Letter: Introduction From School Board Candidate Christopher Barrett

My Fellow Lynnfield Residents,

Over the past few months I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Lynnfield residents, administrators, education leaders and students to discuss my possible run for the Lynnfield School Committee.  Out of these discussions was born my strong desire to be a candidate for the Lynnfield School Committee.  I think it is time for a new voice to be heard and I humbly request your support to be that voice.        

My goal as a member of the Lynnfield School Committee will be to make sure every student has the same high quality of education, no matter what grade level or educational need.  I believe all children should be afforded the same excellent education within Lynnfield Public Schools.  It will be my focus to make sure that this is, and remains a reality. 

As a product of the Lynnfield School System (LHS Class of ’95), I’m forever grateful for the investment the citizens of Lynnfield have made in public education.  Having two wonderful young children (Future Huckleberry Hill School students: Kaylee and Michael) and nieces and nephews in the school system (Current Summer Street and Lynnfield Middle School students: Braden & Ava Doyle and Ashley, Brianna & Patrick Barrett), I have a vested interest in making sure Lynnfield continues to make that investment. 

My professional background makes me uniquely qualified to be a positive addition to the School Committee.  After graduating from Lynnfield High School, I attended Merrimack College where I graduated Magna Cum Laude and was designated a Presidential Scholar.  While in college, I became a Professional Independent Insurance Agent and for four years helped manage one of the most successful insurance firms in Everett. 

I had the honor of serving as Governor Mitt Romney’s senior official for the Commonwealth’s 351 municipalities and provided advice to the Governor on issues pertaining to local government.  As Director of Municipal Affairs, it was my duty to help develop bold solutions to municipal issues, including ones that dealt with education on the state and local level.  Such actions included: helping to create a $50M municipal relief budget package, increase Chapter 70 education local aid funding, reform the land court to revitalize local economic development, and initiate the reform of the school building assistance program.

Additionally, I served in a leadership role in helping to coordinate bold initiatives to reform government, while working for Governor Romney.  Some highlights included: a ground-breaking initiative to construct three recovery high schools, implementing the recommendations of the Governor’s Commission on Criminal Justice Reform, and developing a broad anti-gang violence initiative.

In 2004, I was appointed Lt. Governor Healey’s Chief of Staff.  In this role, I helped supervise the executive directors of the interagency councils on Substance Abuse, Sexual and Domestic Violence, Seaport Development, and Housing and Homelessness.  I was responsible for working with the executive directors to coordinate policy and prioritize their combined $500M in budgetary priorities.  As one of my roles for the Lieutenant Governor, I helped coordinate the Commonwealth’s six regional economic development councils.  In this role, I worked with individual council members to define economic development goals for each region.  These goals included: feasibility studies for infrastructure construction, homeland security initiatives, and addressing Federal immigration laws.

In 2007, I was selected to receive an extremely competitive scholarship to attend the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  It was during this time period that I was appointed as a teacher at Everett High School.  After working on education policy at the state executive level, I was intrigued by this opportunity because it allowed me to see firsthand how policy worked within the confines of a classroom.  While I thought this would be a brief stint during my pursuit of an MBA, I quickly gained a genuine love for education.  I became fully aware that America’s future is in the classroom and the best way to positively affect that future is through a strong public educational system.  After earning my MBA in 2009, I was appointed as the media center teacher at Everett High School. In this role, I have been dedicated to taking on the cause of serving America’s future through strengthening the public educational system.

Not only do I want to be a voice for the younger generation, but as a product of Lynnfield Public Schools, I know firsthand the outstanding schools we have today are due to the investment our senior citizens made and continue to make in public education.  I will be dedicated to making sure that that investment is protected and future investments are fiscally responsible with an eye towards making sure Lynnfield Schools remain Lynnfield’s pride.

Lastly, I already have a strong track record of serving the Town of Lynnfield in many volunteer roles.  Some of these roles include serving on the Lynnfield Recreation Commission, the Lynnfield Personnel Committee and Vice Chair of the St. Maria Goretti Parish Pastoral Council.  I have been humbled by the support I have received and look forward to the opportunity to dedicate myself to strengthening Lynnfield Public Schools.

 Please visit www.ChristopherJBarrett.com to learn more about my candidacy and the hundreds of your fellow Lynnfield residents who’ve already publicly endorsed my campaign!