Hello, I am Jennifer Kienbaum, a mother of four boys, with my eldest son attending Whitewater High School. I am currently President of the Whitewater School Board. I have served on the school board since April 2019, and I decided to run for another term for three reasons. First, as a mother it is important for the School Board to have representation from parents who have a personal interest in improving the quality of our school district. Second, I believe in quality public education that ensures the success of ALL students. Third, serving on the Whitewater School Board allows me the opportunity to share my experiences and skills to benefit this community.
In my free time, I enjoy helping youth. I am active in Scouts, currently serving as the District Chair for Rock River District, and leader for Whitewater Pack 716. I am responsible for hosting the annual merit badge clinic at Whitewater High School for middle and high school students and Cub-a-Rama in the fall for elementary age students. I am active in 4H, helping each year at the Walworth County Fair in their youth building and hosting the Pinewood derby event. I am a member of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) currently serving as the scrip coordinator. The past three years I was a coach for Battle of the Books. I have previously held positions as a U6/U8 soccer coach and Sunday school coordinator. In 2023, I received the BSA Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of my unwavering commitment to supporting and mentoring young individuals. In addition, I am also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 82.
I graduated from Port Washington High School in 1997 and attended UW-Whitewater, where I graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance with emphasis in Insurance. After graduation, I furthered my education by obtaining my securities licenses (FINRA Series 7, 24, 53, 63, and 65) along with my life and health licenses. I have lived in the district for 26 years and I am currently employed full-time at FIS as a compliance manager and work part-time at Kwik Trip.
Prior to serving on the Whitewater School Board, I held numerous leadership positions on the Rock Prairie Montessori School Board of Trustees from 2011-2017. I served as the Chief Compliance Officer on the Catholic Financial Services Board from 2006-2012 and Chief Compliance Officer of the Series Portfolios Trust from 2016-2019. Since 2022, I have served as a member of the Glacier’s Edge Council Board. While the objective of each board I have served on is different, they all require someone who can create stronger ties between the board and the stakeholders. One of the most important roles as a Whitewater School Board member is to serve as the voice of the entire community, something that I take seriously.
My advocacy for our students and this District does not just happen at a Board level. I strongly support creating opportunities for students across all grade levels. When my son was in middle school, I helped obtain funding for the slot car club. In 2021, I donated two vehicles to the auto shop at Whitewater High School to provide hands-on learning experiences for our students, one of the vehicles is still being used today. Additionally, I contributed funds to purchase the Lego Mindstorm for the Washington Elementary School Lego club, and I provided a sun shade for Lakeview Elementary School’s courtyard, enhancing the students outdoor learning environment.
Over the next several years, key areas of focus for this District should include building a top notch vocation and technical education program that allows our students to graduate in a competitive career ready environment, ensuring that all needs related to Special Education and English Language Learners are met, addressing the mental health needs of our students, and improving test scores through effective curriculum, all while operating a fiscally responsible budget.
I have the ability to lead, listen to all stakeholders and bring people together. I am an advocate for children at the state and local levels. If re-elected, I will continue to focus on student achievement and implementing policies that will ensure success for ALL students. I will continue to listen to the concerns of this community, and I will represent those views when making decisions for the district. Please consider voting for me, Jennifer Kienbaum, on April 1st.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at kienbaum25@yahoo.com
