FW: Watertown's Safe Routes to School Program
Sheila Fay
Watertown’s Safe Routes to School program now has a part-time paid coordinator. Many thanks go out to Mari Ryan for all the work she put into securing this position so Watertown’s SRS program can grow!
Thanks Mari, and welcome Jeannette.
Sheila
On behalf of the Watertown Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, it is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Jeannette Belcher-Schepis as the new Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator. In this part-time role, Jeannette will work with the schools and the Safe Routes to School Community Task Force to carry out the program objectives to promote the program at the Lowell and Hosmer Schools, and expand to the Cunniff School. Jeannette was instrumental in the implementation of the Safe Routes to School program at the Hosmer School last fall. Jeanette’s position is funded by a grant from WalkBoston. Another grant was received from the Watertown Community Foundation to support a curriculum program.
Jeannette has been a Watertown resident since 1993. She is married to John Schepis and is Mom to Julian – who will be attending third grade at the Hosmer School this fall. Jeannette is a graduate student in the Sociology department at Boston College and a Research Associate on the study of Children and the Economic World at the Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development at Tufts University. She received a B.S. in Business Administration from the Boston University School of Management with a concentration in Marketing and an M.S. in Administration from Boston College. Jeannette's interests in economic and cultural sociology, sustainability, consumer culture, technology, and the media stem from her background in marketing and a desire to understand the complex phenomena that shape individuals' social identity. Jeannette is a also a Teaching Associate in the Sociology Department at Tufts University for Introduction to Sociology and Media and Society, and is co-instructor of a workshop at Boston College on Integrating Qualitative Research Methods into the Research Process using the qualitative software tool, HyperRESEARCH. Jeannette is a member of the Board of Trustee’s at The Watertown Children’s Theatre and served as the Safe Routes to School, Parent-Coordinator for the Hosmer School in 2007/2008.
With Jeannette’s capable help, we will make great strides as we expand the program, continue to promote walking and biking to school, and help create a safer and healthier Watertown.
Attached for your reference is the recent press release from WalkBoston on the Safe Routes to School initiative.
M.
Mari Ryan