Julie Kirklin for
New Boston School Board
Hello, I am Julie Kirklin, and I am running for re-election to the New Boston School Board. My husband and I moved to town in 2004 and have two children growing up in our schools (one graduated last year and the other just entered GHS).
Many of you know me from my current work on the School Board, where I am the vice chair and the chair of the SAU Board. In past years, you may have seen me volunteering at many of our school and PTA sponsored activities, as a Girl Scout leader, or as a Destination Imagination team manager. Or perhaps you’ve seen me teaching tennis at the YMCA or coaching soccer, basketball, or softball in New Boston and Goffstown sports programs.
You may not know that I have spent more than 25 years working with colleges and universities. As an economist and enrollment management consultant, I analyze data and refine policies, helping balance competing institutional goals. These skills allow me to serve on our school board with an open mind, critical eye, and an understanding of school finances and enrollment pressures.
As our schools face continuing funding challenges and enrollment changes, I look forward to working with all members of our community – students and families, faculty and staff, community members and taxpayers, administration, and board members – to help our schools thrive and meet future challenges. I embrace hearing all opinions: it broadens my perspective and helps me better articulate my thoughts – and that’s *all* good! With your vote, I look forward to helping NBCS – as well as MVMS and GHS – be a special place to learn and grow!
My Candidacy for Re-election to the School Board
In my first term on the Board, I served as the Vice Chair and the Chair of the SAU Board. I have served on hiring committees for the SAU Business Administrator and GHS Principal and the negotiation committee for the teachers’ contract. My additional committee assignments include Space Needs, Goffstown Curriculum & Education, and liaison to MVMS and GHS.
I am a strong supporter of integrated arts and broad avenues for learning. Art, music, physical education, sports, school stores, community meetings: these are all opportunities to learn, improve, and apply our core academic skills.
I see the growth of our town and changing enrollment to be one of the big challenges that our system will face in the near future. I am ready to work with the board to come up with creative and cost-effective solutions to ensure success for our students and staff.
My Commitment to the Community
When my family moved to town in 2004, one of the best pieces of advice I received was: Volunteer. I started with the PLC (then the PWA) as part of their Keeping Track program. While my intent was to help our community and improve my outdoor skills, it turned out to be an opportunity to get a great sense of where we are: geographically, geologically, habitat-wise, and more. But most importantly, it was a wonderful opportunity to meet many of our neighbors and to see the enormous commitment and dedication so many devote to making our town run and be the special place that it is.
Over the years, I have stepped into many roles to serve our town:
Class representative and Creation Station organizer at Little People’s Depot preschool
Curriculum Enrichment coordinator with the NBCS PTA
Treasurer with the NBCS PTA
Regular volunteer at NBCS
Regular classroom volunteer
Library volunteer
Class field trip chaperone
Assisting with curriculum enrichment programs
Field day volunteer
PTA event volunteer; read-a-thon, boosterthon, staff appreciation week, and fundraiser product pickups and deliveries.
Girl Scout troop co-leader
Co-manager of Destination Imagination teams
Volunteer coach in a variety of sports for the Recreation Department as well as Tri-Town and Goffstown United Soccer.
My Work Experience
Economist and Enrollment Management Consultant: 25+ years working with colleges and universities around the country.
I help these institutions balance the often-competing interests of costs, class composition, and size, as they work to create a campus environment that acts as a classroom outside of the classroom.
As an economist, I partner with a small consulting group to provide, primarily, enrollment management support to colleges and universities.
I help to structure financial aid policies, help tailor acceptances to help meet enrollment goals, and provide real-time enrollment predictions.
Other projects include studies on retention, the impact of recruited athletes, and admitted student questionnaires.
Coach: 25+ years coaching rowing and tennis.
I am currently a tennis instructor at the Goffstown YMCA.
Ready to help us move forward.
With my unique set of skills and experience, I believe I am well prepared to continue in the role of a school board member. As a self-employed economist specializing in Enrollment Management, I am well aware of the administrative aspects of education, and ways of thinking about optimizing outcomes when facing conflicting goals. As a coach, Girl Scout leader, and Destination Imagination team manager, I spend time thinking hard about youth development, skill acquisition, team building, and how to create environments that allow kids to grow and excel. Through my extensive volunteer work within the school and our community, I have seen our schools at their best and have a deep commitment to helping them navigate future challenges while maintaining and growing the environment that allows our students to thrive.
Questions Welcome!
I am honored to have your consideration for such an important role in our community. I would welcome any questions regarding my goals as a school board member, and I’d be grateful for your vote on Tuesday, March 11th!