Kathleen Lenihan Small Banner

About Kathleen

My interest in public education started in college, where I combined a History major with a teacher education program. After college I was a high school history teacher, first in western Massachusetts and then in Revere. I taught students at all levels, including an AP class. My experience as a public school teacher shaped my appreciation for the challenges all teachers and students face.

After moving to Lexington in 2000, I quickly became involved in the community. As a Bowman parent, I progressed from organizing Staff Appreciation week and the METCO Family and Friends program to becoming a PTA (Parent Teacher Association) president in 2009. I then served as the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) president at Clarke and LHS.

My service with PTO/A led to political activism at the town level. I was the Field Co-Chair in the 2012 Yes campaign in support of renovating Bridge and Bowman and rebuilding Estabrook, and the Co-Chair of the 2016 Yes campaign in support of renovating Clarke and Diamond. As the Co-Chair of the 2017 Yes campaign, I led a successful effort to move forward with rebuilding Hastings, building a new Lexington Children’s Place, and a new Fire Station Headquarters. I have been a Town Meeting Member representing Precinct 4 since 2014.

My husband, Daryl Wiesen, and I are the parents of three LHS graduates. Our two oldest children are in graduate school and the youngest is a sophomore at UMass Amherst. I will be forever grateful for the wonderful education they received in Lexington. When I’m not busy with LPS and Town business, I’m digging into census returns, vital records, and property records as a enthusiastic amateur genealogist.

Lexington School Experience

  • LHS PTO, Co-President, 2015-2017
  • Clarke PTO, Co-President, 2012-2014 Bowman PTA, Co-President, 2009-2011
  • Hancock Nursery School, Parent Committee President, 2003-2005
  • LPS Redistricting Committee, 2006-2007
  • Clarke Principal Search Committee, 2012 LPS Student Assignment Committee, 2016-2017

Town Government / Town Volunteer

  • School Committee member, 2017-present
  • Chair, School Committee, 2020-2022
  • Town Meeting Member, Precinct 4, 2014-present
  • Chair, LHS School Building Committee, 2023-present
  • LexRAP (Lexington Refugee Assistance Program) volunteer, 2023-present
  • Co-Chair, Yes For Lexington campaign, 2017
  • Co-Chair, Yes For Lexington campaign, 2016
  • Field Co-Chair, Yes For Lexington campaign, 2012
  • 300th Anniversary Celebration, 2013, Co-Chair of community dance

Professional Experience

  • Social Studies Teacher, Mt. Everett Regional High School, 1993-1995
  • Social Studies Teacher, Revere High School, 1996-1998
  • Guide, Lexington Historic Society, 2011-2014

Education

  • Brown University, BA, History, 1993

Fun Facts

  • I grew up in Las Vegas.
  • I know a lot of M*A*S*H trivia.
  • I was an extra in a Sylvester Stallone movie.