To the Editor:

I am writing in support of Eleanor Hubbard’s candidacy for the Board of Education (BOE) of the Princeton Public Schools.

I have known Eleanor for seven years as a fellow parent at UNOW, the daycare that serves Princeton University, and at the Riverside School. I am enormously impressed by Eleanor’s deep commitment to education and by her practical knowledge of how institutions function. I served with her on the UNOW Board of Trustees, where we worked together as co-chairs of the Governance Committee and on the board’s Executive Committee. In addition, I have benefited personally from Eleanor’s wisdom and guidance regarding how to help my own children get the most out of their educational experiences here in Princeton.

Eleanor has a proven track record as an educator, having taught at both secondary and university levels. Eleanor taught for several years in the New York City public schools where she gained firsthand knowledge of curriculum development and pedagogical practice. She subsequently completed a doctorate in history and taught in the Department of History at Princeton University. These experiences enriched Eleanor’s appreciation for the types of settings and modes of instruction that enable students of all ages and from diverse backgrounds to thrive as learners and as people.

Over the past decade, Eleanor has held a series of leadership roles as a parent volunteer in Princeton-area schools. At UNOW, she headed the Parent Teacher Organization and served as a trustee, eventually becoming the president of the board. At Riverside, she is an active member of the PTO, with a special focus on the school’s gardening program.

I can speak directly to the enormous contributions that Eleanor made toward the institutional vitality of UNOW. In the years that Eleanor served on its board, UNOW moved into a purpose-built facilty, tripled the number of staff and students, weathered the disruptions of COVID, and made a transition from a longtime and beloved director to a new (and equally beloved!) director. Eleanor played a significant role in all of these developments.

Moreover, during her tenure as president of UNOW’s board, Eleanor dedicated enormous amounts of time, energy, and thought to renegotiating the contractual relationship between the daycare and Princeton University. This mutually beneficial relationship is governed by a complex agreement that stipulates the financial and legal obligations that the two institutions have toward each other. Eleanor demonstrated prodigious analytical powers as she worked with the university to revise the agreement to everyone’s satisfaction. But the success of this process is also a testament to Eleanor’s rare ability to engender trust and respect, while vigorously pursuing what she believes best for the students, staff, and administration of the school community she represents.

I strongly believe that the Princeton Public Schools could have no better advocate than Eleanor Hubbard. She will bring to the BOE the knowledge of an educator, the passion of a parent volunteer, the experience of a tested school leader, and the pragmatism a person who knows how to get things done.

Ra‘anan Boustan
Broadmead Street