Jennifer Senavaitis has announced her candidacy to serve as a member of the Northwestern Lehigh School Board.

“It is with great enthusiasm that I am running for one of the four available school board director seats for the Northwestern Lehigh School District” Senavaitis said.

“It is my goal that we, the members of the Northwestern Lehigh School District community, can work together to support the vision of our school district while ensuring our children have the best opportunities for success, both now and in the future.

“When I first mentioned to my daughters that I would be running for school board, their first question was ‘Why?’

“My answer was I care about what happens to your education.

“I believe the Northwestern Lehigh School District is one of the best.

“It is a hidden gem in the Lehigh Valle­y. I have lived in the Lehigh Valley since 2002.”

Senavaitis says when they moved here, it was important for them to choose a school where teachers and staff knew her daughters and they would have the opportunity to get involved.

“There is no better place for our girls!” Senavaitis said. “I have two daughters - one at the high school and one at the middle school.”

Senavaitis says the education they have received is absolutely aligned with the vision of the district: “Create an environment where all students participate in highly engaging, relevant learning experiences.”

“It is a challenging curriculum that allows for them to be real-world thinkers. Exactly what our children, today, need to be able to do in this ever-changing world, “Senavaitis added. “Currently, I am an eighth-grade counselor for Whitehall-Coplay School District.

“I have worked with children and families for more than 20 years in both the school setting and the foster care/mental health setting.”

Senavaitis has an undergraduate degree from Millersville in psychology and a Master’s degree in counseling psychology, where she obtained her K-12 school counseling certification.

“I am always looking for additional educational opportunities so I went on to receive my K-12 principal certification five years ago,” she said. “Needless to say, I am committed to students and helping them to achieve at their greatest potential,” says Senavaitis. “Because of the strong commitment that I have to help children and families, I am looking to use my knowledge of the school system in a school board director position.

“Our children are our future leaders. We want to give them every opportunity that we can before they head out into a world that expects them to have the skills to perform in the workforce.

“Should I be chosen to be one of the lucky four school board directors, it is my commitment to parents, students, and fellow community members, to be transparent, listen to the concerns and praise of others, and ensure that all decisions are made in the best interests of our students.

“Your role, as a parent, is to advocate for your children. That is what I believe the role of the school board is - advocacy.

“It is with your voice that better decisions can be made for the greater good of the school community.”