SCHOOL COMMITTEE
“My name is Jenn Schaeffner, and I am excited to announce my candidacy for one of two seats
open this year for the Marblehead School Committee. Much went into my decision to run for
office, and I want to take this opportunity to share my thoughts with the community.
Marblehead is at a crossroads. We have witnessed mismanagement in the town financial
department, crumbling infrastructure, lost revenue and the need for more affordable housing.
But our schools are faced with an even greater challenge: significant student learning loss and
the social and emotional struggles of our children.
If elected, I will work with the School Committee and administration to focus on the following
areas:
● Stop and reverse learning loss
● Create a culture that celebrates maximizing student achievement
● Promote programming that incentivizes strengthening student resiliency, independence
and critical thinking
● Insist, starting immediately, on a zero-based budget that creates budgets for each school
building from scratch based on existing student headcount, needs and appropriate
staffing levels
● Develop a long term plan to improve Marblehead’s educational offerings and bring back
current out-of-district placements so as many students as possible can be educated in
their hometown community
My background consists of over 20 years in financial services, banking and tax preparation, 16
years as a small business owner, 12 years as a parent leader and four years as a Marblehead
School Committee member.
As a parent leader, I served as an officer for the elementary, middle and high school
PTOs/PCOs and as co-chair of the Special Education Advisory Council (SEPAC). While on the
School Committee, I served as the special education liaison and the vice chair as well as on the
policy, budget and facilities subcommittees and on multiple school advisory councils.
I attended the Marblehead Public Schools as did both of my children. My husband and I are
deeply committed to this town and to helping it remain the vibrant, dynamic and historic
community it has always been. My goal in running for School Committee is simple: to improve
our schools so that they can do the best possible job educating students who are strong,
resilient, independent critical thinkers and prepared for secondary education, vocations or
military service with a desire to return to their roots to raise the next generation of
Marbleheaders.
I respectfully ask for your vote on Tuesday June 20, 2023, for Marblehead School Committee.”