Meet Jeff

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I was raised in Austin. During my adult life I’ve lived in France, New Jersey, Illinois, Utah and Texas. I moved to the Boston area 12 years ago, and New England now feels like home for my family and me.

My wife, Stacy Smith, is a native Canadian. For the past 12 years she has worked as a radiologist at Brigham & Women’s Hospital. Our daughter, Natalya, is a sixth-grader at Weston Middle School, having attended Woodland and Field Schools. She’s an avid lacrosse player and competitive dancer. 

While I was working for Raytheon in Dallas, the company transferred me to the Boston area to take on a leadership role at its global headquarters. My wife and I selected Weston for our home because of the quality of the public schools, the proximity to our work locations, and the town's semi-rural feel. I appreciate now how much we're all benefitting from the foresight of previous Weston leaders to preserve our town's beautiful natural resources.

My parents were the first in their families to obtain college degrees, so I’ve personally experienced the transformation a rigorous education can deliver. I want our town’s children to continue benefitting from that same rigor. My interest in joining the committee crystalized during town meeting last spring. There was great urgency over the passage of the school budget. It ultimately passed, resulting from a concerted effort to bring out voters. I want to see the whole town united around the funding of our public schools.  

I'll bring to the committee a unique combination of business and education experiences. 

• Throughout my career, I successfully engaged in all the things that Massachusetts law requires of school committees: recruiting and evaluating leaders, policy making, and budget management. I can quickly add value to the committee.  
• The world is becoming more competitive, and Weston's schools will need to adapt. During my career, I led complex organizations with team members dispersed across the U.S. and in China, Australia and Europe. I also supported large-scale change management initiatives. I know what works, and I’ve experienced what doesn’t.  
• Having served as an educator in several settings, including Weston’s Field School and Boston College, I understand the joys and challenges of teaching in our community. I also have insights into the rapidly changing skills required of Weston graduates for success in college and beyond.    

When snow isn’t on the ground, you’ll often find me running or hiking on the trails of our town’s forests. I live in the northwestern corner of town, not far from Burchard Park, so the forests I most frequent are Jericho, Ogilvie and College Pond. The Rail Trail has been a game changer in the area. I also love to play tennis and cycle with Stacy and Natalya, and we really enjoy exploring other cultures through international travel. And I'm pretty good with an Instant Pot.