I am wrapping up a two week "tour" with the kids to visit their grandparents in Tennessee and North Carolina. The trip was educational for all of us in all sorts of non-traditional ways - for the kids, they experienced a different sort of suburban life and spent quality time with their extended family and, for me, it was my first time traveling solo on a plane (five total flights) with three kids. No one suffered any major injuries and they all behaved pretty well (at least no worse than normal). I am pretty confident that I've earned some sort of mommy merit badge. But, as fun and nice as it was to get away, we all miss home and daddy.
Of course, there will be no rest for us travel weary. Returning to Salem will bring a whirlwind of outings to prepare for school and hitting the campaign trail. And, that certainly does not mean that I haven't been "working" while I have been away. My to-do list during "vacation" included the less fun, yet necessary, tasks of designing a campaign logo for signs and stickers and reading rules about campaign finance. Once those things were done, I set out to start this blog as another way to reach the community (and voters). While I hesitate to say that I am going into politics and prefer to think of myself as just another involved parent, I realize that I need to get elected to make the biggest impact on change within our schools.
Picking colors, fonts, and layouts may be part of the process but the most important (and fun) part is connecting with people and doing research. Two months ago I made the final decision to run for school committee. It was a decision that I did not take lightly, especially considering that my husband and I have three young children. Although I have attended all but two regular school committee meetings over the past 18 months, taking on this challenge means a lot more to me than going to meetings. It means understanding the real issues and concerns facing families and teachers in educating all the children in our district, at all schools. It is a commitment to figuring out the best way to approach the challenges we face - not just to improve our status within the state, but to help prepare our children to successfully compete in the global market as adults. It involves approaching decisions thoughtfully and sensitively - and communicating with the community the purpose, goals and potential impact these decisions have.
I have received a lot of positive feedback about my candidacy. I have had some wonderful discussions with people about our schools. Underneath all the concerns and worries is a strong sense of optimism. There is so much potential for greatness in our school system. Furthermore, I am hopeful that this fall's election will insure that we continue on the right path. There are no guarantees in politics, especially with 8 candidates for 3 positions. Before I start asking for your support and votes, I feel that it is important to say that, regardless of the outcome, I will continue to be present and involved. Whether or not I am a member of the committee, I am committed to this cause and will remain a resource for our community.
With that said, I am still in this to win so that my voice, our voices, can be heard and have a vote at that table. There are many ways to help from just getting my name out there (talk to your people you know, putting a sticker on your car or a sign in your yard, hosting a tea/coffee for me to meet a few of your friends/neighbors) or just offering your insight and thoughts about our school system. This is where it begins...
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