Hopkinton Candidate Profile 2022: Jenn Devlin

HOPKINTON, MA - Hopkinton voters will have some big choices to make in the election on May 16 for School Committee members.

There are three seats up for grabs, each with different term lenghts. Current Chair Nancy Richards-Cavanaugh is running for reelection for the three-year term against Christopher Melton.

The two-year opening became available following the resignation of Meg Tyler. Independent Ashley Fogg is running against Democrat Holly Morand for this seat.

Joe Markey's resignation led to an opening for a one-year term. Democrats Jenn Devlin and Jared Pray are running for this seat.

To help voters get to know each candidate, Hopkinton Patch sent all candidates a questionnaire to probe their thoughts on the issues. Here's what Devlin, who is seeking a one-year term, had to say.

Age as of Election Day:

49

Position sought:

School Committee

Party Affiliation:

Democrat

Family:

Husband & two children

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education:

Ed. D. in Curriculum Leadership, Northeastern University; M.Ed. in Elementary Education, Framingham State University; B.S. in International Business, Ithaca College

Occupation:

Public school teacher since 2005

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

Hopkinton School Committee May 2017-Sept 2020; Hopkinton Growth Study Committee, 2019-2021; Hopkinton Elementary School Building Committee, 2017-2020

Campaign website: https://hopkintondemocrats.org...

Why are you seeking elective office?

The School Committee experienced two unexpected resignations this spring. Within minutes of hearing of the resignations, I began preparing a statement for what I thought would be a temporary appointment.

I felt my prior experience on the Committee would help smooth the transition & support the work of the Committee. In lieu of appointing new members, our Select Board decided to fill the vacancies via Town election, so I decided to run for the 1-year seat.

Our public schools are incredibly important to me- I’ve spent nearly 20 years researching, studying, and working in public education, and I have a vested interest in our district with two children in the schools. I believe my career and Committee experience will facilitate a nearly seamless transition into the next iteration of our School Committee.

The single most pressing issue facing our district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

There are so many important issues facing our district as we emerge from the pandemic. One that I believe is something over which the School Committee has purview is engaging the community to find feasible solutions to the explosion of growth in our student population. I know this has been a priority for the Committee for the last 5-8 years, and I plan to maintain this as focus. We need to make sure the people in our town are informed, involved, and hopefully inspired by the work we do to address the growing student population, the increased diversity, and the changing needs of our students.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My opponent and I share many traits including being committed to supporting our schools, being enthusiastic for the job, and having a willingness to listen to the concerns of our citizens. However, I do believe that for this 1-year seat the post requires significant prior knowledge and experience to be able hit the ground running.

Having served an extended term on the School Committee and on other town boards, I have that experience and institutional knowledge to help support the work of the schools from day-one of the term. This would be my opponent’s first experience on a town board; though I hope he continues to look for ways to serve his town, I believe I am a better match for the needs of this post.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have “ate, slept, and breathed” public education for nearly 20 years. My doctoral research focused on school leadership’s impact on teachers’ response to mandated curriculum change, and my Masters thesis investigated the extent to which gender impacts students learning. I’ve worked in the Southborough Public Schools since 2005 teaching ELA, health, and currently as the technology integration specialist. I believe my career and education along with my previous experience on the School Committee position me to effectively handle this job.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Keep an open mind, and be willing to learn every day.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I would so much rather have a face to face conversation than engage in an email or virtual dialog. If anyone ever wants to chat, let’s meet for a coffee.