Question 1: Why are you running for School Committee? What particular skills do you bring to the position?
Educational policy is where my passion and my skills meet. Public education is something I’ve been invested in for over a decade. Our students, families, and public school staff deserve elected officials who understand and value public education. I’ve worked in nearly every aspect of public education, including teaching, coaching, developing curriculum, implementing new programs, and managing large budgets. Beyond my skills and knowledge, I am extremely passionate about making sure that every single student and every single family that I interact with knows that I care about their unique, individual dreams for themselves or their children, and that I will work tirelessly to answer their questions and make sure their concerns are addressed.

Question 2: The COVID-19 pandemic substantially disrupted education last year and had unequal impacts for different students. What information will you ask district leaders to provide the School Committee to monitor the success of district efforts in 2021–22 to help all students adjust to the new school year and meet their learning goals?
As we look towards this upcoming school year, the most important thing schools can do is have individual, honest discussions with students and families. As an educator, I know that there is no one data point that could tell us how students are adjusting, academically, socially, or emotionally. Instead, I believe that consistent communication with all families to learn more about any concerns they may have about their child will provide us with the best information. From there, school staff can build out individualized plans to support students and families through this next year of school. Finally, I think that although it can be tempting to view this past year as a “lost year” especially as it relates to academics, it’s critical that our students know that they are right where they are supposed to be, and ensure that they don’t feel undue pressure from adults to make up time lost from inside their school buildings. Our children certainly lost a lot, especially in terms of connection with their peers and school staff, but too much pressure on “learning loss” itself does not create a conducive learning environment in school, and may have the opposite effect. The most important thing we can provide for our students entering this September is a safe place to rebuild connections and a focus on mental health and mental well-being in addition to academics.

Question 3: The school district recently adopted a 2-year plan for coordinated high school redesign, covering all three high schools in the district. The success of the plan depends in large part on strong implementation. What will you do as a School Committee member to support the implementation of the high school redesign plan?
I’m really excited about this opportunity for our high school students. As a school committee member, I will advocate for funding to support this plan, help communicate information out, and serve as a sounding board when needed. Redesigns require innovative thinking that’s also rooted in the realities of the high school requirements from the state, as well as what students are actually looking for from their time in high school. My experience as a public school educator has allowed me to see many different types of high school implementations and redesigns, and I’m eager to use that past experience and knowledge to support Salem’s redesign. I also work closely with our district’s Student Advisory Council to make sure that our diverse student body is well-represented within the planning process and that the redesign process considers the needs of students that have historically faced significant barriers to education, including our students with disabilities and our English learners.

Question 4: What is one step you will take as a School Committee member to advance education equity in Salem?
One of my biggest passions in life, both professionally and personally, is for students and families to have increased access to high quality pre-k and dual language programming for their children. Both of these types of programs, when designed with equity at the core and implemented based on research and best practices, have demonstrated significantly better outcomes for students across all demographics. I’ve advocated for both of these two areas over my current term on school committee. We have already seen an expansion of access to early childhood education with an increase in seats for this upcoming year, 65% of which have been allocated for families designated “low income” by the state. A dual language program has opened within the district with 50-66% of seats allocated for English Learners, and options for world language classes are increasing at all grade levels. I will continue to work on these two initiatives, and safeguard access for families experiencing homelessness, students acquiring English, and our students with disabilities. To do this, I will work closely with the superintendent and business manager to ensure that proper and strategic funding is provided for these opportunities, that our enrollment policies do not create unintentional barriers preventing students and families from accessing these opportunities, and that we have designated percentages based on student and family need.

To learn more about Amanda, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/campbellforschoolcommittee