Arlington Candidate Profile: Shaun Berry For School Committee

ARLINGTON, MA — The town election is fast approaching on Saturday, March 28, and the School Committee race is one of its most contested.

Arlington Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles leading up to election day

Shaun Berry is running for School Committee in Arlington.

Age

44

Position sought

Arlington School Committee

Party affiliation

This is a non-partisan election, but I am a Democrat

Family

Married with two children, one in 2nd grade and one in 6th grade here in Arlington Public Schools

Education:

• Masters in Education, Urban Teacher Program, Wheelock College (Boston University)
• Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy, Kenyon College

Occupation: Former 5th & 6th grade classroom teacher and middle school math instructional coach in the Cambridge Public Schools

Previous or Current Elected Office: Arlington Town Meeting Member for Precinct 10 (current)

Campaign Website

www.electshaunberry.com

Why are you seeking elected office?

I am running for Arlington School Committee as a continuation of the work of improving experiences and outcomes for all of our students. As a former public school educator and with a degree in urban education, I’m deeply committed to equity and excellence for all our students. Over the past several years I have served on multiple working groups for Arlington Public Schools, am a member of Town Meeting, and am the PTO president of our elementary school. Serving on the School Committee is a culmination of the work I have been actively engaged in here in Arlington over the years.

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 town is our structural deficit and need for a budget override. I have been out canvassing and talking with community members in support of the override, and am an active member of the Yes for Arlington campaign. If the override does not pass, or schools face devastating cuts that will significantly impact our students.
• Beyond securing the override to maintain services in our schools, the most pressing issue for our district is improving experiences and outcomes for our high needs students. Respondents to the SEPAC survey from last year highlights significant distress from parents about school and district communications. Our High Needs students (multilingual learners, students from low-income households, and students with disabilities), represent nearly a third of our school population. Their voice and experience matter. I will work with my other School Committee members to improve pathways of communication, create more meaningful student and family surveys, and find more opportunities outside of the conference room to listen to and connect with families.

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

• My fellow candidates and I share the same goal - to sustain the health of our school district to improve outcomes for all students. I bring my professional experience as an educator, specifically working with educational data, to this collaborative work. My extensive involvement in numerous APS working groups, service as a Town Meeting member, and as advocate for our schools as a PTO President, I’m informed and engaged in the issues facing our town and schools. I have the experience and insight needed to hit the ground running and make this one-year term on the School Committee count.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I believe equity and excellence are not separate goals, but one in the same. I want to ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive, not struggle or stagnate. Providing opportunities for every student to communicate their understanding in ways that best match their strengths is a critical goal for quality differentiated instruction.

As a School Committee Member I will

• Create opportunities for ALL caregivers to engage as true partners in their child’s education.

• Equip our schools with the tools necessary to meet the needs of every student and build safe environments conducive to learning.

• Elevate rigor as an outcome of our dedication to access and opportunity.

• Draft policy that responds to how AI is rapidly transforming teaching and learning. Review the efficacy of current uses of technologies in our classrooms.

• Partner with experts in K-12 education from our neighboring universities to innovate here in Arlington.

The best advice ever shared with me was

Acknowledge when you don’t know something and seek out good partners to teach you.

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

As a public school educator and an active Arlington advocate, I have the experience and insight needed to hit the ground running and make this one-year term on the School Committee count. Serving on the Arlington School Committee is a continuation of the work I’ve been engaged in here in Arlington for the past several years. I’m informed on the issues, have established working relationships with key stakeholders, and want to move our district beyond the status quo.

See Also:

Arlington Candidate Profile: Paul Schlichtman For School Committee

Arlington Candidate Profile: Dmitry Vasilyev For School Committee

Arlington Candidate Profile: Mary Winstanley O'Connor For Board Of Assessors