Schools

Jessica Back Looks Forward to Serving on School Board

Back will replace board secretary Cyndi Peltonen at the beginning of next year.

Jessica Back, who ran unopposed in the Nov. 8 election, will officially take her school board seat at the first meeting in January.

Back said at Monday night's school board meeting that she is waiting for Oakland County to certify her votes so she can be sworn in. Back was a write-in candidate because she filed on Oct. 20 — after the Aug. 16 deadline.

Back interviewed for a school board seat in September; however was chosen to replace , who resigned in August. She will replace board secretary Cyndi Peltonen, whose term ends on Dec. 31. 

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Back said she has considered joining the school board for the past three years. Now that the opportunity has finally arrived, she said she looks forward to having an input in funding and academic programs.

"I think the biggest thing is to be focused on what's best for the kids," Back said. "You have to be able to look at both sides of an issue. ... both critically and analytically."

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Back, who works as a research associate at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, said she wants to push science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in the school district. She also wants to help the board explore more options for funding such as public and private grants.

As the mother of a third-grader at , Back is already involved in the school district. She helps out with both Girl Scouts and the Schalm PTA. Back also volunteers for the Clawson Mavericks and Clawson Youth Socccer organizations.

Back, a Clawson resident of five years, said she enjoys the tight-knit feel of the community.

"I know all of my neighbors," Back said. "I know all the kids and their parents. I like knowing the people in the community."

Celebration for Peltonen

The Clawson School Board will honor Peltonen for her 20 years of service as a board member during its Dec. 12 meeting. The board invites the community to submit letters of tribute that will go in a book for Peltonen. The letters should be sent directly to Linda Gould at 626 Phillips Ave., Clawson, MI 48017 or via email to Linda.Gould@clawson.k12.mi.us.


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