Public Education is a Keystone for Community
Partnering for Public Education, is a community group whose mission is to support a thriving system of public education. Our public school system faces unprecedented challenges. Extensive efforts to draw funds away from public schools through vouchers is exacerbating financial issues in a state system that underfunds its public schools. The current political climate undermines teaching as a profession. Goals
• Raise public awareness of state and local educational issues and events
• Actively demonstrate local support of our public schools
• Support tangible measures to retain and attract quality educators
• Advocate for ample and equitable funding for public education, utilizing all resources
• Encourage collaboration between all community stakeholders
• Strengthen and expand partnerships between the public school system and community
• Put all children and their well-being at the center of education
Accomplishments
• Ongoing email, letter writing, and community communications regarding NH Legislative issues, local matters impacting public education, and pro public education events
• Hosting school board candidate forums in collaboration with the Keene School District to inform the community regarding candidate positions on educational topics.
• Facilitating collaboration between stakeholders
Chair:
Joan Murphy has been an elementary school counselor for 28 years and has a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology. She served students and families in SAU 29 and Amherst, Massachusetts and has been a longstanding advocate for public education. She also was employed by Social Thinking, Boston as a social coach working with children and families. She and her husband Erik have two adult children who were educated by the Keene public schools. Members:
Nick Germana has been a professor of history at Keene State College since 2006. He specializes in German intellectual history and has taught classes on modern Germany and modern European history more broadly. He is currently serving his first term as a New Hampshire State Representative, representing Keene's Ward 1. Ellen Jahos has been an elementary school general music teacher in the public school system for over 30 years. She is currently an adjunct professor of music education at Keene State College and a teaching partner with the Colonial Theater’s Operatunity program. Her two adult children are Keene High School graduates. Jenna Spear is passionate advocate for public education, and has been involved in the Keene schools for over 20 years as a parent, staff member, and proud spouse of a Keene school teacher. Jenna is an entomologist and educator, and has taught at Keene State College and Antioch University, and currently works as a naturalist at the Harris Center for Conservation Education. Sandy Swinburne is a 45-year resident of Cheshire County who recently moved to Keene from Marlborough. She is a retired clinical and school psychologist who has worked in all of the SAU 29 schools. In retirement, she served one term as a Representative in the State House on the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, and is active with the county's Restorative Justice team. She and her husband Bill have two adult daughters who graduated from Keene High. Michelle DellaVita has a background in risk management, finance, human resources, and leadership development. She is a nationally and internationally credentialed Leadership Coach, is passionate about community engagement, participating in Monadnock United Way and Monadnock Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (MDEIB) Coalition. She is currently the Director of Development & Community Engagement for the Greater Monadnock Collaborative - regional chamber of commerce. She has lived in the community for over 35 years and spent 28 years as an active parent in the Keene School District. For more information about Partnering for Public Education or if you are interested in joining our group contact: [email protected]
