Greenwich Election: Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony For BOE

GREENWICH, CT — Election Day on Nov. 2 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot in Greenwich.

Patch reached out to candidates for local office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing the town.

Republican Michael-Joseph Mercanti-Anthony, 46, is running for Board of Education in Greenwich.

Occupation: School Administrator

Family: My wife is Dr. Catherine Berzolla. We have two boys, Peter (7) and William (5).

Experience: Board of Education Member in Haddonfield and NH

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

The single most important issue facing our district is addressing gaps in student learning. Many of our student achievement scores were trending down before the pandemic, which has only exacerbated these concerns. The district must continue to hone a thoughtful and comprehensive approach to support the accelerated learning of each child. Similarly, now is the time to address long-standing achievement gaps between students of different socio-economic levels, and such that these gaps are not widened as a result of the pandemic.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

As a career educator, I have 23 years of experience in public education as a teacher, administrator, and education professor. Currently, I work for the New York City Department of Education as a Director of Continuous Improvement – where I help struggling schools develop better systems. I possess a doctorate in education leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and am an adjunct education professor.

Accomplishments:

I previously served five years as an elected member of the board of education in my hometown of Haddonfield, NJ. From both that experience and my career in education, and I am familiar with how school districts work and how we might do things differently here in Greenwich.

Other issues:

• Develop Appropriate Systems for BOE Governance to stop the constant lurch from crisis to crisis
• Align Special Education Services with modern best practices to support our neediest learners
• Provide fiscal leadership that prioritizes shared services and cost efficiencies
• Demand instructional leadership that aligns classroom practice with research-based best practices in learning science.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

Eleven years ago, I followed my wife, Dr. Catherine Berzolla back here to her hometown to raise a family. During that time I have watched in dismay as the BOE lurched from crisis to crisis, plagued by mismanagement and infighting. Perhaps because of these crises, our school system has not stayed abreast of advancements in education.

Let's work to make Greenwich one of the premier public school districts in the country. We have the talent, resources, and community strength to be a national model for ensuring all students reach their potential. Let's eliminate the gap in academic performance between one side of town and the other, modernize our special education programs, and ensure that the curriculum at all levels stays true to our common values.