- Hood River County School District
- Board Members
Jen Kelly, at large member
Jen Kelly, at large member
Jen Kelly was appointed in 2021 to the Hood River County School District Board. She serves on the Financial Advisory Committee and Bond Oversight and the K-12 SEL Curriculum Adoption Committee
1) Why did you decide to run for a position on the Hood River County school board?
Running for the board is the next logical step for me having actively participated in a number of board and district related efforts. I regularly attend school board meetings and am familiar with issues pertaining to the district. I have developed positive working relationships with existing board members and been diligently working with district administration on issues related to instruction during the pandemic. I was a member of the Ready Schools Safe Learners planning committee, The May Street Elementary School Site Council, I have become familiar with board processes, procedures, and policies and have voluntarily completed board member trainings to help come to workable solutions for everyone.
2) What is your background/profession, and where do you live?
I have lived in Hood River for 25 years and raised two girls in the Hood River School District; currently I have a senior and a freshman at the Hood River Valley High School. I have an M.S. in Fisheries Science from Penn State University, and a B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan. I have spent my professional career working in various analytical positions in electric utility industry and alongside IBEW union members. In my free time, I love to watch my girls play sports, run, backpack, hike, travel and ski.
3) What will your top priorities be if voters select you to serve on the board?
Responsiveness: I’m committed to being responsive to everyone in the district. Constituents will hear back from me.
Genuine Input: Strengthen existing opportunities for receiving input on topics that matter most to parents. Constituent’s opinions matter.
Innovation: Maintain an active commitment to working with administrators and educators to “get to yes” on issues facing the district. I will think outside the box.
Balancing all Sides: Maintain room for constructive and thoughtful feedback. I will hear and listen to alternative views.
Engagement: I’ll be dedicated to understanding problems and digging in to solve them. I will put in the time.
4) What changes do you think the district needs to make?
Focus: we’ve all been distracted by a variety of demands and challenges (not just pandemic related) and I’d like for teachers and kids to be able to refocus on what they are in school to do; focus on rigorous academics for kids at all levels of achievement.