Jenna Miara

Questions and Answers

Question 1: What prompted you to run for School Committee? Was your motivation to run for office prompted by an issue that has personal resonance for you or your neighborhood?

I was raised by educators who gave me a deep respect for the transformative power of education and a commitment to giving back. The last several years have been difficult for NPS and more challenges lie ahead. I'm running to help, and I bring extensive, directly relevant experience to the role. I’ve spent my career working at the intersection of law, policy, and community leadership – with particular expertise in organizational management, budget oversight, outreach and engagement, and collective bargaining as an employer and a union member. It will be critical to have new School Committee members like me who can be effective from Day 1.

Question 2: What is your understanding of the role of the School Committee in the operations of Newton Public Schools?

By law, the School Committee oversees the superintendent, decides how to spend money allocated to the district, and sets educational goals and policies. Together, these powers give it the ability to provide direction through its policy and spending choices, and the responsibility to hold the district accountable and ensure decisions are made in the best interests of our students. To be successful, School Committee must collaborate respectfully with all stakeholders, communicate effectively with the entire Newton community, be a strong advocate for the resources our schools need, and engage in transparent and evidenced-based decision making.

Question 3: How do you define educational excellence in the Newton Public Schools?

Educational excellence means providing support and challenge as needed so that each student can excel, regardless of identity, ability, or background. It emphasizes academic rigor as well as critical thinking, problem solving, and resilience. Achieving educational excellence requires consistent delivery of high-quality teaching grounded in evidence-based practices that respond to individual learning styles, strengths, and needs. It also requires that all students feel a sense of belonging, engagement, and connection within our school communities, which are the building blocks of academic growth, student well-being, and lifelong success.

Question 4: In tight budget years, how would you prioritize funding allocations with respect to class sizes; funding of music, arts and languages; breadth of programming at the high schools; student’s mental health; and competitive salaries for teachers and staff? What other budget priorities do you think are important?

I would prioritize funding for direct services that allow all students to be available for learning by addressing their academic and social-emotional needs. That includes expanding our investment in proven, successful programs like MTSS and in smaller class sizes to allow teachers to better respond to individual student needs. A broad range of high school courses and programs like music, arts, foreign languages, and STEM help more students feel engaged and excited about learning. To make these other investments effective, we also need well-designed professional development for educators and effective tools for collecting and using data.