Jennifer Lima for North Kingstown School Committee

Haga clic aquí para leer el contenido del sitio web en español

Re-Elect

Jennifer LIMA

for North Kingstown School Committee

Student focused | Community Oriented

Ally | advocate

transparent | Responsive

School Committee

About Me

A fierce advocate and ally who has fought and won battles to protect our kids, increase access to mental health resources, and make our schools more inclusive.

My husband and I have called North Kingstown home for 23 years. We have four children, all proud graduates of NKHS. Professionally, I analyze market data, industry statistics, historical trends, and market dynamics to help improve forecasts, budgets, and sales across various departments. I'm also the founder and president of a nonprofit focused on anti-racist policy reform, education, and advocacy, as well as combating all forms of discrimination. In 2020, I ran for the school committee because I wanted to show my children how important it is to stand up and take action for positive change.

I'm running for re-election in 2024 because we need candidates who support healthy learning environments for all students and firmly oppose transphobia, racism, and any other form of bigotry. I have a proven track record of advocating for these principles, and I'm committed to making sure every student feels safe, valued, and included in our schools. North Kingstown has exceptional schools with outstanding individuals who achieve remarkable things every day. It's been an honor to witness this firsthand over the past four years. With our administration now fully staffed with permanent leadership, I'm confident that, if given the chance to serve another term, we can take our district even further.

1st Term

RECAP

Current Committee Roles

Founder and Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Committee

Appointed 2021

Chair of the Policy Advisory Committee

Appointed 2022

Member of the Temporary Advisory Committee on District Discipline

Appointed 2024

Member of the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee

Appointed 2024

Key Accomplishments

Created the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee

Successfully championed a districtwide equity audit

Implemented late buses for better access to after school activities

Updated district documents to reflect inclusive language

Proposed resolutions for safe storage of firearms, opposition to book bans, and annual recognition of June as Pride Month

Advocated for increased mental health resources

Advanced policies related to anti-harassment, support for LGBTQ+ students, purchasing procedures, use of district property for community organizations, and investigation and administrative leave

Promoted transparency by initiating monthly office hours, recording of advisory committee meetings, quarterly newsletters, and increasing citizens comments time from 3 to 5 minutes

Increased student voice in areas affecting change by adding spots for students on committees and actively seeking student feedback

Goals & Priorities for Next Term

Continue to Increase Student Voice and Involvement

Students should be involved in decision-making at all levels. Middle and high school students already have voting roles on the DEI Advisory Committee and the Temporary Advisory Committee on District Discipline. I want to expand this to all advisory committees.

I also want to review Democracy Night and Senior Night projects for recurring themes. If the same issues come up year after year, it means these are important to students and need attention.

Recently, a student started a student council at WMS, and I think we should have one at DMS too. Ideally, there should also be some form of student leadership council at the elementary schools. Schools exist to educate and prepare students, so it's essential to include their input in decisions that affect them.

Close Academic Gaps

There are still significant disparities in our assessment scores by subgroup. Quidnessett Elementary has consistently ranked last in the district, scoring at least 20 points below the next school. From 2022 to 2023, scores for our Black/African-American students decreased in the RICAS and the NGSA. The gap between white students and the next highest-scoring race/ethnicity group in NK continues to be higher than the state average. There are also disparities by gender, socio-economic status, and students with IEPs.

While standardized scores are only one measure of student performance, these ongoing differences indicate that we need to define and implement new strategies. We should increase engagement with students and families to better understand their needs and how the school can support their success. Additionally, we need to review our assessments to ensure they reflect the broad range of students' learning and skills. Providing a culturally relevant curriculum and accessible testing is also essential.

Improve Disciplinary Practices

The Equity Audit conducted in 2022 found that disciplinary referrals across the district are disproportionately high concerning race, gender, socio-economic status, and disability status. The Temporary Advisory Committee on District Discipline is reviewing this data and gathering student input on the current disciplinary system. The committee is also responsible for reviewing and proposing revisions to discipline policies and practices through an equity lens, and making recommendations to the School Committee to address the disparities highlighted in the Equity Audit.

I want to make this Advisory Committee permanent and continue developing better disciplinary practices. This includes implementing restorative justice and providing anti-bias discipline training for staff.

Expand Mental Health and LGBTQ+ Resources

I want to implement training related to mental health, such as Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), to address the ongoing mental health crisis among children and teens. Studies show that individuals trained in the Youth MHFA program gain increased mental health literacy; better knowledge of signs, symptoms, and risk factors of mental health and substance use challenges; the ability to identify appropriate professional and self-help resources; and reduced stigma and increased empathy toward youth with mental health challenges.

Additionally, many LGBTQ+ students have shared that they do not feel comfortable, understood, or even safe at times. To address this, I also want to implement more cultural competency and bias-based bullying prevention training for staff by coordinating with local prevention agencies. This will help create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all students.

Empower Multilingual Learners (MLL)

Too many MLL students are not progressing toward English proficiency and continue to struggle without the skills needed for success. We need to adopt an asset-based approach combined with a high-quality instructional system, where all educators share the responsibility for supporting MLLs' language growth and development. We must celebrate their linguistic diversity, focus on their strengths, and set high academic expectations while providing the necessary support.

The district can support MLL students by offering inclusive curricula, culturally responsive materials and assessments, and professional learning opportunities for all staff. MLL students are valued members of the NK school community, and we must provide a learning environment where they can achieve educational excellence.

Equity, Accessibility, and Safety in the Schools

Educational equity means ensuring that school districts successfully educate all students, preparing them to be productive and engaged citizens. Achieving equity requires understanding the unique challenges faced by individual students and providing the necessary support to overcome these barriers. It involves reforming practices, policies, and procedures at both the school and district levels to ensure academic fairness and inclusion.

I believe our community wants our children to be educated in a district where everyone feels seen, valued, and heard, and where they acquire the skills needed to thrive in a global society. I will continue to strive for educational equity across all levels and schools in the district. This includes improving accessibility in our facilities and our programming, educational materials, and communications. Our students deserve to attend schools that accommodate their needs, keep them safe, and provide comprehensive and contemporary education.

Contact

Please reach out with any questions using the form or contact information below.