To the Editor:

I want to share some reasons why I enthusiastically support Jess Deutsch’s candidacy to serve on the Princeton Public School Board of Education. Jess has long been committed to the twin goals of providing schools that support students’ academic development while nurturing their emotional well-being. With a background in education and social work, she has acted on this commitment by working on behalf of students and their families nationwide and in Princeton.

At the start of her career, Jess was involved in the Department of Education Health and Human Services’ Guidebook, Together We Can: A Guide to Integrating Education and Human Services. She subsequently turned her attention to working with both students and parents in Princeton. In her capacity as a 101 Board member, she created the semi-annual Author’s Luncheon Series to raise scholarship funds that enable students from economically disadvantaged families in our community to attend college. She has also been a board member of HiTops, a local non-profit youth health and wellness center, was active on the Riverside Elementary School PTO, and currently serves on the Princeton Public Library Friends Council.

Jess is especially passionate about the importance of providing students with supportive learning environments that allow them to balance their educational aspirations and wellness. To this end, she founded Princeton Balance — an on-line community for like-minded parents — and organizes community events featuring experts who speak about evidence-based best practices for raising happy and healthy children in an increasingly competitive culture. As a professor of sociology whose research focuses on the adverse effects of stress on well-being, I applaud her efforts.

With deep roots in Princeton and strong relationships with local teachers, administrators, and parents, Jess is excited about collaborating with other board members on the development of inclusive policies that serve the needs of our diverse population of students and their families; she respects and supports each student’s unique needs, educational goals, and future trajectories. Now that her children are young adults, she would like to give back to our community by serving on the Princeton Public School Board of Education. Her track record of advocating on behalf of all children and their families makes Jess Deutsch an excellent choice for this position.

Robin Simon, PhD

Knoll Drive