

Education.

Bachelors of Science in Special Education from New York University, Master of Arts in Music Therapy from New York University.

What is your occupation?

Director of Operations for SOSA - Safe from Online Sex Abuse, a nonprofit.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

Married to Kristen Blando, who grew up in Milford and is proud to have brought us back to her hometown area and now works for Earth Animal. And we have a son who is 11 years old and attends Race Brook elementary school. We also have two dogs who enjoy our yard and local walking trails.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

No.

Why are you seeking this office?

I have extensive time spent teaching groups and individuals in the classroom. I have a deep understanding of diverse learning abilities, neurodivergence, giftedness, mental health, and each one’s impact on learning. The second essential quality to help contribute to the Amity Board of Education is non-profit management. I served on the board of NAMI Westchester (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) for 6 years; including 2 years as President. I currently work for SOSA - Safe from Online Sex Abuse, as the director of operations. In these experiences, I’ve contributed to the creation and implementation of board governance, budgeting, and strategic planning. I’ve worked with diverse stakeholders with varying opinions and have found consensus in a diplomatic and empathetic way that brought people together for common goals.

I have gone to multiple Amity board meetings and spoken during public comment about my support of the teachers, administration, and public education in general. I have seen the multitudes of attempts by community members to sow seeds of distrust in our public schools and denigrate our superintendent. I am a believer in the essential necessity of public schools and the importance of being an inclusive place for ALL students. I’ve been through the 504 and IEP process as an educator and as a parent; and I’ve fought for the educational needs of students. I hope to serve as a representative of the LGBTQ+ community and to provide real lived experience as a family in Orange.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Teacher retention and support. Amity will soon be renegotiating their teacher's contracts and high quality teachers are in short supply. Many teachers have recently, or are considering, leaving the profession because of multiple factors, including lack of support and changing expectations. We have seen in our own community Freedom of Information Act requests that have required huge amounts of extra time from teachers and anti-DEI debates that led to multiple budget referendum votes. I believe that our Amity Board of Education should serve as the champions for public education in our communities and support our teachers and administration.

I am a staunch supporter of DEI and all that it stands for. As a former special education teacher, I know that the framework of DEI is essential in creating a welcoming and affirming environment that also includes high expectations and rigorous instruction for all. It is also a critical part of supporting anti-bullying policies and supports a school atmosphere that doesn’t tolerate discrimination of any kind. Source material that showcases real history and the voices of those who experienced it can be hugely impactful on students' understanding and learning. The celebration of diversity brings with it a number of educational benefits; including improved racial and cultural awareness, enhanced critical thinking, higher levels of service to community, and a more educated citizenry, to name a few. I believe that DEI is an essential part of a great school system and that the current board’s letter about DEI was a powerful response to the real ways that DEI is used in our Amity schools (https://patch.com/connecticut/orange/amity-boe-inclusion-isnt-zero-sum-proposition).

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

My special education and nonprofit background, and my experience as a board member, set me apart from my other highly qualified Democratic candidates. In terms of the 3 Republican candidates from Orange, all three have spoken openly at BOE meetings about their distrust of Amity teachers, media specialists, and administration. They have called for the removal of any diversity programs and for the banning of books. I think that their ideologies are quite extreme to most Orange residents who believe in public schools and want them to improve and provide quality education.

I am charging myself with finding common ground for all members of our community. It is essential to consistently evaluate our standards and programs so we can innovate to give our students the best educational experience available. When that is the center of our decisions; everyone is more successful.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Many parents moving into a district will specifically ask about the school's special education program. Schools are only as good as how they help those with special needs; whether for college preparations, a trade, or other pathway. Amity has built up its special education program in recent years but I think that there is room for the Amity Board of Education to continue this effort. With new grants that have been received for mental health programming, I can bring expertise to see how these can support our students so that they can fully access their educational goals.

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

As board president of NAMI Westchester, I was presiding over an organization that did not have an Executive Director or major fundraising plan. I was able to bring a fundraising walk to our organization that within 2 years raised over $100,000 and help the organization to become chartered, a process that included strategic planning and new board bylaws and governance. NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) is a grassroots advocacy group and the participants of the programs and board have varying point of view that can at times be difficult to reconcile. I have been consistently praised for my ability to share my point of view in a way that brings people together. I will bring my experience in consensus building to the Amity Board of Education role.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My father was an immigrant from France and was very proud when he became an American citizen and was able to vote. He was a Republican and we didn't always agree politically when I was a strong willed young adult. He would always push me to listen to other's point of view, even if I didn't agree. He believed that listening to each other's lived experiences and learning from each other was an important way to "debate" and find common ground. He found too often that we dismissed each other without asking enough questions. I have found that my curiosity and willingness to understand others, has allowed me to make connections and learn and grow to clearly define my politics, values, and viewpoints.

Does your campaign have a website?

www.orangectdems.org/team/jennifer-jacquet.