Hello! Thank you for taking the time to visit our webpage. I appreciate the effort you are putting into researching and learning about us, as Shanna and I run for the Webster Board of Education this year.
Background
My name is Jennifer Birdsong-Ng and I am running for one of two seats on the Webster Board of Education this May. My husband Phil and I moved from Greece to Webster in 2018 when our youngest son was born and our oldest son was ready to start kindergarten. As our third child had caused us to outgrow our current home, we decided we wanted to move to a town where our children could stay and grow throughout their educational careers. We chose Webster because we had several friends and acquaintances already living here, we wanted our children to have an amazing school district and we loved all the open space, parks, sports and community amenities Webster had to offer. We have not been disappointed. Phil and I have three children, Liam who is 7 and in 2nd grade at Klem South, Felicity who is 4, at State Road for UPK (Kindergarten next year at Klem South), and Rowan, 3, who will be attending a Webster day care center until he is ready to enter UPK and Kindergarten in the Webster Central School District.
Why
I am running for the Webster Central School District Board of Education because as a parent and tax payer in the district, as well as an experienced educator in another local district, it is imperative that school boards have a diverse membership including teachers, parents and community members. It is important that school boards not become complacent and detached from the ever changing educational environment. School board members should have a personal connection (including school age children) to our schools and our children and a vested interest in doing what is best for our students and educators. I am running because I believe it is time that the WCSD Board of Education have more teachers, parents of children at various grade levels and fresh ideas and perspectives to help navigate our district through this ever changing educational climate. I want to be an integral part of the decision making processes surrounding issues such as transparency, accountability, fiscal responsibility, equity and diversity, mental health support, Board independence and collaborative curriculum development that recognizes all students’ needs and backgrounds and prepares our children to face their futures head on.
Ultimately, I am running to become a Webster Board of Education member because I am ready to do what Webster stakeholders need. I will listen to, engage and communicate with, and show respect for, the thoughts, opinions and suggestions of every member of the Webster community. I look forward to improving the communication, cooperation and transparency of the Webster Board of Education for all Webster stakeholders.
Qualifications
To many, public education can be a complex and confusing institution for a variety of reasons. Between budgets, best practices, quality teaching pedagogy, the incorporation of technology, community engagement and more, there are many facets to keeping a school district running smoothly and successfully. As a veteran teacher, I have been within public education for fifteen years. I have participated in and learned from fifteen years of district budget planning. I have spent hundreds of hours engaged in professional growth focused on developing my instructional principles, quality teaching methods, implementing new technology and in developing high quality programming and curriculum for both my own classes and my district. In addition, I have participated in several contract negotiations, providing me with an in depth understanding of the financial decisions and challenges districts face when balancing the necessity of providing our children with the best education possible, with paying district employees fairly and maintaining a reasonable budget. I have also spent my career working side by side with dedicated educational faculty and staff including teachers, counselors, social workers, administrators, bus drivers, food service providers and buildings and grounds employees, all focused on the common goal of providing our students with the safest, healthiest and most positive educational environment possible. I am engaged in the business of teaching and growing the future citizens of our communities. When educational decisions are being made, we need people on the Board of Education who understand how every decision made will impact students, teachers, families and the district at large.
Outside of my educational experience, I am an active mother of three and am engaged in a wide variety of volunteer activities within the Webster community. These experiences have helped me develop my interpersonal, time management and collaboration skills. I have gained experience as a current co-chair of the Klem South PTSA and was the Klem South PTSA secretary previously. I am currently the secretary of the State Road PTSA and I am a co-chair of the Webster SEPTA (Special Education) organization. Within the district I am also a steering committee member of FIRE (Families Igniting Racial Equity), and am leading the Family and Community Outreach initiative. I am also an appointed volunteer on the PROSAR (Parks and Recreation) board for the town of Webster, as well as a member of the Women’s Club of Webster and the Ladies Auxiliary to the Knights of Columbus, both of which are community service organizations that help the Webster community. Lastly, I am a new participating member of the Town of Webster Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative.
Between my educational background and community engagement, I have demonstrated that I have the dedication, experience, knowledge and skills necessary to help shape the development of the Webster Central School district and the strength of mind to think independently when helping to make the tough decisions that will need to be made during these challenging times in education.
Final Message
Helping to build a positive and collaborative partnership between students, parents, teachers and the Webster Central School District community is at the very heart of what Shanna LaDelfa and I hope to do by being elected to the Webster Board of Education. We value engaging with parents, students and teachers and having conversations with them about their thoughts, feelings, concerns and suggestions regarding the current state of the district. Being open, honest and available is the cornerstone of not only our campaign, but our purpose in joining the Board of Education. We hope to create a climate within the leadership of the Webster Central School District that doesn’t just ask for feedback in a survey, but actually goes out into the community to shake hands, have open and transparent discussions and responds by using that feedback to make positive growth within the district. We will work to make the Webster Board of Education truly reflect the true voice of Webster for all district stakeholders.
