Board of Education

The Board of Education candidates talked about neighborhood schools recently in a conference with reporters.  Read about it here and here.

If you haven’t read Kevin Rennie’s moving piece from last Sunday in the Hartford Courant about Republican Board of Education candidate Jay Moran, you need to do it now.

 ”The best campaigns feature something nobler than a grasping candidate. Sure, Jay Moran wants to win. He’s knocked on thousands of doors. As a cross-country coach, he learned how to peak in the fall. It’s music when people tell him they’re going to vote for him. But nothing matches the satisfaction provided by the ones who say, “You’re Julia’s dad.” In that moment, she’s on the trail with him.”

I am running for the Board of Education because I believe that all students have the right to a quality education and I have the knowledge, expertise and leadership to make that happen. My experience speaks for itself. I am a certified elementary and secondary English teacher, language arts consultant and administrator in Wethersfield; a part time instructor at Manchester Community College; and I have held office in many civic organizations. My promise to you is that I will use my experience to work with board members, school officials, and residents to ensure that our students graduate with the knowledge, skills and strategies necessary for a healthy and successful life . . . a clear mandate for excellence in education.

Manchester Public Schools are facing challenging and complex issues as they struggle to close the achievement gap and provide quality education for all students. I understand firsthand the challenges that today’s teachers face in the classrooms, and I promise to work relentlessly to maximize learning opportunities for all students ensuring that there is parity in resources and curriculum across all schools in the district. We are one town and should not have pockets of inequity. I will provide leadership as we work to solve seemingly competing interests: how to retain neighborhood schools and yet racially balance schools; how to upgrade our facilities in a fiscally responsible manner without increasing the tax burden; how to ensure school safety yet create challenging learning environments; how to provide families with resources that respectfully assist them in helping their children become better learners; and last but not least, not only how to raise test scores, but more importantly, how to make sure that all our students can read, write and “do” math.

Clearly my focus is to advocate for all of Manchester’s children. As a Board member I will work to shape policy that supports and empowers teachers and administrators to achieve excellence in education for all Manchester students, reflecting the voice of the Manchester voters.

Your vote on November 6 is critical. Vote for Manchester’s future. Support Manchester’s children by voting for Mary-Jane Dodge Pazda, for the Manchester Board of Education.