For the Tomahawk Leader
EAU CLAIRE – Wisconsin Public Education Network (WPEN) announced on Tuesday, Aug. 2 that Jennifer Black of Tomahawk had been named its 2022 Changemaker of the Year.
The award was given during WPEN’s 8th annual Summer Summit in Eau Claire on July 21.
In a release, WPEN said Black is a parent and an advocate for public schools in Tomahawk.
“As her home school district’s budget tightened and two referendum efforts narrowly failed, Jen founded and chaired a community advisory committee, the Champions of Tomahawk School District, to support a remarkable referendum effort in the spring of 2022,” the release stated. “By engaging with her local community, local businesses, educators’ union members, school administrators, professionals and board members, Jen was able to educate her community, rally them to support their public schools, and pass the latest referendum with Tomahawk’s largest-ever voter turnout in a non-presidential election.”
WPEN called the effort, under Black’s leadership, “an incredible show of support for public schools in rural Wisconsin.”
Deb Velleux, a member of the School District Tomahawk Board of Education, said there is “no dollar amount that can be placed on the efforts and value of Jen Black’s advocacy for our public schools, our kids and our community.”
“Jen has the uncanny ability to reach all types of mindsets and viewpoints and arrive at a mutual understanding of the needs of our school district and students,” Velleux stated. “Not only is the School District of Tomahawk blessed to have the advocacy efforts of Jen Black, but the community as well.”
“Despite many obstacles, our focus remained on the children of our community and the fact that we can all agree that all children should have access to a safe, quality education with exceptional teachers and staff in a well maintained school,” Black said. “And when schools are successful, communities thrive.”
Denise Gaumer Hutchison, WPEN’s Northeast Regional Organizer, has followed Champions of Tomahawk Public Schools’ work and praised the 2022 Changemaker of the Year selection.
“Jennifer Black fully represents what community organizing and support for public education looks like,” Hutchison said. “She did not shy away from hard conversations and was willing to discuss the importance of supporting strong public schools with every faction of the community.”
Black said she is proud of focusing on the nonpartisan nature of education, noting that it’s a goal other education champions in Wisconsin can work toward.
“Our children should not be pawns or transactions in political warfare,” Black added.
Black is the fourth recipient of the annual award, which recognizes local advocates who make a transformative impact for students and their public schools. Past recipients are Chris Hambuch-Boyle (2019, Eau Claire), Tara LeRoy (2020, Palmyra-Eagle) and Martha Siravo (2021, Madison).
Black was selected from a group of nine finalists working to support students across the state.
The group was made up of Diana Delbecchi, Community Schools Coordinator, Green Bay Area Public School District; Andrea Gumbel, educator, Sun Prairie Area School District; Mike Jones, President, Madison Teachers Incorporated; Christopher Jorgenson, Director, UW-Eau Claire Gender and Sexuality Resource Center; Ray Mendez, disability advocate and Madison Metropolitan School District parent; Megan Miller, Vice President, Beloit School Board; Tim Nordin, President, Eau Claire Area School Board; and Cendi Tena, Co-Executive Director, Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT), Milwaukee.