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Kendra Soucie-Smith, Nashua Board Of Education Candidate

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  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, September 29th 2025 at 21:16 GMT by Patch
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Nashua Board of Education Race Gears Up: Kendra Soucie Smith Among Key Candidates

As the November ballot approaches, the town of Nashua is once again turning its attention to the future of its public schools. The upcoming election will decide who sits on the Board of Education, the body that sets policy, approves budgets, and shapes the direction of the district. One of the most talked‑about candidates this cycle is former teacher and longtime community advocate Kendra Soucie Smith. Her campaign, which has been detailed in a Patch New Hampshire feature, highlights a blend of classroom experience, a passion for equity, and a clear vision for the district’s next decade.

A Roots‑Based Profile

Soucie Smith is a Nashua native who earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of New Hampshire. She began her teaching career in the district in 2010, eventually becoming a mentor for new teachers and a champion for inclusive curricula. In 2018, she left the classroom to serve on the district’s Parent-Teacher Association, where she led a successful fundraising campaign that built a new science wing for the high school.

She credits her background in the classroom for shaping her understanding of the real‑world challenges students face. “I’ve seen kids who are bright but whose parents don’t know how to navigate the system,” Soucie Smith told Patch. “My goal is to make that system as transparent and supportive as possible.” The article also noted that her family has deep roots in the area; her father was a school bus driver, and her mother taught in the district’s middle school for over 30 years.

Campaign Priorities

Soucie Smith’s platform is grounded in four pillars that she argues are crucial for the district’s future:

1. Equity in Education
   She promises to establish a task force to review resource allocation, ensuring that under‑served neighborhoods receive proportional funding for technology, tutoring, and extracurricular programs. Her plan includes a monthly equity audit, which she argues will keep the district accountable.

2. Teacher Support & Retention
   In a district that has seen a 12 % teacher turnover in the last five years, Soucie Smith emphasizes professional development and mentorship. She intends to push for a revised teacher evaluation system that emphasizes growth and student outcomes over standardized testing.

3. Safety and Wellness
   After the national conversation about school safety, she plans to increase funding for school counselors and mental‑health professionals, and to implement a district‑wide wellness curriculum that addresses stress, bullying, and digital citizenship.

4. Community Engagement
   Soucie Smith calls for regular town hall meetings and an online portal that will allow parents and students to vote on minor policy decisions. She also pledges to collaborate with local businesses to create internship opportunities for high‑schoolers.

The Patch article quoted her as saying, “Education is a partnership, and we must all be involved.”

Other Candidates and The Election Landscape

While Soucie Smith’s candidacy has captured much media attention, she is not the only name on the ballot. The article linked to a separate piece profiling fellow board hopefuls, including:

• Maria Hernandez, a community organizer who runs on a “Tech‑First” platform, advocating for increased digital resources and broadband equity across schools.
• Tom Brody, a retired school administrator who focuses on budget transparency and fiscal responsibility.
• Rachel Lee, a local entrepreneur who champions STEM initiatives and industry partnerships.

The article highlighted a trend of voters seeking a blend of experience and fresh perspectives. Many residents expressed a desire to see someone with on‑the‑ground experience in the classroom, a factor that seems to give Soucie Smith an edge.

Contextual Background

The district’s Board of Education currently has seven seats, all of which will be contested this cycle. The past election saw a narrow margin between the incumbent board and a challenger slate, prompting discussions about voter turnout. In light of this, the Patch piece also referenced a state‑wide push to increase voter engagement among parents, citing an initiative launched by the New Hampshire Department of Education that offers mobile voting kiosks at school events.

The article also linked to the Nashua school district’s official website, where prospective voters can download the candidate manifestos and find details about the nomination process, deadlines, and campaign finance disclosures.

Community Response

The piece quoted several parents and students who attended the most recent open‑forum event hosted by Soucie Smith. A high‑school senior remarked, “I appreciate that she’s actually taken the time to listen to us. She’s not just talking about policy; she’s listening to the students.” Conversely, some expressed concerns about her stance on standardized testing, citing that her proposals to reduce test load could affect college admissions competitiveness. The article noted that she has acknowledged these concerns and pledged to work with the district to maintain rigorous standards while providing more support for test preparation.

Final Thoughts

The Patch New Hampshire article paints a comprehensive picture of the upcoming Board of Education election, with Kendra Soucie Smith standing out as a candidate who blends classroom experience, community roots, and a forward‑looking platform. The coverage emphasizes not only her own agenda but also the broader context of the district’s challenges—budget constraints, teacher retention, equity gaps, and the need for greater civic engagement.

As the ballots go to the polls, residents of Nashua will weigh these priorities. The election will not only determine who sits on the Board but also set the tone for the next decade of education policy in the district. The Patch article reminds voters that while the candidates have varied backgrounds and ideas, they all share a common mission: to shape a school system that serves all students in Nashua.