Philosophy and Priorities
Recently, I read a New York Times piece by Nikole Hannah-Jones that describes the shift in the way we collectively, as a nation, have begun to think about our public schools. She laments:
“We began moving away from the “public” in public education a long time ago. In fact, treating public schools like a business these days is largely a matter of fact in many places.”
She goes on to note:
“The glaring reality is, whether we are talking about schools or other institutions, it seems as if we have forgotten what “public” really means.
“The word derives from the Latin word publicus, meaning ‘of the people.’ This concept — that the government belongs to the people and the government should provide for the good of the people — was foundational to the world’s nascent democracies.”
As a candidate for our school board, I am committed to the public good of our public schools. I think we, as parents, educators, and citizens, have a duty to recognize our shared purpose in ensuring that the education our children engage in will strengthen our communities and our nation.
I believe it is our job to provide the context and tools for that to occur. To fulfill this promise, as a member of the SCASD School Board, I will work to:
- Invest in Student Well-Being and Relationship Development
- We know that students are most successful when they feel connections to families, their school, their peers, and the community. Building and maintaining these connections should be a priority.
- Oversee Responsible Financial Stewardship
- Our board members do this well. It’s a primary trust that is bestowed on those elected. Our children’s potential, our money. Neither should be squandered.
- Provide Diversity of Opportunity for a Diverse Student Body
- A significant motivation for my interest in running is my experience as a mom, a friend, and an educator. I have seen the need for attention to be given to a wide range of interests, abilities, and challenges. A student who is college-bound, a student for whom a college education doesn’t fit, a student who has great abilities outside the classroom but who struggles inside, a student with autism, a student whose daily personal needs struggle to be met… all these young people should feel that, no matter who they are, their schools provide inspiration and opportunity for them.
- Cultivate Excellence in Teaching at Every Level, Every Subject
- Our teachers often spend more time with our kids than we do during a school day. To do their jobs, we need to listen and provide them–to the greatest of our ability–the means to feel supported and successful every day they walk into their classrooms.
- Engage Residents’ Ideas & Talents in Decision-Making
- We’re lucky. We live in a community that has shown support for its schools time and again. Capitalizing on this passion by making the work of the district as visible as possible to invite time and talent to inform what we do would be invaluable.
lori bedell 