To the Editor:
I am writing to my beloved Guilderland community.

My name is Jennifer Romano, and I’m running for school board because I want to ensure safer schools that embrace diversity, inclusion, and equity.

I am running to transform what’s possible of a board of education member through simple innovation and collaboration within our greater community. I have always lent my passion and diverse skills where I see great need, and I feel our schools are in desperate need on so many fronts.

Teachers, staff, and administrators alike are struggling to do more with less. Students are struggling with the highest levels of anxiety we’ve ever seen. Parents are struggling to recover from the pandemic, manage negative effects of social media, and to find ways we can best serve our schools.

We have three children, at Westmere and Farnsworth. For the past five years, I have worked diligently to enhance safety measures within our district. I am the first non-district, or non-town-affiliated member invited to serve on the district’s Safety and Security Committee. That commitment has extended me opportunities to also sit on the Gun Safety and Social Media subcommittees.

When I’m not focused on making our schools safer, I’m sharing my talents volunteering in and out of the classroom.

From constructing sets/props for the Farnsworth Middle School’s production of “The Lion King” to developing creative fundraisers, I’m always working hard to make our community better. I’ve independently raised thousands of dollars for the Westmere playground and purchased inclusive equipment, which can be used by differently-abled students. 

In addition, I started an incredibly successful sneaker recycling program at Westmere, which has raised thousands of dollars more. I just secured a partnership with Freihofer’s run for women and children this June to participate in our sneaker recycling program to reduce shoes in landfills and stimulate global economies while raising money for Westmere.

Professionally, I was born and educated right here in the Capital District. I have a marketing and management degree from Siena College and an MBA with a concentration in human resources and information systems from UAlbany.

I built a successful career as a functional lead consultant implementing human resources system solutions for public-sector clients, such as the District of Columbia city government and D.C. public schools. However, my ultimate job title is “Mom.”

I am a strong advocate in the greater community. I’m a Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) leader, bringing no-cost SHP programs and initiatives to a larger audience within my community. I’m also an active Moms Demand Action member, which has served me well on our Guilderland Central School District Gun Safety subcommittee.

I wholeheartedly advocate for inclusion of differently-abled individuals, both as a volunteer for the Special Olympics New York and as a fundraiser for the Best Buddies Walk for Inclusion.

I have a proven record within our district for being an out-of-the-box thinker who can work with anyone. I know how to collaborate and implement solutions that work.

If our budget doesn’t have the bandwidth to meet all of our needs, then we need to get innovative. We need creative problem-solvers. We need people able and willing to meet those immense challenges and work with all stakeholders to implement positive change.

I am confident if given the chance to serve your families and our schools on the board of education that I will be the agent for change we desperately need.

I am running independently on my own unique vision, untethered to any other candidate. But I am not alone. I am running with every employee, student, parent, and resident on my mind and in my heart. It is time for us to heal as a school community and respect one another because our children are watching.

If elected, I pledge to bring an empathy and compassion aimed at diffusing tensions, not fueling them.

It’s time to leverage our human capital. There is no shortage of good ideas, talents, and generosity in our district. From sports to music/arts, I’ve seen how supportive Guilderland can be.

If elected, I will work to maximize the ways our greater community can help our schools. If we can identify and effectively communicate how people can help, I believe we have the potential to increase community involvement, fundraising achievements, employee retention, and begin to heal.

If you support my vision and proven track record for safer, more inclusive schools, please vote Jennifer Romano (like the cheese) on May 17!

Please follow my “Jenn Romano for Guilderland School Board” Facebook page to learn more about who I am, what I’ve done, and my plans for our future.

Thank you and take care!

Jennifer Romano

Guilderland