PLEASE ATTEND THE SPECIAL TOWN MEETING THUR, JUL 27 AT 7PM
Vote for Jenny Turner for Regional Board of Education
About Jenny
- Jenny’s family homesteaded a ranch in Wyoming in 1918 where she was born before moving to Montana.
- She grew up on a sheep ranch where as a kid, she raised her own prize-winning sheep.
- Her parents instilled in her the importance of education excellence.
- She lives with her husband, Chris Pittenger, on Farm View Road and has four children.
EDUCATION
- Earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History at Yale University.
- Earned a PhD in American History from the University of Wisconsin concentrating in agriculture.
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Taught history to middle and high school teachers at the University of Wisconsin and UMass-Boston who were working toward their Master’s Degree.
- Managed a large neurobiology laboratory at Columbia University in a complicated bureaucracy that included responsibility for a $2M budget which she believes gave her a “good understanding of finance and budgeting and an eye for precision and detail.”
COMMUNITY SERVICE & EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
- Currently serving on the Clark Memorial Library Board.
- Currently serving on the Bethany Clean Energy Task Force.
- Served on the Bethany Community School Superintendent’s Advisory Council.
- Served on the BCS Wellness Committee.
- Served on the BCS Garden Committee.
- Co-organizer of the Common Core discussion group widely attended by parents, teachers and school administrators.
- Finalist in a national photography contest with work exhibited in Connecticut with Shoreline Arts Alliance.
- Published academic papers, children’s stories and photographs in national magazines.
IMPORTANT ISSUES TO COME BEFORE REGIONAL BOE IN THE NEXT 2-YEARS
- Jenny’s experience not only in academia but also in managing a school budget will provide Bethany a strong voice during negotiation of the teachers’ contract later this year.
- Dealing with budget uncertainties in Special Education due to the state budget cuts will require our representative to ‘hit the ground running’ and we believe Jenny can do this.
- Addressing the needs of the self-funded health claims or an unexpected event (major maintenance expense) while keeping the budget in check will take experience and skills.
- Return of surplus funds to the towns.
