I am running for re-election to the School Committee and I ask for your vote on Monday, March 3rd. As the current Chair with three terms of experience, I bring the skills and proven leadership we need to navigate many complex issues ahead.

Experience matters now more than ever, as our town and schools face serious challenges—budget pressures, enrollment concerns, building projects, and MBTA rezoning. I have managed multiple budget cycles, engaged in enrollment planning, and successfully built several schools. My solid grasp of school and municipal finance, operations, and facilities planning will be invaluable. This hard-earned experience takes years to develop but is crucial for navigating such complex and multi-faceted issues. The learning curve is steep; new members need time to come up to speed. With so much at stake, we need seasoned, capable leaders. I am committed to working hard to find solutions that balance the educational needs of students with the concerns of our residential tax-payers and community.

Caring for our students is at the heart of what I do. I’ve listened to students who want their heritage accurately represented in our curriculum. I’ve sat with countless students who suffer from stress, anxiety, or feel unseen. I know of students who never really learned to read with confidence. I feel personally compelled to do right by all our students. Every decision I make as a School Committee member is driven by my core belief in doing what is best for our children.

I have devoted my professional and personal life to education. I have a doctorate in education (Ed.D.) from the Harvard Graduate School of Education where I also worked professionally as an educational researcher. I am passionate about understanding how children learn and finding ways to ignite their curiosity and joy in learning. Although I’d studied education, it wasn’t until I became actively involved in Lexington Public Schools while my children attended that I realized just how hard teaching is and what excellence in education looks like. With 20 years of active involvement in LPS, I gained extensive knowledge about the schools before serving on the School Committee.

During my time on the School Committee, I have championed support for mental health through policies and protocols for at-risk students. I advocated for a curriculum that helps children understand diverse perspectives and experiences; it is now being implemented. I was instrumental in crafting our LPS core values which unify our community around shared goals and set a foundation for our children’s future success as critical thinkers, productive collaborators, and compassionate adults.

With your support, I will focus on these priorities in my next term: 

• Manage budgets and costs while maintaining the excellence of our schools
• Collaborate with community stakeholders to address school enrollment and housing development
• Engage every student with the right academic challenges for personal growth
• Ensure students of all abilities learn foundational skills in literacy, math, core capabilities
• Support students’ emotional needs so they feel safe and know they belong
• Provide equitable and inclusive education that serves our most vulnerable students
• Teach a curriculum that accurately represents and respects all people.

Constituents and colleagues have found me to be an attentive and sympathetic listener. I’m always open to hearing from you, and I welcome your feedback with an open mind. I take a thoughtful, deliberate approach to decision-making, weighing all factors, listening respectfully to multiple perspectives, and asking tough questions.

I encourage you to learn about me at my events and my website www.jayforschoolcommittee.com, or contact me at jayforschoolcommittee@gmail.com.

Let’s bring back an experienced leader who cares for our children and our community. Vote for Eileen Jay on Monday, March 3rd!