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Josepha Jowdy’s lasting legacy

By Amelia Tarallo
Hometown Weekly Staff

Everyone who joins a school board is expected to make the best decisions for the sake of education, but few make an impact like Josepha Jowdy has made. Jowdy is stepping down from the elected position after 27 years, but the legacy she is leaving behind will be felt well into the future.

Jowdy’s school committee career had a usual beginning, but has extended far past the length of most members. Before joining the committee, Jowdy was president of the PTOs and PTAs at the schools where her three sons attended in Westwood, and was a founder of the PTO at Westwood High School.

“I decided to campaign for a position on the school committee when the administration which was in place at the time attempted to take levels out of the high school and make all of the classes heterogenous. I believed doing so would be to the detriment of our children,” explained Jowdy. “As someone who had been trained as a teacher, I believed that this plan would be very difficult for our teachers to implement while continuing to obtain the excellent results which we, as parents, and the community had come to expect from our school district. So with the help of my amazing friends, I was elected to the school committee and was able to be part of a group who brought in new administrators who were more in line with what our town and teachers wanted.”

Over almost three decades, Jowdy has become a shining example of what it means to be committed to public service. “She’s always had the ability to look at things with a practical perspective. That’s one thing I’ve learned from her; to always keep in mind what’s best for the kids. I’ve learned a lot from her. She’s been a mentor to me,” said Tony Mullin, chairperson of the Westwood School Committee.

For those who no longer work with her on the school committee, Josepha Jowdy left a priceless example of dedication. “It was a privilege to work with Josepha Jowdy," said John Antonucci, who worked with Josepha for 12 years during his time as Superintendent of Westwood Public Schools. "For over two decades, she was a tireless advocate for the Westwood Public Schools, and always made decisions that were in the best interest of students. She was an incredibly effective school committee member, and demonstrated political savvy in a very quiet and unassuming manner. To say she had influence in town would be an understatement. But she is an even better person, and anyone that has interacted with her knows how kind, compassionate, and selfless she is. She is also extremely loyal, and I owe her a debt of gratitude for supporting me, personally and professionally, for almost fifteen years. I am sorry to see that Josepha is leaving the school committee, but she leaves a lasting legacy."

Though her last term as a Westwood School Committee member comes to an end in May, Josepha Jowdy’s legacy is sure to be felt for years. She is leaving this beloved school system in a better state than she found it - testament to her consistent dedication for the last 27 years.

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