Candidate Profile: Wyatt Lipman, Ridgefield Board of Education

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Ridgefield and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Ridgefield Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Wyatt Lipman, 41, is running for election to the Ridgefield Board of Education as a Democrat.

Education.

I received both a bachelor’s degree in history and a law degree from Columbia University.

What is your occupation?

I’m Corporate Counsel for Google, negotiating strategic deals and partnerships. I’ve worked as a lawyer for a number of innovative technology and media companies, and at a leading, global law firm.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

My wife, Maria, and I have a 2 year old daughter, Vivienne, a newborn on the way in December, and a huggable basset hound, Leon.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

No

Why are you seeking this office?

Dad to a toddler and soon-to-be newborn, I’m running for BOE as an advocate for Ridgefield families to keep our schools strong for years to come. Our schools are a magnet drawing new families to Ridgefield — including my own — and driving economic growth for the whole town. I believe we need to come together, listen to each other, and focus on the challenges and opportunities facing Ridgefield’s schools. I’ll always be prepared to ask thoughtful questions, make decisions based on evidence, and cooperate with colleagues to find solutions for students. A collaborative leader, I’ll work in partnership with our Superintendent, fellow BOE members, parents, teachers, students, and the community. Together we’ll continue to enable excellence at RPS with investment in teaching and learning as the heart of our mission.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our District is hiring the best teachers and supporting them as they develop their careers in Ridgefield’s schools. Data show that we face a teacher shortage, and also an upward trend in teacher dissatisfaction. On the BOE, I’ll champion the goal of recruiting, retaining, and supporting great teachers, who are the single most valuable asset for student success. I’ll confer with District leadership, and call for a special BOE committee — that includes direct teacher input — to study and understand the challenges, and propose creative and pragmatic policy solutions. Ridgefield must be a district that skilled, motivated teachers want to join and build their careers. We owe that to all of our kids, and it’s the smartest investment we can make as a community.

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

I’m not running a campaign against any of the other BOE candidates. I’m running FOR students, teachers, families, and continued excellence in our schools. What sets me apart is decades of professional experience as a lawyer and business executive, now at Google, bringing people together to solve some of the toughest problems. In those meeting rooms, I lead diverse teams laser-focused on solutions, not slogans. The phrase, “we can’t” isn’t in my vocabulary. Also, like Mr. Paradiso, my family is at the very beginning of our educational journey here in Ridgefield, with our daughter starting at Branchville elementary during my term as a BOE member and another little one joining us in a few weeks. We’re invested in Ridgefield schools for years to come, as are so many of our friends and neighbors. This gives me the perspective and motivation to work my heart out for this year’s graduating seniors, for our littlest learners in the future Ridgefield High School class of 2040, and for all of the students in between and beyond.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

In addition to a central focus on supporting our teachers, I will address the issue of class size. Currently, the District doesn’t have a firm policy to cap class size, only guidance that leaves families vulnerable to unexpected ballooning of their kids’ class size beyond even the recommended limits set by professional educators at the state level. This doesn’t make sense. Data show the critical importance of limiting the number of students in classrooms to optimize learning. Evidence and feedback also show a direct link between class size and the capacity of teachers to do their job as best they can and maintain their own mental health. Some candidates say we can’t figure out a way to limit class sizes even though we know it’s best for students and teachers. They propose we focus on an approach that “best utilizes classrooms.” I’d suggest we should instead focus only on what matters most: the best results for teaching and learning. Operational and facilities will need to factor into a practical strategy, of course, but we can’t let the tail wag the dog. Our North Star must be investing in the best educational experience for Ridgefield students.

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

The core responsibilities of the BOE, set out in state statute and Board bylaws, are governance of the District and setting policy with the Superintendent. As an experienced lawyer who negotiates and counsels, now at Google and previously at other innovative companies and a leading law firm, shaping policy and providing governance are my bread and butter. My professional background makes me uniquely qualified to analyze evidence and feedback from a variety of sources, collaborate with folks that have diverse perspectives, create solutions and build consensus to implement them. I also have a long history in education advocacy, having most recently served on the Leadership Council of Bottom Line, a not-for-profit organization focused on supporting students from under-resourced communities get into college, become first generation graduates, and build meaningful careers. I will bring these leadership skills and experiences to the BOE table as an engaged and active partner with the Superintendent in service of all Ridgefield students and families.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My 6th grade teacher at Plymouth River School, a great public elementary school in Hingham, Massachusetts, taught me: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Son of a public high school music teacher, I know that public education is truly the heart of our community. And art education, in particular, is important to me and one of the reasons I became engaged in the policy discussions at the BOE. I want voters to know, whether you have a student in the schools today or not, and whatever particular issues are most important to your family, I will listen to all voices and welcome all perspectives at the Board table. I understand my role as a BOE member is not to offer my personal opinions, but to listen to the community and our expert administrators as I bring my skills to bear on every challenge. I will do my homework, be prepared to ask meaningful questions, and collaborate with my BOE colleagues and our excellent Superintendent. The responsible investment of our budget in teaching and learning, and the best interests of all students, will guide my service on the BOE.