Listen. Learn. Lead. Launch Party!
From Left to Right: Tara Mallon, Meredith Higgins, Malini Nayar, Paul Stephan
Listen. Learn. Lead.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our launch party! A diverse number of parents, kids, teachers, high school students, and community leaders came together to celebrate the start of our campaign. The room was full of energy, ideas, and commitment to our schools. We’re grateful for the strong turnout, especially from district teachers and elected town leaders who took the time to stand with us.
Listen
At the launch party, we collected questions and concerns from families, students, and teachers, and we’ve been listening closely. Here’s what we heard:
Families want opportunity gaps closed so all students have a fair chance to succeed.
Families want stronger action on bullying and harassment (HIBs) so schools are inclusive and every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Families are worried about affordability and want to know how the BOE will prepare for potential federal education cuts.
Families want the district to act as a responsible environmental steward while preparing students for a changing climate.
Families are frustrated with poor communication and want better ways to raise concerns, clearer updates, and meaningful involvement for both parents and students.
Learn
These concerns families raise are directly tied to student learning.
Opportunity gaps and inconsistent supports mean too many students fall through the cracks.
Bullying and harassment not only harm individual students but disrupt classrooms and the learning environment.
Fiscal uncertainty impacts staffing, programming, and facilities which are the foundation for a quality education.
Sustainability is not just about cost savings, but also about modeling responsible leadership for students who will inherit a rapidly changing world.
Communication breakdowns undermine trust and keep families from fully partnering with schools in their child’s education.
By listening to you, we are learning how these systemic issues impact classrooms and shape the daily lives of our kids.
Lead
We will act on what we heard by:
Closing opportunity gaps by expanding the use of student data so teachers have the tools to meet the unique needs of every student. As the candidates with teaching experience we understand how policy translates to classrooms.
Supporting student well-being by preserving and strengthening social and emotional learning, and ensuring counselors can focus on students’ well-being. Meredith is completing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and will advocate for stronger mental health supports in our schools.
Strengthening fiscal responsibility by pushing for forward-looking budgets and capital plans that anticipate federal cuts, prioritize student needs, and balance taxpayer responsibility. We will also increase transparency around how money is spent and which capital projects move forward.
Making our district a leader in sustainability by advocating for energy efficiency upgrades, solar projects, and electric buses where possible, reducing costs long-term and setting an example for students. Paul’s experience as an environmental attorney and Malini’s expertise in clean energy finance uniquely prepare our team to lead this initiative.
Improving communication with families by pushing for more regular updates, a more accessible website, and spaces for meaningful dialogue with parents, teachers, and students alike. Clear, consistent communication is the cornerstone of our campaign.
We are committed to turning community concerns into action and ensuring our schools are places where every student can thrive.
Closing
We are listening to families, students, and teachers to understand what matters most.
We are learning from your experiences and from the data about where our district is thriving and where it is falling short.
We are ready to lead with clarity, compassion, and accountability to ensure every student in SOMSD has the opportunity to succeed.
Together, we can build schools that reflect our community’s values and prepare our children for the future.
Get Involved!
Help us build momentum:
