Rockport residents will have the very unique opportunity to elect a member of the Five Town CSD and Maine School Administrative District 28 school boards on Tuesday, Aug. 2, and I hope you will join me in supporting Jen Roper.

I have known Jen since she, her husband, Scott Pons, and her kids, Mary Kate and Charlie, moved into our neighborhood several years ago. Jen and her family have been a wonderful addition to our neighborhood and our community, including her volunteer efforts in activities her kids have been involved in such as Five Town Little League and Pen Bay Soccer. Though her family moved to town relatively recently, Jen Roper's roots in our community are deep. Jen's parents, Peter and Rebecca Roper, grew up here and returned to the area over 20 years ago and her grandparents lived in Camden for many years.

The biggest challenge facing our school board will be tackling the future of the middle school facility in Camden. On that note, Jen Roper will be ready from day one, having previously served on the middle school design committee. Jen supports the construction of a new middle school as well as later school start times, furthering the integration of technology into the classrooms, and finding progressive methods to ensure our schools and our students remain competitive. Jen is a bright, hard working mother whose intellect and common sense approach will tackle these issues in a manner Rockport residents can appreciate.

As someone in town government, I appreciate someone who sees the issues faced in educating our children with common sense and has an understanding that our taxpayer funded schools must remain a source of pride for our communities. Jen Roper is the type of leader our school district needs with the challenges our communities and our children face.

Please join me and vote for Jen Roper on Tuesday, Aug. 2.

Jon Duke