By RANDY SEAVER, Editor
Ten candidates are hoping to win one of seven at-large seats on the Biddeford School Committee.
This year’s race will feature some new faces, and a few current members – including Randy Forcier, John McCurry and Lisa Vadnais — will not be seeking reelection.
We asked each of the candidates what they consider as the biggest challenges facing Biddeford’s School System and their top priorities.
Jessica A. Cinquegrano:
Jessica Cinquegrano, 37, is a political newcomer and a “stay-at-home mom” of two young children.
She has been a Biddeford resident since 2019.
Cinquegrano says many of the challenges facing the city’s schools can be traced back to “a lack of adequate funding.”
If elected, she said her three main priorities will include focusing on the wellbeing and safety of our students “so that every child feels supported and able to thrive both academically and emotionally.”
She also wants to make sure that educators have the tools, resources and support they need “to provide every student with a high-quality, forward-looking, and equitable education.”
Cinquegrano also said she wants to maintain responsible stewardship of our budget—”ensuring that every dollar is spent wisely to support students, teachers and long-term sustainability while working through some of the roadblocks we’ve faced to secure more state funding.”
“As a parent of school-aged kids, I’m deeply invested in ensuring they—and all their peers—receive the best education possible,” Cinquegrano said. “In today’s climate, I believe it’s vital to support scientifically backed curriculum and to uphold our schools as safe, inclusive spaces for every student.
“Although I’m not originally from Maine, I’ve fallen in love with this small and vibrant city,” she said. “I want to make sure every marginalized voice is heard, because our diversity is one of Biddeford’s greatest strengths.”
Amy Clearwater:
Amy Clearwater, 41, is a former Biddeford city councilor. A Maine native, she moved to Biddeford in 2017. She is married with two kids.
Clearwater serves on several community service boards, including the My Place Teen Center; the Biddeford Housing Authority and the MacArthur Library.
She is the Senior Vice President of Investor Services at what she describes as “a large global bank.”
Clearwater says her top priority is ensuring that today’s students will thrive as adults tomorrow.
“This is a wild time for education in America,” Clearwater said. “We’ve weathered a pandemic and experienced some significant local demographic shifts. Kids growing up today are having a markedly different experience than I had in public school a generation ago. Social media, information literacy, AI tools — there’s a good deal of uncharted territory for them.”
Clearwater says she has “an open mind, a strong understanding of municipal governance, and a stakeholder-focused approach to managing a very complex system.”
“I’m running for School Committee because, at this time of short-sighted and cruel federal attacks on education and social service funding, I feel obligated to do all I can in Biddeford to support our schools and provide my skills and abilities in service of good outcomes for all of Biddeford’s kids.” Clearwater said.
Meagan Desjardins:
Meagan Desjardins, 46, is a current school committee member and is hoping for a third two-year term.
Desjardins is a social worker at Massabesic High School.
“My focus as a school committee member and curriculum committee member has been to support aligning our K-12 curriculum so that our students have a quality and effective curriculum,” she said. “Student scores are low, so supporting academic standards is a priority of mine. Improving student readiness for college and the workforce is a priority.
Desjardins said state funding issues represent one of her biggest concerns. “The formula to decide state subsidy is flawed, and our community is at a disadvantage,” she said.
“Less money coming into the school means less money for the services our students need,” she said. “We have ELL (English Language Learner) students, homeless students and truancy issues to name a few of our challenges.
“Fewer dollars per child means less of an investment in support the complex needs within our district.”
Desjardins said school staff are spread thin, impacting all students in the school district. Advocating for fixing the state funding formula is crucial,” she said. “It is also crucial to make sure we are putting the most efficient services possible in place for all of our students.”
When asked why she is seeking another term on the school committee, she said serves as a way to “give back” to her community.
“Given my experience in a public school, I believe I have the insight and passion for public education that can be helpful to our district,” Desjardins said. “I believe it takes time to understand the ins and outs of being a school committee member, and with this being my third term, I think I offer experience that can help our district move forward towards the goals we have been setting over the last several years.”
Desjardins said the word “transparency” has been a buzzword throughout this election cycle. “We have been talking about the need for transparency from the school committee throughout the last four years. I believe creating more transparency about our schools, policies and curriculum is vital to getting the community support and creating accountability.”
Stephanie C. Edwards, PhD:
Stephanie Edwards, 40, is involved in several community groups and says she is seeking a seat on the school committee because she was raised by an elementary school teacher and teachers’ union leader.
“I am a proud product of public-school education,” she said.
Edwards moved to Biddeford in 2016. She has served on the Downtown Development Commission, as co-chair of the Comprehensive Plan Public Engagement Process; and as a volunteer at the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Resource Center.
Edwards is a professor at Boston College and executive director at the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium.
Edwards said she is running for school committee “to help create the best educational environment possible for our students.”
“As a committee member, my primary role will be to offer responsive, transparent, community-led oversight to meet the challenges, and highlight the strengths of our schools,” she said.
Edwards listed her top three priorities as: Maximizing budget efficiency; providing a supportive administration that responds to the needs of teachers, staff, students, and parent/guardians; and implementing policies to support the overall well-being of everyone in the school system.
“As Biddeford grows and changes, we must invest more into our school system to provide the tools necessary to equip our youth for the people they are and are becoming,” she said. “I believe schools must be our number one priority and it is the role of the School Committee to help realize these goals.”
“I was raised by an elementary school teacher and teachers’ union leader, and I am a proud product of public-school education,” Edwards said. “Ensuring quality public education is a mutual responsibility, and one I am excited to engage in as a committee member.”
