Patch Candidate Profiles: Gene Lee, Hamilton-Wenham School Committee

HAMILTON-WENHAM, MA – When you vote on Thursday, April 6, at the annual town election, know your candidates. Patch is gathering these Q&As for those running for open seats on the Hamilton-Wenham School Committee.

Name, as it will appear on the ballot: Gene Lee

Age: 45

Hometown: Hamilton; originally from Torrance, CA

Position running for: School Committee, 3 year seat

Party affiliation: Democrat

Education: BA from the University of California, Berkeley; Master of Public Administration with focus on educational policy from the University of Washington

Work history: Currently I am the Director of Production Finance and Grants Management at WGBH. My prior work history includes positions with the Executive Office for Administration and Finance and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for the Commonwealth of MA, several educational nonprofit organizations working with children and youth, and teaching middle and high school English.

Volunteer history: I served on the boards of the Mystic River Watershed Association and the Mass School-Age Coalition.

Have you run before? If so, when?: No, but in December, I was appointed by the School Committee to finishing an unexpired term on the School Committee

Why did you decide to run?: With a daughter currently in 2nd grade in Cutler School and another daughter entering Kindergarten next year, I want to do what I can to help ensure and maintain the quality of education in the district. I believe in the value of engagement and contributing to the community. Through my work as a classroom teacher, in service-based nonprofits, and with a graduate degree in educational policy, I feel well-positioned to take these experiences and serve the communities of Hamilton and Wenham, and the students, parents, and staff of the schools.

What do you hope to accomplish in this position?: The pressure to maintain level service while also managing against large budget increases is a significant hurdle for the district. This is compounded by a declining student enrollment and a growing list of capital needs. I hope to be able to contribute and provide strategic direction to the School Committee and to the leadership of both Hamilton and Wenham about how we can best address these community issues so that we can not only maintain the educational quality and experience for all students in the district but also raise them.

Image via Gene Lee