> Why are you interested in serving the Bedford community as a member of the School Committee and what issues are of particular interest to you?
Education has been part of my life in many ways over the years. I am a college professor with a tenured faculty position at Brandeis University and teaching appointments at the MIT Sloan School and Brown University. I am also a parent of a 14-year old, 8th grade boy in the Bedford public school system, now at JGMS. Through him, I have been able to see the excellence of our school system, along with an occasional imperfection. I am volunteering for this position because I would like to see our strong system continue to thrive, and I believe I can make a contribution towards making that happen. I am especially passionate about developing our young citizens both academically and outside of the classroom, so I believe in well-rounded education across domains such at the arts, athletics, and a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities.
> What steps would you support to integrate the new school superintendent into the Bedford community, i.e., not just the school system but the community at large?
In serving on the School Committee, I have experienced first-hand how fortunate we are to have had strong leadership for many years from our superintendent Jon Sills. Once our search for the new superintendent concludes, it will be important for our community to take steps to effectively welcome him or her on board. Formal steps might include introductions and on-boarding conversations with the School Committee and the administrators, teachers and staff in our several schools. Similarly, we the School Committee can help the new superintendent build connections throughout the community, including government groups such as the police and fire departments, town officers, and town committees. We should seek to connect with community groups to feature the rich diversity that we enjoy in Bedford. The superintendent might consider a town hall format to meet community members. Because we have students from Hanscom and Boston, we would include these groups as well.
> What are three specific issues regarding public education in Bedford that are critical issues you want to influence as a member of the School Committee?
The social and emotional well-being of our youth is a critical issue for Bedford and for schools around the country. Childhood and teenager years are quite simply different for most students compared to when their parents were children. Our teachers and staff are acutely aware of this need, and we the community must support and partner with them to foster a healthy school climate and community environment.
Every student is different. We should aspire to offer each child the opportunities both within and outside of the classroom that will engage, educate, and groom them for success in whatever path they follow in life. For me, that means attention to equality and diversity, support for special education, and support for innovation in the school system.
It is also essential that we accomplish our goals in a financially responsible manner, so we must be fiscally prudent in setting our school budget.
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