In the next three years I hope to be working on the following initiatives for our school children:
Learning is fun: Continue to center our value of ‘Joy in Learning’.
Focus on the day to day important work that happens in our classrooms, the costs and required funding; while supporting the high school building project as needed.
Help build communication channels for our parent-caregiver communities such as our English Language Learner and METCO families, while continuing to support our partnerships with SEPAC, PTAs/PTOs, LEF and town community.
A digital safety policy: Rapid social media evolution and generative AI have created a new online environment for our school system and families. Its important to have a common sense policy which balances access and responsibility, and partner with our families to foster safe, sensible, and conscientious use.
As a candidate for a third term as a Lexington School Committee member, it is important to show how my thinking has evolved. Much of what is given below I continue to believe and strive for. Therefore my statements from 2021 and 2018 are given here too.
Statement from 2021
Three years later, as I reflect on where we are now, I find my goals have not changed much. They have become just more nuanced. Education during the pandemic has not met all the needs of all our children, despite our best efforts. This is true globally. In the years to come it will require all our efforts to make up some of the inevitable gaps. Some of our preCovid issues remain even while much progress has been made, such as the overcrowding at Lexington High School, though new schools and renovations have relieved it at the elementary and middle schools. We are also working towards a more equitable school system. The goal is where we remove all implicit and explicit barriers for every child to get the best education prek-12 that Lexington can provide. We continue to emphasize fiscally responsible spending and budgets realizing that tax dollars, nay even tax pennies, should be used wisely. Meanwhile national events have brought home the importance of what Lexington Public Schools and the Town of Lexington do best - grow children with a focus on Character, Citizenship, Career and then College.
Statement from 2018
Goals
Lexington Public Schools have made significant progress in tackling issues of overcrowding, curriculum improvement, and student stress. However, more remains to be done. We are at an inflection point. With the ongoing curriculum-schedule reviews and the high school envisioning process we have a unique opportunity. We can reimagine our pedagogy and adopt ideas beyond just college and career considerations. We can strengthen our schools and community by:
• Educating the whole child
• Building student resilience
• Delivering value to taxpayers
Our children should grow into confident and empathetic global citizens, who adapt to change with equanimity and skill. Children who will be facile with technology, yet socially integrated. Most importantly, I would like us to adopt educational ideas and innovations with entrepreneurial proficiency.
Educating the whole child
It is important that we shift our focus from educating the classroom child to the whole child. We are already accomplishing wonderful things in our schools and town. Our children do well artistically, athletically and academically. We can now look towards building up the softer skills which are to do with collaboration, creative thinking, empathy and teamwork. These are skills which are becoming increasingly necessary in the work place and also make for happier adults.
Social and emotional learning provided in a safe, supportive environment can enhance positive character traits as well as boost academic results. In Lexington, given our diversity, we can build unique school-community partnerships. Students can be given opportunities for altruism and character development beyond their immediate circle. This will help foster prosocial behavior.
I have coached elementary and middle school children using project based learning elements for over seven years. In April 2017, our team won the Research Award in the First World Championship from a global field of over 30,000 teams. This win was a culmination of many years of learning which included community engagement, empathy exercises, teamwork, problem solving, and STEM. The students worked very hard but also had a lot of fun. The team developed practical real-world solutions and learned a number of hard and soft skills.
Building student resilience
Lexingtonians are well intentioned, hardworking people. We strive to do our best and so always find scope for improvement. We have high expectations of ourselves and our children are no different. This yields impressive results but may also lead to unhealthy stress. Social and digital-world pressures may also contribute especially in the high school. As a town, we have done much to ease these pressures. We will continue to do so till the causes of unhealthy stress are understood and mitigated.
For a student embracing curiosity and becoming an active learner is perhaps one of the most rewarding experiences. This is especially true for the elementary and middle school years. Unfortunately, we all have had a child feel that they cannot even attempt an academic or athletic activity because their peers have already mastered it. Sometimes it takes courage to try something new. Exploring new concepts in a team setting with a shared purpose reduces the fear of failure. In supportive environments students will dabble in unfamiliar concepts. Initial failures and successes can build a child’s confidence leading to a virtuous cycle of growth. Key skills taught early on, practiced and augmented through the years will help build resilience. As adults we know that with effort and interest, any endeavor is doable.
I have organized elementary and middle school enrichment events and clubs which have created such environments. Students have worked in group settings while being mentored by parents, grandparents and LHS students. It has increased community involvement and benefits have accrued to all.
Delivering value to taxpayers
Lexington is a town for all ages, all ethnicities and all incomes. Providing an outstanding public education while also managing the tax burden is important. Lexington’s family friendly town environment and the excellence of our school system is attracting families locally and from around the world. Meanwhile, some of our aging school and town facilities need renovation and replacement. This leads to enrollment pressures on our school system and budget pressures on our town finances. The town is working to balance the financial requirements of these pressures. As a Town Meeting and School Committee Member I will strive to deliver maximum value to the town as a whole.