Q and A with School Committee Candidate – Kristin Russo

School Committee candidate, Kristin Russo, has a wealth of educational experience. Russo has a M.Ed in Elementary Education from BU, has taught at the Plympton School in Waltham, is a member of several groups at the Fox Hill School, a Town Meeting Member, has been the past President of the Stoneham Business and Community Educational Foundation, and perhaps most relevant, has served as Stoneham's Chair on School Committee.

Russo is one of two candidates running to fill the two open seats on the School Committee. Incumbant Stephen Nelson is also on the ballot.

Patch had a chance to sit down with Russo and ask her some questions concerning her goals for School Committee, and why she would make the best candidate.

Why do you want to be on the School Committee?

“It is our right as citizens to provide for our children an equal or even better education in town with our tax dollars. To offer this opportunity to our children, citizens need to be willing to work hard, offer their talents and believe in giving back to the community. Being on the School Committee combines my passion for education, love of children and desire to support the community. I want to work to provide all children of Burlington a superior educational experience.”

Why do you think you will make a good SC member?

“I have the time to devote to this position along with a blend of skills that I believe are just right for the job. My background as a teacher, my undergraduate degree in Business along with my experience as a Ways and Means member and former Finance Committee member balanced with my continuing coursework for recertification all contribute to a background tailored to this position.

Another strength is I strive to be a good listener and a consensus builder. I take all sides and thoughts into consideration and look for added information when needed. I have learned that no decision made is trivial. A decision that may seem to have little impact on a system has the potential for having long lasting and extensive influence in other areas. It is in everyone’s best interest to take the time to properly assess the decisions before the School Committee and look long-term with regard to the policies and programs adopted.”

What do you think are the main issues facing the school district and what would you like to do to address them?

“One issue facing Burlington that is not unique to Burlington is 21st Century learning and the integration of technology, curriculum, and personnel. I will learn from my colleagues and Dr. Conti about plans and current initiatives. I will become familiar with the districts goals and work within them to raise the standards of learning across all levels and ages. I think we need to look globally and act locally on the best practices we can implement in our classrooms and at the best practices from our most effective teachers that we can share across the district. The system has a wealth of knowledge from our veteran teachers with proven teaching practices and to our teachers who are new to the system whose education has focused on research-based curriculum and teaching skills. Working to bring it all together in comprehensive programs that incorporate how learning and teaching are evolving will be very exciting and rewarding.

The implementation of technology into the system in a meaningful way that promotes higher level thinking is imperative. Burlington is fortunate to have the funding to introduce technology at a district-wide level. Taking the steps to enhance and raise all students learning with smart technology integration into the curriculum that blends naturally and comfortably into content areas will be the critical next step. For our students to be prepared when they leave the Burlington school system the technology implementation into the curriculum needs to enhance all students’ ability to acquire, refine and analyze information to develop their problem-solving abilities to synthesize information. I look forward to those discussions, learning more about how our curriculum will allow for this growth and the successful implementation by staff.

Another area facing every district as costs rise and funding dwindles, is balancing program costs against the expenditures and needs of the town as a whole. Unfunded mandates is a phrase towns are hearing more and more. These mandates stretch across both school and municipal budgets. I would like to work with leaders in the town to best use our resources while advocating at a State level tangible ways in which towns can be better supported.”

What will you strive for if elected to School Committee?

“I first want to acknowledge that this Board has a long history together and I will first develop relationships with them and Dr. Conti that enrich and inform my own knowledge of that history so that I can add value to the Board. Every taxpayer is a stakeholder in the schools of our community, whether they have school children, grandchildren, or neighbors' children in the schools. An outstanding school system drives real estate values up and encourages a vibrant community of lifelong learners who contribute back to the town. Burlington has a high number of graduates who have come back to the town as police officers, fire fighters and teachers and in many other areas of our government who are contributing to the success of Burlington. I will strive for continuous progress toward an outstanding school system."

Make sure you get out April 9th and vote in the upcoming town elections.