The Town of Wellesley depends on the active participation of its citizens in governance of the Town. Wellesley has 11 Boards and Committees on the ballot at the Annual Town election each year in March. The 2025 election will be held on Tuesday, March 4.

There one candidate running for one open 1-year term and one candidate running for one 3-year-term on the School Committee (see list of all town-wide office candidates). The five-member Committee is made up of local residents. The Committee’s responsibilities are to develop and manage school policies; support the allocation of resources by overseeing budget and facilities; hire and review the superintendent of schools; and advocate for the school district.

The School Committee candidate for the 1-year term is Sharon Clarke and the candidate for the 3-year term is Illana Nissenbaum.

The Swellesley Report invited the candidates to answer a few questions about their priorities for the Town of Wellesley, and here are Clarke’s responses.

Sharon Clarke

The Swellesley Report: Please introduce yourself to The Swellesley Report’s readers.

Sharon Clarke: Running for public office, much less School Committee was never an aspiration for me.

Yet, I’ve decided to run for the School Committee because my family has had such a positive and rewarding experience in Wellesley Public Schools, and I want to give back by ensuring that every student and family has access to the same opportunities for success. I believe in supporting our educators, strengthening our schools, and fostering a community where all students can thrive.

Like many Wellesley families, our family moved to Wellesley for its schools, 8 years ago. We have two children, one at WMS and one at WHS. Both children attended Schofield Elementary School where I was active in the Schofield PTO and in the community as a girl scout troop co-leader. From a community perspective, I was on the board the Wellesley Education Foundation and I am currently a board member of the Wellesley chapter of National Charity League.

For the past 9 months, I have been on the School Committee, appointed last spring to fill an open seat.

I believe these experiences provide me with a variety of viewpoints of the school system, its successes, challenges and opportunities. These perspectives coupled with my education and work experience in leadership development and organizational effectiveness have been and will be beneficial in making decisions that affect the district leadership, policy work and community engagement to achieve the goals set forth in the district strategic plan.

The School Committee’s priority, of course, is our students’ academic success and learning outcomes. But now, more than ever, I believe that school success needs to include the foundation and skills to be independent and critical thinkers who can connect, discuss, reason, and dissent with respect, confidence and the courage of convictions. I believe this is achieved through a challenging curriculum, supportive school environment, and caring school relationships.

Some of my priorities include: implementing more feedback mechanisms in the district, increased community engagement, and advocating for resources from struggling learners and those who may not be challenged enough.

I appreciate all the community support and look forward to working pragmatically and collaboratively with the community this year!

TSR: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in your tenure as a School Committee member?

Sharon Clarke: Overall, I hope to continue to refine our metrics so we are able to more accurately define our goals and positively drive change to improve student outcomes, especially where inequities exist. Additionally, I’d like to feel more confident that we have assessed and allocated mental health staff, services and resources to address the growing demands in this area.

TSR: Are Wellesley’s schools keeping up with those in our peer districts? In what ways are we ahead or behind?

Sharon Clarke: Wellesley schools are performing well relative to its peers, maintaining a position in the top tier of districts in the area. While precise comparisons to neighboring school districts should be made with caution, they can serve as a valuable barometer for assessing our strengths, identifying areas for growth, and ensuring we remain competitive in providing high-quality education for all students. Continued attention should be paid to ELA performance, performance among subgroups, and enrollment trends to maintain and enhance its standing.

TSR: How can Wellesley Public Schools rein in its budget going forward while still supporting new initiatives and higher educator salaries?

Sharon Clarke: WPS can evaluate for underutilized programs and reallocate resources to high-impact initiatives. I believe that analyzing and reducing administrative overhead, where possible, to preserve classroom funding is essential. With continued partnering with Wellesley’s Climate Action Committee, WPS can look to reduce operational costs through continued assessment of energy and water usage and seek funding from state, federal, and private grants to support innovative programs.

TSR: How should voters reach you if they want more information?

Sharon Clarke: sharon@perfectcurve.com