Guilford Candidate Profile: Richard H. Hersh for Board of Ed

GUILFORD, CT — Guilford’s election season is heating up.

Guilford Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Richard H. Hersh, 77, is a Democrat running for election to the Board of Education.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you'd be representing.
No

Education:

B.A. Syracuse University; M.S. Syracuse University; Ed.D Boston University

Occupation:

50 years-- high school teacher, professor of education, college and university senior administrator, college president

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

Selectman, Durham, New Hampshire

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Continuing to garner annual referendum support for the school budget. I intend to speak in as many forums as possible as to why Guilford Schools merit such support necessary to sustain the current level of excellence.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

This is an uncontested election

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

1. K-12 education must include social/emotional and character education as well as intellectual development 2. paying attention to issues of student stress, anxiety, bullying, and vaping

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

High school Social Studies teacher, professor of education and teacher educator, college and university senior administrator, former Town Selectman in Durham New Hampshire

The best advice ever shared with me was …

Acknowledge that you may be wrong

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My career has been devoted to education at all levels and I am committed to schooling excellence. Having consulted widely with many school systems in this country, I can say that Guilford Schools are excellent by any standard. They are excellent because Guilford has attracted a strong school board, exceptional administrators and teachers, and a level of community support that is enviable. I see as one of my major goals the sustaining of this culture of excellence and advancing it even further.

Are you running for office in Guilford? Contact Ellyn Santiago at ellyn.santiago@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Guilford Patch.