My Vision
We must prepare our children for the 21
My years of involvement with education, as a teacher, as a parent, and as an advocate and volunteer, have led me to develop a vision for education where students are excited about school, engaged in learning, and inspired to become lifelong learners. In my vision, our students graduate from high school with the skills they need to succeed in the work place or in college.
- We must enhance our curriculum to prepare our children for the 21st century.
- To reach more children, we have to expand teaching to different learning styles.
- We need more parents on School Committee.
21st Century Skills
According to the report of the 21st Century Task Force that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released last fall, current Massachusetts high school graduates are lacking in certain skills needed in the work place and in college. These skills include being able to think and solve problems creatively, work collaboratively as a team, use technology effectively, and take initiative. Although, reading, writing, and arithmetic will always be at the core of a good education, these less tangible skills are critical in our 21st Century economy. I believe these skills can be taught by encouraging more project-based learning in our classrooms. Projects can spark children’s imaginations and engage them in learning. Students will practise coming up with creative solutions to problems and learn how work collaboratively as a team.
Address Different Learning Styles
It is also important to recognize that one size does not fit all in education. Every parent knows that our children differ in their abilities, in learning styles, and in their work pace. As a member of the school committee, I will be proactive in supporting our teachers with the professional development and resources they need to better differentiate the curriculum for their students.
A Voice for Parents
Also, when we look at the budget, we need to keep our priorities clearly in focus and be advocates for our children and our schools. As a parent, I will be a voice for all our children as well as an ear for parents and the community.
Budget Challenges
These are very difficult economic times and we are all aware of the severe cuts to our budget this year and undoubtedly over the next few years. We will need to be creative to protect our students and school system. There will be no easy answer, but leadership in public-private partnerships, seeking grants, attracting volunteers, and advocating at the state level will be needed. My experience as an advocate for many other Medford institutions will help me do the best job possible for Medford.