Coventry Board of Education 2023-2025
Jen Beausoleil
Chair of the Coventry Board of Education
jebeausoleil@coventryct.org
I am honored to be currently serving the community I love as Chairman of the Board of Education. I believe Coventry's youth deserve representatives on the BOE who understand how to work in partnership with education professionals, parents, and the community. It is critical that the Coventry school system meet each child’s education and developmental needs as they prepare to live and work in our ever changing 21st century world.
My husband Vern and I are long-time residents of Coventry (28 years), and our children are Coventry High School graduates. I am secretary of Coventry Lions Club, founding member of Coventry Citizens for Responsible Government, and a former Coventry Youth Basketball coach.
I have also held the position of Vice-Chairman of the BOE, Chair of the BOE Policy Sub-committee, and numerous other BOE sub-committees, including Fiscal, Policy, Executive, Roof, Expulsion, Gym Naming, Field Naming, Preschool Development, Technology, Superintendent Search, and over 30 labor contract negotiations.
I recently retired from a career of software & electrical engineering management where I led cross discipline technology teams to develop software systems and hi-tech solutions for product development and research-based companies.
Gene Marchand
Vice-Chair of the Coventry Board of Education
gmarchand@coventryct.org
I currently serve the Coventry Board of Education because I believe that educating and caring for our children is critically important to our town, state and country. Providing a high quality and cost effective education for every Coventry child is of the utmost importance. As a BOE member for the past 13 years, I am proud to say we do this.
My family has lived in Coventry for 26 years and our two children were educated in the Coventry school system. I have been a long-time volunteer in our town which has included chaperoning school trips, serving on the Recreation Commission, coaching boys basketball and baseball and girls’ travel basketball. I was also the co-founder and president of an educational advocacy group, “Coventry Citizens for Responsible Government”.
My duties on the BOE have included chairing numerous committees including; Transportation, Policy, Expulsion, Labor Contract Negotiations, selection of the Student Representative to the BOE as well as being the board liaison to Athletics and Extracurricular Activities.
I have a Masters Degree in social work and a 43 year professional career working with children and youth. I retired from the State Department of Children and Families after having served as a Program Director for Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, Contract Management and the Wilderness School.
Mary Kortman
Secretary of the Coventry Board of Education
Chair of the Fiscal Committee
mkortman@coventryct.org
I am committed to the continuous improvement of our schools and currently serve on the Board of Education. As a BOE member for 16 years, including as chair of the fiscal subcommittee. I am proud of our school district's accomplishments in recent years, including the growing recognition that Coventry offers all students a high-quality education. I am committed to seeing this forward momentum continue. I have served on numerous committees and am currently the chair of the building committee overseeing the High School HVAC.
My husband and I have lived in Coventry for 45 years. Both of our sons attended Coventry schools and graduated from Coventry High School. I currently have a grandchild in Coventry Schools. For 30 years, we managed our small business based in Coventry, Ecosystem Consulting Service, Inc and are now retired. In addition to serving on the BOE, I have volunteer experience on the Coventry Economic Development Commission, have been an active supporter of the PTOs at all four schools, and serve as both Treasurer and President of the Coventry High School Band Booster Club.
Emma Eaton
Member of the Fiscal Committee
eeaton@coventryct.org
My husband Jason and I have lived in Coventry for 17 years and have three children in the Coventry school system. I want to continue the positive work that the BOE has been doing to better our school system and serve our students and their families. With degrees in Elementary and Special Education, I bring the background of an educator with the perspective of a parent to the table, and I am deeply invested in the school system.
I am an active volunteer in our school system and have held the position of PTO President for CGS, helped establish a PTO for HEEC, and have served on hiring committees for administrators. I support Project Grad, PJ Day, and Dollars for Scholars. My PTO accomplishments include installing a permanent shade structure at CGS, upgrading all water fountains to have bottle filling stations, funding literacy programs, and cultural arts assemblies. And those signs you see on school fences and in public areas supporting and encouraging community spirit throughout town—that's me. I am always thinking about the next message to share.