Andover Candidate Profile: Shishan Wang For School Committee

ANDOVER, MA — Andover will have several contested races in the March 24 town election, including contested races for School Committee, Select Board and town moderator. Andover Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Shishan Wang is running for election to the School Committee. There are two other candidates: Amy Hafensteiner and Lauren Conoscenti. Wang is a research scientist in the biotech industry. He and his wife have three kids, two of whom are currently at Andover High School.

Are you running for office in Andover? Contact Christopher Huffaker at chris.huffaker@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Andover Patch.

Previously on Patch: Ten File To Run In 2020 Andover Town Election

Shishan Wang

Age (as of Election Day)

50

Position Sought

Andover School Committee

Party Affiliation

Moderate Republican

Family

I have lived in Andover with my wife Lijun and three children Sophia, Carl, and Dylan for over 12 years. Before Andover, I lived in Amherst, Mass. for four years. My daughter Sophia is a sophomore at Brandeis University. Carl and Dylan are sophomores at Andover High School.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

Ph.D in Food Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst

Occupation

Senior Research Scientist in Microbiology and Biochemistry

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Andover High School Improvement Council

Campaign website

www.shishanwang.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I moved to the US as an international graduate student in 2003 and became a first-generation immigrant. Being an American and a resident in Andover, I am passionate about the town, the school and our children. My life should not only be supporting my family and voting but also serving my community and advancing it with my scientific skills. I am all in to make a difference.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our district is the need to build a prosperous STEM career program with a strong athletic culture. Sports are essential to build student health, improve school performance and cope with stress. Also, one third of the children in the US is overweight or obese, and this number continues to rise. We need strong athletic programs for student health and well-being. Furthermore, I have heard many stressful stories with the low market demand for the non-STEM degree. In contrast, STEM program can open up more job opportunities with a much higher salary. We have a responsibility to offer our children a better STEM environment and prepare them for a STEM career if desired.

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

As a Senior Research Scientist in the Biotech industry for over 12 years, I have honed my skills in observation, survey, communication, design, critical thinking, and decision-making. As a member of Andover High School Improvement Council, I have been involved in the Andover Public Schools’ discussions and activities. I am also actively participating in UMass Food Science Alumni Industrial Advisory Board, Chinese American Association of the Andovers (CAAA), Chinese Americans of Massachusetts (CAMA), and Asian Americans for Equal Rights (AAER). Furthermore, my three children went to the Andover Public Schools, so I have personal experience withthe pros and cons of our public school system. These experiences and my visibility into different groups and opinions make me an excellent candidate for serving our community.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Respect our Coaches yard signs have been placed in the neighborhood of Andover for a while. Our community is concerned about the athletic programs in Andover. Also, when we look at our science MCAS results on the state website, we find that Andover students from grade 3 to grade 8 perform significantly lower than those in other similar towns.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

1. Build a prosperous STEM career program with a strong athletic culture
2. Improve school meal program
3. Budget due diligence - evaluate and improve school facility efficiency

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

In my professional life, my team has successfully developed several rapid food detection products for increasing food safety in the industry. Personally, I am a runner and love to run. I finished my first marathon in 2019.

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

I ran a campaign for School Committee last year. I didn’t win on the vote result; however, two of my 2019 proposals have been accepted in the district. They are the free full-day kindergarten starting in September 2020, and SEPAC that is running again. I feel great that my 2019 proposals are making an impact to the community even though I was not elected. I do believe I can make a different on the subjects our community cares the most. And, provide an option to the voters who are looking to make a difference.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.