Woburn Candidate Profile: Jessie Wetzel For School Committee

WOBURN, MA — With the Woburn Municipal Election scheduled for Nov. 7, Patch is profiling the candidates.

Here, we learn more about Jessie Wetzel, who is running for School Committee. Wetzel is among seven candidates running for five open seats on the seven-person committee. Also running are incumbents Patricia Chisolm, Ellen Crowley and Andrew Lipsett and challengers James Austin, Marie Dellagrotte and Meaghan Morris.

The five winners will serve two-year terms. Meanwhile, Michael Mulrenan and Colleen Cormier were elected to four-year terms in 2021.

Wetzel is a teacher of the visually impaired, though currently on hiatus, and she has served on the Massachusetts Braille Literacy Advisory Council since 2021.

Candidates were sent questionnaires and filled out the answers.

Name

Jessie Wetzel

How old will you be as of Election Day?

38 years old

What city or town do you live in?

Woburn

What office are you seeking?

Woburn School Committee

Education

I hold a Master of Education specializing in Teaching for the Visually Impaired from the University of Massachusetts Boston, and a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Business from Michigan State University.

Occupation

I am a teacher of the visually impaired, currently on hiatus. Prior to teaching, I worked in the finance and hospitality industries as a sales and operations manager.

Family

My family and I live and thrive in Woburn. My husband John, daughters Addy and Aurora are in Woburn Public Schools, and Aubrey is a future Tanner. All of us are active throughout the community.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My spouse works for a state-quasi agency.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

I currently serve as a member of the Massachusetts Braille Literacy Advisory Council, since 2021.

Why are you seeking this office?

Our community has faced a challenging year, and I believe open communication is key
to healing and growing. I aim to improve communications, trust and transparency between all
members of the Woburn Public School community, including administration, teachers, staff,
students and parents.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Restoring trusted relationships is essential. Part of restoring trust requires a reassessment of priorities. Our community must continue to invest and innovate in our schools' physical and
technological infrastructure.

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

I'm a parent, educator, US military veteran and member of the Woburn community. I support our students, teachers, staff and each member of our community. Community encompasses everything from businesses, the library, recreation, residents and schools. I'll work tirelessly to achieve success for our schools and beyond. Our community has faced a challenging year, and I believe open communication is key to healing and growing. I aim to improve communications, trust and transparency between all members of the Woburn Public School community, including administration, teachers, staff, students and parents.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

I disagree with the premise of the question: 7 candidates are running for 5 school committee openings. I have met and talked with each current and retiring school committee member, listened to their thoughts and earnestly sought their opinions and shared mine — traits I hope to bring to the school committee.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

With the recent WTA contract settled this year, our school community faces important decisions around our capital investment in our schools. The feasibility study should help determine the best way to utilize funds. We must continue to invest and innovate in our schools' physical and technological infrastructure.

The first priority for our budget needs to be increased transparency in our school budget and budgetary process. Transparency provides clarity and helps reduce confusion for all parties. The second priority is increasing Woburn's right to win in state and federal grant programs, ensuring we are maximizing the available funds while also working to gain a greater share for our community.

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

I am a teacher of the Visually Impaired and hold a Master's in Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Previously, I have held various client-facing leadership positions with Bank of America, Starwood Hotels, and Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts.

Most significantly, I am a parent of a child at Goodyear Elementary and a preschooler at Reeves Elementary. I am a member at large of the Goodyear Elementary PTO, a parent leader of the Early Childhood Program Parent Group, and the Goodyear Elementary liaison to the Woburn Special Education Parent Advisory Council. In addition to my professional and volunteer advocacy work with Perkins School for the Blind, I am a parent member of the Massachusetts Braille Literacy Council.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

There is no such thing as the right time or appropriate experience level. There is only your commitment. Woburn, I'm committed.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Education is a civil right for all. The United States has deeply valued education as a tradition, particularly in Massachusetts where the first law guaranteeing public education for all predates the Declaration of Independence by almost 130 years.

I am excited to further this tradition, and envision a transparent, equitable and communicative school district, one where all members of the Woburn community feel invested in the future of the community. Woburn should maximize its right to win for all funding opportunities at the state and federal levels, including special education funds. I'm asking for your vote on November 7. Together, we can make Woburn Public Schools the best they can be.