I am a Cornwall School parent of two, and I support Ron Makleff and Jess Venable-Novak for seats on the Addison Central School District board in the upcoming election on March 4.

Ron is a lovely friend, father to a 4-year-old and an educator, having taught students from middle school through college in four countries, including occasionally as a substitute teacher in the Middlebury public school system. Ron holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of California Berkeley and researches the origins of bureaucracy and rebellion. A child of immigrants, he maintains a lifelong commitment to public education, mutual aid, and celebrating diversity. He has 15+ years’ experience in grassroots activism from San Diego to Palestine and hopes to bring a collaborative approach to the ACSD board.

He would like to serve the board by exploring ways to improve student achievement, reduce gaps, and integrate technology less disruptively into the classroom. Ron believes ACSD can re-imagine its partnerships with local organizations and businesses to help meet the needs of both students and working families, for example, exploring solutions to improve afternoon care options.

Ron will serve as a conduit and voice between ALL the local communities in our district and the administration. He stands in solidarity with our students and teachers and believes that together, we can thrive despite the budgetary and ideological assaults upon public education, the bedrock institution of our communities.

Ron endorses Jess Venable-Novak, for an additional Middlebury seat on the ACSD board.

Jess Venable-Novak lives in Middlebury with their partner and two children (11 and 3). They are a proud LGBTQ+ parent with deep working-class roots. With 15+ years of experience organizing, educating, and community building, they feel most at home collaborating with others in creating a more just and more joyful society.

Originally from the Midwest, Jess has lived and worked in several communities across Vermont before calling Middlebury home. They currently work at a local civil rights organization, where they have held roles on both the Advocacy and Operations teams. Jess served on the ACSD Strategic Plan Action Team in 2023, working with staff and community members from across the district to identify how ACSD can effectively and equitably ensure all students and staff are able to succeed and feel welcome in schools, and now stands ready to help integrate and implement these findings as an ACSD board member.

Elizabeth Toder

Cornwall