My wife, Brock, and I both grew up in Falmouth and attended Falmouth Schools, K-12. After college graduation we lived in New York City for 15 years.  We returned to Falmouth in 2020 as our oldest daughter prepared to enter kindergarten. Today, Brock and I are proud that our children, Claire and June, are attending the same strong public school system that served both of us so well.

I have built a career in marketing and communications strategy, working with leading brands including Google, Bank of America, and HBO. I’m also a small business owner--Venue Ad Network connects major brands with independent live music venues across the country. Throughout my career, I’ve learned the importance of thoughtful leadership, collaboration, accountability, and managing large budgets in a rapidly changing world, skills I believe are essential in effective school board service today.

As a parent and community member, I believe our schools should continue striving for academic, curricular, and extracurricular excellence while remaining grounded in common sense, balance, and student well-being. I support taking a thoughtful and critical look at how technology is used in our schools, ensuring it enhances learning without distracting from it.  I also believe in supporting effective leadership, and I’m excited about the opportunity our district has with a highly qualified new superintendent focused on moving Falmouth forward.

I care deeply about the future of our schools, including thoughtful planning for a new middle school that will serve students and families for generations. Thoughtful investment in school facilities is about more than buildings--it is about creating spaces where students can learn, grow, and thrive for generations. Helping to responsibly shape that future would be a meaningful and lasting way to give back to the community that gave so much to my own family.

I am also an active member of Maine’s creative community. I’m a working musician who has toured internationally and plays regularly around Southern Maine. For the past five years, I’ve played the annual MaineHealth Behavioral Health “Making Spirits Bright” fundraiser--an organization I’m grateful to support. I serve on the board of the Maine Music Alliance, supporting independent artists and local cultural organizations across the state; we most recently helped Portland become the first in the country to successfully block a Live Nation project. 

Public service and community involvement run deep in my family. My father, Kevin McCarthy, served on the Town Council in the early 1990s and helped lead the development of The Woodlands Club. My mother, Anne Ireland, is an accomplished Maine painter. My in-laws, Carolyn and Guilds Hollowell, have also long been active members of the Falmouth community.

Serving on the Falmouth School Board is an opportunity to give back to the community that shaped me and is now shaping my children. I believe school board service requires listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, supporting students and educators, and making responsible long-term decisions for the district. I hope to bring my creativity, critical thinking, community-mindedness, and a steady commitment to excellence to the role--continuing a family tradition of public service in Falmouth.

Please contact me at jared.mccarthy@gmail.com