Emily Henley
Emily Henley, 34, has a master’s degree in education and was a classroom teacher in Westbrook schools for five years. Henley moved to Biddeford in 2019.
Today, Henley works as a Curriculum Coordinator for 240 Tutoring, Inc.
“Students are struggling in the wake of the pandemic,” Henley said. “Teachers are working hard to meet their needs and need support in the form of effective policies and curriculum, continuing education opportunities and strategically selected resources.”
Henley said the strength of Biddeford schools is directly related to the strength of our future community.
“Biddeford is a special place,” she said. “And we want to ensure our students have a strong education and access to post-secondary education opportunities so they can lead this community into the future.”
Henley said Biddeford’s school curriculum needs to reflect the most recent evidence-backed practices and methods and be the most cost-effective to allow resources to stretch and reach every student.
“Biddeford is blossoming into a beautiful, welcoming, and diverse Maine city,” Henley said. “We need to make sure our schools support all students and help all families feel at home in this beautiful place. The school committee can support this goal by encouraging community involvement in school events, supporting cultural diversity in our classroom resources and programming, and ensuring that schools are empowered and resourced to support struggling families.”
Henley says her background and her expertise will make her a valuable voice for student advocacy on the school committee.
“My experience as a teacher and current position as a curriculum coordinator for a national company have given me unique insight into education policy and opportunities for growth in Biddeford schools,” she said. “I see untapped opportunities for collaboration.
“I hope to collaborate with teachers, student leaders, administrators, community members, and fellow school committee members to help find creative solutions to the complex problems to improve outcomes for our students, families and schools.”
Michele Landry:
Michele Landry, 53, has lived in Biddeford for 28 years. She has served two terms on the school committee since 2021.
Landry has also served as a member of the Biddeford Education Foundation Board member for seven years; and on the advisory board for BLAST (Biddeford Learns After School Together) since 2022.
Landry says a lack of affordable housing continues to present multiple challenges for the city’s schools because it is difficult to attract and retain talented teachers and other faculty members because they can’t afford to live in Biddeford.
She also said the school system is seeing an increase in the number of students experiencing homelessness and dealing with food insecurity.
Landry also said “inequities in the current state funding formula” are creating financial strains on the city’s public schools.
“The [funding] formula is based in part on city valuations, and as Biddeford’s valuations continue to rise, state funding for schools has decreased,” she said. “We receive less state money than many affluent communities whose valuations have remained more constant over the last few years.”
“Until the state addresses these inequities, we need to find creative ways to do more with less for both our teachers and students,” she added.
Landry said she is running for reelection because she wants to serve her community and give back to the district where her children received their education.
“Our schools face multiple challenges,” she said. “And I want to help find solutions despite the financial constraints, that will aid our teachers in providing all of our students, regardless of situation, the best education possible.”
Karen Ruel:
Karen Ruel, 57, is a lifelong Biddeford resident. She is married and has two children who attended and graduated from Biddeford’s public schools and works as an LTC director.
She has been a member of the school committee for three terms, beginning in 2016.
When asked about her top three priorities and concerns, Ruel listed ensuring a quality academic curriculum for every student as her top concern.
Secondly, Ruel says she wants to make resources for teachers to accomplish and excel in their roles; while providing a safe environment for students and teachers.
“I am seeking a seat on the Biddeford school board as I believe every student should be afforded a quality education in a safe environment,” Ruel said. “I bring experience as a three-term prior school board member, positivity and genuine curiosity. I understand the importance of collaboration and problem solving to turn ideas into action. I am a true believer in lifelong learning.”
Tim Stebbins:
Tim Stebbins, 63, is a lifelong Biddeford resident. He is a retired educator and has served eight years on the city’s recreation commission.
Asked to identify the top three challenges facing the city’s schools, Stebbins said the district needs a solid plan to deal with a rapidly growing MLL (Multi-Language Learners) population. “I see it as an opportunity to expand our capacity to help new families in acclimating to our school system and enriching the school environment in the process,” he said. “I do not want any of our student populations to go without the necessary resources available to help make them successful in their educational journey.”
Stebbins also identified test scores throughout the district as another priority for educators. “With limited resources available and the need to extend those resources to the various mandated programs that exist, it becomes a delicate balance of where to spend the available money,” he said.
Stebbins said he would like to work on “curriculum matters in order to have vertical alignment, K-12.”
“There should be consistency between the grade levels of the schools in Biddeford,” he added. “What are we teaching, how do we deliver the instruction, and how do we know if students are learning are vital questions to ask when assessing any school district?”
Stebbins said school officials need to look at the demographics of a community and to allocate the funds judiciously in order to get the best value for spending.
“Are we meeting the needs of all the learners, or are we meeting only a certain population of the learners in Biddeford schools?” he asked. “There isn’t a program on the market that will meet the needs of all learners, so I’m committed to look at various alternatives that would support the curriculum needs of our teachers”
Stebbins said he is running for a seat on the school committee as “a way to give back to a community that has afforded me many opportunities in my professional life.”
“I have been a teacher, coach, and an administrator in my professional career and always felt supported by the people around me. I want current educators to feel the same way. I want to support initiatives that will enhance our schools and make them stronger for the future.
“I want people moving to Biddeford, not just for the vibrant community it has become, but for the education the schools can provide for their family.”
NOTE: Candidates Andrew Barrs and Marie Potvin did not respond to our request for information about their campaigns.
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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be reached by email: randy@randyseaver.com
c.) 2025 All Rights Reserved
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