MY PRIORITIES

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COVID

The most immediate priority facing our schools is COVID and marrying science with the logistics needed to move into the next phase of schooling.

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Equity

Equity is the central issue of our time. I believe in placing equity at the center. Period. This is especially true for education. My professional role, my research, and my experience in teaching has demonstrated that working towards an equitable society is not only the ethical path forward, it will also result in a better world for everyone.

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21st Century Education

Education is at a pivot point. Should we continue in a system designed for the late 1800s? Or should we look to the possibilities of our future and realign teaching and learning to meet those goals? I support Needham's Portrait of Needham Graduate as an important step towards pivoting into the 21st Century.

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Community and Communication 

My doctoral work focused on an ongoing question — what are the barriers to communication among families, schools, and communities and how might we address them? I bring a research-based lens to the idea that communication among all stakeholders supports deeper understanding of community needs and results in equitable solutions.

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MY EXPERIENCE

I bring deep experience in education generally and within Needham specifically.

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Professional Experience:

• Educational Consultant focused on families, schools, communities, and equity with expertise in untangling the knots at the intersection

• Adjunct Faculty at Lesley University, teaching soon-to-be teachers

• Supervise student teachers in grades K and 1 in Lesley University Education program

• 10 years as a classroom teacher in grades PreK, K and 1

• One year on the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children (MAAEYC) Policy Steering Committee

Community Experience:

• Citizens for Needham Schools — Board member, eight years, including four years as co-chair

• Let's Build: Engineering Fun for Kids — Founder and director of a program bringing hands-on engineering and science activities into some Needham Schools

• Needham Educational Foundation — Board member, four years

• Needham Public School's REAL Coalition — Parent Member

• Equal Justice in Needham for Families (EJNF) — Active member of sub-committee bringing diverse read-alouds to children and in-depth discussions to adults

• Needham's Lunch Equity Project — Supported the development and launch of program to reduce food insecurity for Needham families