Lessons Learned

Kandace Jones leads a Meet the Candidates Forum, hosted by the Euclid HOPE Task Force. Photo by Randy Blackford.

After four years of service on the Euclid Board of Education, I’m closing this chapter with deep gratitude and many lessons learned. Serving our students and families and working with our dedicated teachers and staff has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It would be impossible to fit everything I’ve learned – about the school board, our community, and the political process – into one article, so I hope to share a few of these messages in the future.

First, I want to congratulate my fellow board members, Gabrielle Kelly and Selina Wright, on your re-elections. I have genuine respect for both of you, and I know our students, families, and community will benefit from your continued leadership. I would also like to wish Scott Wilson the best, who will join the board in January. His background in education offers a valuable perspective that I hope will strengthen the board’s decision-making and impact.

Thank you to everyone who supported my campaign and voted. The election also offered a lesson in local politics, since voting for the Board of Education works differently in Euclid than in other places. Many people didn’t realize until Election Day that we could only vote for one candidate, even though there were three open seats. 

This is known as a limited voting system, and it has been used in Euclid since 2008, when a Department of Justice ruling found that our city’s electoral process violated the Voting Rights Act. This change was designed to ensure fair representation for all residents, enabling minority groups to gain representation. While it has helped diversify city leadership, it also means that election outcomes can be shaped in unexpected ways.

One of the most important lessons from my time on the board is the need to build resident voice and power in Euclid. While we always worked hard to connect with the community and involve parents and families in decision-making, there is still a wide gap between the majority of residents and the decisions made by city leaders. Many of Euclid’s programs and services operate in silos, and collaboration across institutions is limited. While I am proud of the progress we have made in collaborating with city leaders, there is still a lot of work to be done.

So, while I’m leaving my role on the board of education, I’m not leaving the work.

In my role as co-chair of the Euclid HOPE Task Force, I will continue to advocate for resident-centered policies and programs, which are the foundation of safety, belonging, and connection in a community. To learn more about what we have learned and our shared vision for a safe community visit hopetaskforce.org or attend our final gathering of the year on December 9, 6:30 p.m., at the Church of the Epiphany, 21000 Lakeshore Blvd., Euclid, Ohio.

Thank you again, Pam