School Board Candidate Lee Adds California School Employees Association to List of Endorsements

Pasadena Board of Education candidate Jennifer Hall Lee on Monday announced her latest endorsement from the California School Employees Association.

A member of the Altadena Town Council, Lee is running in District 2 against Wayne Hammack and Mike Crowley in the Nov. 3 election. The candidates are vying for the seat currently held by Pasadena Unified School District Board member Roy Boulghorjian, who did not file nominating papers for re-election.

The only woman in the three-person race, Lee has also won the backing of United Teachers of Pasadena, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, the National Women’s Political Caucus-Greater Pasadena Area, Foothill Community Democrats, Planned Parenthood Advocates, Democrats of Pasadena Foothills, and Jim Osterling, president and chair of the Pasadena City College District Board of Trustees. 

This is the first year the district will hold plurality elections. Whoever gets the most votes wins. 

“I am immensely grateful for the support of all my endorsers,” Lee said. “I am running because we need to grow enrollment, increase financial support, and encourage community participation in our schools.”

Lee is a PUSD parent. When her child was promoted from Eliot Arts Magnet Academy to a PUSD high school she continued her role as the chairperson for the Eliot Arts Annual Fund. Lee has spearheaded fundraising efforts for Eliot, such as the annual Eliot Auction, which has been held yearly at the Altadena Town and Country Club. 

Lee also co-created the Women’s History Month Assembly at Eliot for PUSD middle schools. The event has expanded each year and is now an Association of California School Administrators (SCSA) Region 15 recognized event. 

As a member of the Altadena Town Council, Lee is the council’s treasurer and chairperson of the council’s Education Committee. 

“As an Altadena Town Council member, and as the chairperson of the Eliot Arts Annual Fund, I have experience that shows me the breadth of diversity in our community, and also the inequities that exist,” Lee said.

Lee believes in “opting in” to public schools because she believes the public school system is part of our democracy. 

“Every child has a place in our public schools and that brings our communities together,” Lee said.