Jackie Baker
Candidate for PA Senate-District 20
Jackie was born, raised, & educated right here in Northeast PA.
She currently lives in Susquehanna County with her family.
She is an Elk Lake graduate. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Mansfield University and a Master’s Degree in Education from Wilkes University.
As a public school teacher and mother, Jackie has always advocated for children and families and has stood by the principle that all people deserve to be treated with fairness and dignity.
Jackie, her husband, and sons raise pigs and grow vegetables at their small homestead in Susquehanna County.
"As a life-long educator, a public school teacher, and community activist, I have always worked hard to help children, their families, and our communities.
I also have been steadfast in my conviction that all people deserve to be treated with dignity & fairness." Jackie
"I know what it’s like to struggle & to need help.
After graduating with my degree in teaching, I faced the same problem many college graduates face. I couldn’t find a job and yet the student loan payments were due. I worked in retail and in the service industry before finally landing my dream job as a teacher.
I taught special education and 5th grade in a small city school where my students were not only neighborhood children, but children from around the world; immigrants & refugees who came to America with their families for a better life.
At this time, with the cost of childcare so high, my husband stayed home with our children while I went to work each day. My family relied on my income and our family health insurance was covered through my employer. But then one day, I was injured on the job & I couldn’t return to work for many months. My family was unexpectedly thrown into dire straits. My paycheck, our health insurance, our ability to pay bills and to buy food was suddenly gone. We struggled with food insecurity and had to rely on social programs like SNAP, WIC, and even local food banks for help - just like so many other PA families. As a parent, it’s a terrible feeling to worry about feeding your kids.
Sometimes people face unexpected hardships. I am committed to making I sure that our social programs are protected, funded, and expanded so that families can feed their families and survive through tough times."