Malden Election Profile: Keith Bernard For School Committee

MALDEN, MA — There are five contested School Committee races in Malden's municipal election Nov. 5. Keith Bernard, 48, is running against Michelle Luong in Ward 7.

Bernard lives in Malden with his wife of 14 years, Zayda Ortiz. He has been a system integrator at Intersystems Corporation for 19 years.

Bernard holds a bachelor's in computer science from the University of Phoenix.

Are you running for office in Malden? Contact Alex Newman at alex.newman@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Malden Patch.

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

The biggest issue I see is that Malden is the fifth most diverse community in Massachusetts and yet we don't honor that diversity in our teaching staff. Studies show that students with teachers from diverse backgrounds have better outcomes, insuring that they continue into higher education. I want to make sure we encourage our students by working with the administration to hire and retain teachers and staff who are diverse and representative of the community they serve. I also want to make sure our curriculum honors those communities as well. Additionally, I want to make sure we are communicating with all of our families, and extending our translations of communications so no one feels left out.

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

The first duty of an elected official should be to ask "how can I help?" I believe in having real conversations with the community, not just at large events but also one on one with each family that needs help. I've made sure that I am personally meeting as many families not just in the ward but throughout the city so I can hear their needs and wants. Only through those conversations can I really help to make Malden's future bright.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Money and budget is always going to be an issue and the biggest restriction on what we can do. I want to bring on a full time grant writer so we can make sure we are fueling all of the needs of our students, such as free breakfasts and lunches, after-school care for our working families, sports programs and arts programs, books and computers, and librarians and teaching assistants. We've seen the pressure that lack of these resources put on our students, and it shouldn't be up to the administration to be finding money when we need them running our schools.

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

I've had a wide range of jobs from being a school bus driver to running a million dollar retail store. I've also been a champion for marginalized communities and worked hard last year on the Yes on Three campaign, dedicating time to call across the state as well as knock on doors through Malden to get support of our trans accommodation laws. I've learned that respect and trust is what really builds community and connection. I promise always to listen, and whether I agree or not, to treat those concerns seriously.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

We aim for perfection knowing we can never achieve it, and we also don't let the goal of perfection stop us from doing the best we can at each moment.

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

Depending on what happens on November 5, I will only be one voice among many. I promise to serve our community, our families and our children to make sure they have the best future they can get going through our schools.