Dear Weston Community,
My name is Maija Gooch, and I am running for School Committee. I am a mother of two elementary-aged kids and have an extensive background in business, finance, and strategy. I am ready to dedicate my skills and energy to support Weston and our goal of excellence in education. I believe successful boards need to be collaborative and have diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Financial and business expertise is not well represented on our School Committee and my skills would complement the existing team. You may know me from the various groups around town where I am involved. I am currently an elected member of Weston’s Recreation Commission, where I have been active in developing plans to renovate our Memorial Pool and make it a self-supporting local destination. I am on the Weston PTO Board and proudly serve as co-chair of our Special Education Parents Advisory Council. In addition, I was a member of PTO’s Creative Arts Committee and spent several seasons as an assistant soccer coach for 3rd and 4th grade teams. I have an MBA and BBA from the University of Michigan. I worked at Bain & Company, American Express, and Barclays doing strategy, product development, and corporate finance. My projects included work for Fortune 500 companies, both in the US and globally. Currently I serve on the finance committee at the Meadowbrook School, where we have refinanced the debt, addressed critical post-Covid staffing issues, and work to ensure our financial resources will support the school’s mission now and in the future. I also serve on the budget committee at Pine Brook Country Club conducting budget oversight and ensuring financial alignment with our strategic goals. Raised in a military family, I attended five different public school systems, some excellent and some not so great. I have seen the impact of school quality on students, families, and the wider community. School quality was the primary reason my family chose Weston when we moved here. Weston is an amazing place to live and raise a family, and our schools are a huge factor. Our schools are highly ranked, well-funded, and staffed by committed, wonderful teachers. We have many reasons to be proud of our schools. Weston also has a number of challenges that need to be systematically addressed with planning, oversight, and accountability.
Please reach out with questions, concerns and ideas by emailing me at [email protected]. It would be my honor to serve you on the Weston School Committee. I ask for your vote on May 7th. Sincerely, Maija Gooch |