“Gwen Agna is an outstanding education leader. She understands children’s needs and always puts students first. She is a wise, sensitive, experienced, and visionary educator, citizen, and leader.”
Alan Katz, retired attorney and educator
Gwen is a leader with strong principles who also listens and understands others. She is honest and fair and along with education experience she has mastered the intricacies of state and city finances.
Mary Ford, former Mayor of Northampton
WHERE TO VOTE IF YOU EARLY VOTE…
Unlike traditional polling, you don’t vote at your assigned polling location. The early voting location for 2023 is inside City Hall, 210 Main Street. Limited parking is available on Crafts Avenue near the accessible side entrance during early voting times.
Listen to Gwen featured on Bill Newman’s show on WHMP 101.5 by clicking the link HERE.
Meet Gwen:
Upcoming Events:
Polling Locations: Jackson St. School; Smith Vocational School; Senior Center; Florence Civic Center; Ryan Rd. School; JFK Middle School; Leeds School
Leave an email message for Kim at kimgerould@gmail.com
“Gwen was principal at Jackson when my daughter was there. We loved her as did everyone we knew. She greeted every student every morning as they entered the school. It required amazing commitment and mattered to them. As far as I know, all the teachers adored her. And she has been great on the School Committee. “
Naomi Gerstel
Emeritus Professor, UMass
I look forward to a term in which I can continue to advocate at the state and national level for increased school funding as well as the passage of the Thrive Act, which will eliminate the requirement that all MA high school students pass the MCAS to receive a high school diploma. We are among only six states in the country to have such a state test requirement for graduation. As an educator, I have advocated for eliminating high stakes testing in our schools and moving toward multiple assessments to capture and reflect all students’ learning.
I will continue to put children first in all my thinking, actions, and advocacy. As an elected official in our community, I represent their interests, first and foremost. To do that, I also must make sure our policies, our budget, and our superintendent do the same. While keeping students at the forefront, we must attend to the needs of caregivers and families and all the educators (faculty and staff) who care for, support, and educate the children. We must be responsive to their concerns and help find answers to their questions or point them in the right direction to find the answers. Based on my understanding of my role as a school committee member and to make my vison and goals real, I will
- Continue to advocate for and demand additional funding for NPS at the local, state, and federal levels by lobbying.
- Promote educationally sound assessments for students at both the district and the state level by working for passage of the Thrive Act and a referendum on the ballot if the MTA/NEA is successful in getting it there.
- Support fair contracts for all the employees, continuing to make NPS a safe, healthy, equitable environment in which to thrive.
- Guide the superintendent in navigating the district. She was hired because of her experience and qualifications and needs the School Committee’s support and oversight to achieve our goals.
- LISTEN – to the community of educators, families, and children. As a principal, I sought to be this good listener and to hear young people’s voices especially. With good listening and careful consideration of all the issues, we will have schools that meet the needs of all.