Hi! Thanks for being here and caring about public education.

 

My Why

 

1) I’m a parent who wants to help make positive change.

 

I’ve never run for office. I didn’t think I would—I’m a bitintroverted; knocking on doors is daunting! But year after year, as a parent of a Leeds Elementary School kiddo about to start at JFK, I’ve watched one service cut after another, and the drama of each budget season unfold like a bad thriller—would we get enough money to support our schools, or wouldn’t we? I’d get revved up, seeing programs, services, and educators on the chopping block. Like many of you, I wrote emails to city and state officials and an op-ed for the Gazette, I made public comment, and I watched dozens of parents, teachers, and other citizens do the same. Spoiler alert: Sometimes there’d be a minor hail Mary, something saved, but always, always something lost. I’m done watching from the sidelines. I care and want to be in the room where questions are asked and answered, and decisions are made.

 

2) I’m a journalist who likes to figure things out.

 

I’ve spent the last 30 (gulp!) years listening, observing, taking notes, and synthesizing information to gain a thoroughunderstanding of a story so that I can communicate it to others. In our divided city, one side says there is no money to fund the schools, and on the other side I hear that there’s plenty of money to fund the schools, it’s just a matter of priorities. I want to suss out the truth. How can we attain fairand equitable support for our students and educators? How can we balance the needs of, say, firefighters, smooth, safe streets, and the needs of schools? It certainly seems possible!I want to find out how and help that happen.

 

3) The narrative needs to change.

 

We need more money to support appropriate classroom size, fully fulfill IEPs and 504s, provide robust, well-paid staffing, etc. but we also need to shift the narrative. Those who defend school funding may be raising their voices sometimes because they are not being heard. Let’s reshape the narrative aroundthe fact that we all pretty much want the same thing—prioritizing kids getting the best education that they can while, yes, taking other city needs into account.

 

4) We can be the change we want to see.

 

You know this: Our country is in crisis. There’s a whole lot of flaming garbage in our national government over which we have zero control. I would love to see our fair city be a model for other municipalities with our stellar, well-funded schools. Kids matter. They matter not just because they’re our future. They are our right now. They are their own right now. And they deserve to thrive, to learn in a way that fits their needs, and to be in appropriately sized classrooms. They deserve to have a happy school experience. NOW. And educators deserve to be fully supported while they make that happen for our kids. Also, now.

 

 

As a school committee member, I’ll do everything in my power to help this allegedly progressive town put its money where it says its values are—with education as a top priority.

 

A Wish List

Things I’d like to see in our schools from the perspective of equity and sanity and fundamental kindness to children and those who teach them:

- Fulfilled IEPs and 504s

- Appropriate classroom sizes

- Robust before- and after-school programs in all schools

- Enough teachers and paras and staff in each school

- Adequate mental health resources

- Empowering support for educators. Let’s implement what they’ve told us they need to feel safe, respected, and supported in their roles so we can stem attrition and improve student outcomes.

- State funding that meets their obligations and serves our schools’ needs

- PILOT funding that supports our schools

- Transparency and community inclusion

- Creating near consensus that education is an essential priority

- Becoming a model for other progressive districts