Guilford Election 2021: Moira Rader For Board Of Education

GUILFORD, CT — The state Municipal Election is Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Patch contacted candidates to answer questions about their campaigns.

Incumbent Democrat Moira Rader, 51, is running for reelection to the Board of Education.

Occupation: Architect / Designer

Family: My husband Peter & I have four children and enjoy living in the beautiful Mulberry Point area of Guilford. Our son Paedar is a freshman in college. Our three daughters all attend Guilford schools: Maeve & Mairead at GHS and our youngest, Muiriel, at Adams. We love this community and feel so fortunate to call Guilford home.

Experience: Board of Education - Guilford

Family in government: Besides my own elected position on the Guilford BOE, my husband Peter is a member of the Guilford Standing Building committee.

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

The threats being levied against our school district with regard to our work around diversity, equity and inclusion and how it connects to our continuing endeavors to ensure every student feels supported socially and emotionally. The possible demise of our award-winning learning community is a real and present threat. As a BOE member for the past four years, I can speak with authority to the tremendous balance and thought that goes into our efforts to provide an equitable, and diverse and inclusive learning environment for every student. We cannot shy away from encouraging our students to think critically and engage in challenging topics; to do so would be the antithesis of a balanced and culturally responsive education. Understanding the value of our differences and infusing our classrooms with opportunities to explore and support those differences is critical to developing lifelong learners and global citizens.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

The critical difference that sets me apart from any other candidate is my four years of experience serving on the Guilford Board of Education. I can speak directly to the challenges we face and have a thorough, firsthand understanding of what the roles and responsibilities of the position entail. At this extraordinarily critical time, first-hand experience and a proven ability to work collaboratively for the betterment of our students should be paramount when considering any candidate for the BOE. I have been fortunate to be part of a collaborative & collegial board that has always worked harmoniously to keep our students at the core of every decision. The BOE is no place to push personal agendas or political ideology. As the current Secretary of the BOE, Chair of the Policy Committee and member of the Operations Committee, I have garnered the experience and expertise to support our district as we navigate new challenges and foster new initiatives to grow our learning community.

Accomplishments:

During my four years on the BOE, we have navigated many successes amidst many challenges. Our greatest accomplishment over the last several years has been successfully navigating the global pandemic, while keeping the safety and wellness of our students and staff at the core of every decision. During my tenure, the BOE has successfully crafted annual budgets that are thoughtful, fiscally responsible and seek to continually elevate the district. We have strengthened the district’s focus on the social & emotional well-being of students, while supporting rigorous curriculum that speaks to the potential of every student. We reaffirmed our commitment to reviewing and improving our curriculum and school climate as it relates to diversity, equity and inclusion. These efforts have included a community-driven initiative to replace our high school mascot, and participation in the CT Teacher Residency Program and the creation of a Family Equity Liaison position to serve students and their families.

Other issues:

I am proud to be part of the Protect Guilford Schools fusion campaign, whose focus and platform includes building on our district’s successes while valuing and supporting an honest, inclusive and equitable education for all children. We want to ensure that our teachers, administrators and staff feel supported, safe and entrusted to utilize their expertise and professional creativity to inspire learning and stretch our students to reach for their personal potential. We will continue to provide our teachers with the best resources, instructional materials and professional development to elevate student learning and ensure a thriving learning environment.

We will continually advocate for the prioritization of students’ mental health and wellness, ensuring that academic rigor is balanced with opportunities for creative outlets via our outstanding music, art, theater and athletic programs. We will seek ways to strengthen best practices regarding the budget process, continually identifying opportunities to evaluate our resources and think creatively about budget allocation. We will continue to be accessible to our community and listen to the needs expressed by the families of our district. We will ensure that communication is paramount with our administration and that we remain dedicated to the shared mission statement of our district.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I would like voters to know that I am first a parent to four wonderful people. My son began college this year and my three daughters are current GPS students. They are the reason both my husband and I believe so strongly in giving back to our community. Guilford has been our anchor through life’s storms, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to continue giving back via my position on the BOE. I am humbled by the support that has been shown to myself and my fusion campaign running mates. We are focused on continuing the great work of this district and looking towards the many ways we can enrich and expand upon those initiatives to create a more equitable learning environment for every student. Our learning community is a place to celebrate and embrace our differences. It is imperative that we support our students to think critically and develop the capacity to become empowered and empathetic global citizens.

Coming from a family of educators, I personally consider our teachers among the great heroes of our children’s lives. I will serve to continually protect and defend their rights as professional educators, understanding the supportive role we play as BOE members. Our teachers should feel constant support and professionally encouraged to expand their skills to best meet their students' potential. Our students should feel encouraged to examine their past, present and future within the lens of a supported and safe learning environment.

Prior to joining the BOE, I served on the AW Cox PTO advisory board for several years as both assistant treasurer and treasurer. I was also a volunteer teacher at my local church for several years. I have also enjoyed supporting various charitable organizations in Guilford. I hold an MS from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, a BA from Villanova University, a certificate in Interior Design from NYSID and a residential real estate license in the state of CT. In my professional life, I have been fortunate to practice architecture and design for over 20 years. In that time I have served as an adjunct faculty member at Paier College of Art & Design, led a corporate design department, and managed complex projects throughout the U.S. and operated my own private design practice.