Neighbor to Neighbor asks some great questions. Here is their second one.

Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) followed their first question up with this: What is your vision of a better quality public education for the children of Lynn?  What would you do to help improve our city’s schools?

Here is what I said:

"My vision of a better quality public education begins with schools that tirelessly teach children to read.  As a society, we learn to read, then we read to learn.  Literacy is the greatest tool we can provide our children.  Second, I would want to see new, bright, colorful, safe learning centers that our community can take pride in and that inspire our children.  I want to see schools that are open late and on the weekends, providing classes in everything from English as a Second Language to Fiscal Responsibility to Healthy Family Cooking. I’d like to see schools that prepare our children fully for the secondary education of their choice.  I’d like to see schools that every member of our community can access, regardless of disability or language spoken.  I want Lynn to have schools that other communities would fight to place their children in.  And I think we can do it, together. 

            As a school committee member, I would be in a unique situation to help improve our city’s schools because I am not beholden to anyone.  I do not have any family members employed by Lynn Public Schools and I am not sponsored by any special interest groups. In addition, I have no further political interest.  I am not going to run for City Councilor or Mayor.  I believe Lynn’s greatest worth and greatest area of need are the schools.  I want to be the parents’ voice, an ally to the parents and families of Lynn."