Patch Profiles Jenna Evans, Democrat Running For Upper Dublin School Board

UPPER DUBLIN, PA — As Patch continues our pre-election coverage, check out the responses to our candidate questionnaire from Jenna Evans, who is running for a seat on the Upper Dublin School Board.

Age (as of Election Day)

41

Party Affiliation

Democratic

Family

I have three children enrolled in Upper Dublin School District: an 8th grader, a 5th grader, and a 2nd grader

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.A. in Public Relations from The Pennsylvania State University (with Honors and with Highest Distinction) and J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law (magna cum laude)

Occupation

Over 15 years of legal experience and over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently employed as a Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for a financial services company

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

www.udalliance.org

Why are you seeking elective office?

My husband and I feel so lucky to be able to send our children to school in this amazing school district and I’m running for office as a way to give back to the community that we love so much. As to why I’m specifically running for School Director, I’m a product of public schools and I believe one of the foundations of our democracy is equitable access to high-quality public education. Beyond that, my commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and ensuring that all students and staff feel safe, supported, and represented is one of the driving forces behind my interest in running for School Director.

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

The single most pressing issue facing our Board is what I consider to be its most important mandate, which is to provide all students what they need to achieve their fullest potential in an environment that is safe, equitable, inclusive, and responsive to students’ individual needs so that our schools can continue to be a source of pride for our community. I intend to work collaboratively with our administrators to continue to ensure that our teachers and staff have the resources and support they need and to implement the various measures identified as a result of our recent equity audit in order to ensure better representation of our minority, LGBTQIA+, and special needs students in our curriculum; equitable access to higher level courses and college placement exams for all students wishing to challenge themselves; and greater education and access to programs promoting mental health, among other things.

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

While our opponents believe that Upper Dublin School District is in need of change, our slate believes that our District is well-managed and a model of excellence in so many ways. We are fearful, therefore, of what the “change” our opponents are proposing would mean for our District as we do not wish to see the tremendous progress we have made undone. We have amazing, talented, and dedicated teachers, staff, and administrators; we built a new high school not long ago and have nearly completed construction on a brand new, state-of-the-art middle school; we are a leader in our county and beyond with respect to our commitment to making our schools an equitable and inclusive place for all students to succeed; we successfully managed the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by developing innovative solutions and by listening to public health experts and prioritizing the safety of our students, staff, and community; and our schools continue to be recognized as among the best in Pennsylvania. That being said, there is always room for improvement and as a School Director, I will be committed to ensuring that we continuously strive to be the best school district we can be.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I don’t believe our current Board has failed the community in any way and, to the contrary, I’m very proud to be running with incumbents Titia Scherpbier and Mark Sirota, both of whom have selflessly served our community on the School Board and in other ways for many years.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Our campaign platform is based on the following principles: providing our students with the highest quality public education that enriches them and prepares them for the future; attracting and retaining the best teachers and administrators; supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that make each student feel safe, represented, and championed; maintaining a responsible and long-term fiscal plan that addresses future capital improvement needs, provides for continued funding for arts, music, technology, and other enrichment programs, and includes programs that provide tax relief for those in financial need; and protecting the wellbeing of our students, staff, and community as we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic by adhering to the guidance and advice of public health officials so that we can keep our schools open safely.

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

In addition to my years of community service, including as a two-term PTO Treasurer and school volunteer, I am a senior executive for a large, publicly-traded financial corporation with extensive experience leading and managing a team, working collaboratively with both internal and external stakeholders, developing a multi-million dollar budget and designing various cost-improvement initiatives, making high-stakes decisions, and ultimately being held responsible and accountable to customers and shareholders. Each of these skills will be put to good use, working as part of a nine-person board, responsible for providing District oversight, managing a budget of over $100 million, and representing the best interests of our students and community.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Learn something about everything and learn everything about something

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

I have had the pleasure of serving for many years as a member of my company’s Diversity & Inclusion Council and as the Executive Sponsor of an international affinity group for female employees, as part of which I have served as a mentor and as a speaker regarding recognizing and overcoming unconscious bias and for which I was recognized as a finalist for a Women in Housing Award for Excellence in Mentorship. These experiences demonstrate my long-standing commitment to celebrating diversity, fostering inclusivity, and providing equitable opportunities for all. I’m running for School Director, not just for my kids or because of the issues that directly impact our family, but for all students in the District and, to that end, I have made it a point since I became a candidate to attend meetings with a wide variety of equity groups throughout the district (whether focusing on special education, gifted education, or issues facing LGBTQIA+ students or students of color) in order to understand the unique perspectives, concerns, and needs of all students and I will continue to make this a priority of mine if elected.