January 29, 2025
Dear Jefferson Academy Charter Schools Families,
Between Monday, May 5, 2025 and Tuesday, May 13, 2025, the JA community will be voting on two (2) board seats that will expire in June 2025. The JA Board members whose seats are up for re-election are Anil Mathai and Flavio Quintana. Mr. Mathai and Mr. Quintana are both eligible to run for a second term. We are asking parents/guardians to please consider whether you would like to be involved in this opportunity to serve as a JA Board member. Parents/Guardians from all campuses (including Summit Academy) are eligible to run. The newly elected board members will fulfill a 3-year term that will expire in June 2028.
Charter schools are unique in that they are “family-governed” schools, meaning that parents and guardians play an essential role, by contributing through policy and guidance, to the daily operations of the school. This is achieved through the election of board members. The purpose of the JA Board is to govern, not manage the school. JA Board members act as a policy-setting group and through policies, they direct school administration while adhering to the Mission and Vision Statements of Jefferson Academy.
The qualifications of a JA Board candidate include:
Reading Professor E.D. Hirsch’s books “Cultural Literacy” and “The Schools We Need and Why We Don’t Have Them” and agree with the principles therein.
Becoming familiar with the Core Knowledge Scope and Sequence.
Agreeing with the educational philosophy, discipline policy, and administrative structure of JA.
Signing the Board Manual immediately upon election (Current Board Manuals are available in the school offices for potential candidates).
You are also expected to participate on one or more board committees.
Please consider running for the Board if you have an interest in being more involved at the school and in policy, as we all bring a variety of skills and talents. Because of the skill sets of the individuals whose terms are coming to an end over the next couple of years, we are also looking for individuals that have experience with legal, leadership, facilities, fundraising, and/or project management. Please apply, even if you do not have experience in any of these areas.
In your candidate letter, please share about your professional background and how it might contribute to the Board, why you would like to serve on the Board, and a little bit about yourself so that the community that will be voting can get to know you better. And, if you'd like, feel free to share your experience with JA and what you would like to focus on if elected.
Candidate letters and resumes will be accepted in either school office or via email to Jerrilynn Lilyblade at jlilyblade@jajags.com through Tuesday, April 22, 2025. All letters and resumes will be published and delivered to families via email, and posted on www.jajags.com/page/board-voting. Additionally, our Community Engagement Specialist, Tiffany Blakley, will contact you for a recent photo/headshot that will also be posted on the web page and social media pages during the election.
If you are interested in serving our JA community while sharing your time and talents, then this is your opportunity to serve as a JA Board member. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any JA Board member. We look forward to talking with you.
Sincerely,
Your JA Board,
Anil Mathai, Christopher Robbins, Flavio Quintana, James Suckow, Jerrilynn Lilyblade, John Nunnally, and Tristina Pontiakos