Stamford Election 2021: Michael A. Hyman For Board Of Education

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

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

Democrat Michael A. Hyman, 65, is running for Board of Education in Stamford.

Occupation: Managing Consultant; The Equity Institute

Family:

Jennifer- Wife. Project manager
Daughters: Jenna -Bio/Chemistry major 3rd year. Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Julia - Dual Masters degree student MPH/MSW, Boston University
Nancy-office administrator/fashion model
Son: Alexei and his wife Karla, and two granddaughters
Alexei- accounting

Experience: Never elected to office. Appointed to the Ferguson Library's Board of Trustees

Family in government: No.

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

The most pressing issue for our schools, is that after two of the most challenging years of the Covid crisis, our school district seems to have lost its way and its ability to remember its promise and purpose; to educate a child's "heart, mind, and body."

To do that we must put our children first. The pressing issue here is leadership, or a lack of it by several members of our board. Putting our children first requires the adults in the room to put aside personal vitriolic bickering and create some common ground to actually do the work of planning safe and inviting school environments that welcome our teachers and our children. The meanness, incivility and hostile culture we have seen on the board has gotten out of hand and jeopardizes the opportunity for us to succeed as a district. The citizens of Stamford deserve much better.

The time wasted represents opportunities lost that would otherwise be spent laser-like on the most important priorities of creating a culture of educational rigor for all children, attracting and retaining the very best teachers, and creating an equity-centered culture that exploits the diversity of Stamford.

To some, our system seems broken in many places, and it is, but it is within our power to fix it. I would work hard on ensuring excellent board relations internally that guides and assists the superintendent, and externally with other city boards and community groups. That foundation would allow us to get on with the important work of building new schools, attracting and retaining great teachers, and most importantly establishing trust with our families that an outstanding education awaits their child in SPS regardless of zip code, ethnicity, race, and or gender.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

Perspective. Persistence. Resilience.

Accomplishments:

My interest and belief in our schools has never ceased. Yet, I still believe that we can do better by all of our children. I led the effort to address the "achievement gap" 20 years ago as president of the Stamford NAACP, worked hard with a team on the successful creation of AIT (now AITE), held the first major conference on the achievement gap in the city jointly sponsored by the NAACP, CTE, and UCONN, helped to design and gain approval for an SPS recruitment plan for teacher diversification, and last year I organized a successful effort to get the school board to reverse its decision to reject $6 million in private funding for a program that provided family advocates to struggling students at Stamford High and West Hill.

This is what it looks like when you put our children and schools first.

Other issues:

Please see my website for more information. My initial priorities include:

1. Human infrastructure - getting/keeping the right people in the right positions; and safe facilities for our children and educators.
2. Creating and fostering a truly equity-centered environment that unites all of us.
3. Replacing board dysfunction with board effectiveness. We will do all of these while working to ensure that every dime of taxpayer money is spent productively.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I am not a politician but have long been committed to public service that I hope improves the lives of those I love and my community. As a corporate leader for 15 years I understand budgets and how to make them work. As an educator I know my way around a classroom. As a human services leader I know all too well the anxiety, discomfort, and challenges many of our neighbors face. As an activist, advocate, and champion for our children I believe in fighting for meaningful causes and ultimately uniting for the common good.

I've done this most of my life and will continue to do so after this election is over.