Matthew Miller: The PTO Guy Running For Newton School Committee

NEWTON, MA — If someone asked Matthew Miller if he'd see himself running for any kind of office a couple decades ago he would have rolled his eyes. His vision of a perfect future was having a mini van bringing cupcakes to his kids at school and being on the PTO. Some people dream of traveling the world, but this was Miller's perfect future, he laughs. Now, Miller is running on Nov. 7 against Gail Spector for a seat at the Newton School Committee table for Ward 8.

When he joined the PTO and became president at his son's school something clicked. His love of people and his experience running a small business translated well, he said. There was a moment where he was addressing a room full of parents and he realized the parents who sent their children to school to sit next to strangers and get along well with others were spacing themselves out so no one had to sit exactly next to each other, and it meant that not everyone got a seat. He implored them to do what they'd want their children to do: Make a new friend and squeeze in.

"I found that I had a talent that I didn’t realize existed. I was able to engage community," he said. His passion? Getting the community together in a way that breaks down barriers.

And this, he said, is a metaphor for what he wants to do while on the School Committee.

Who is Miller any way?

Miller grew up a latchkey kid in Miami, Florida. His mother was a night nurse and his father a chef. He says he knows what it means to be in the minority in a community: He was the only "out" high school student in high school, then he went to Ohio for undergrad where he was exposed to racism and antisemitism. When he landed at Emerson for Graduate School, he said he finally felt more at home. After grad school he went on to work at a recruiter firm and then started his own small recruiter business. He and his husband adopted a baby and two boys. Along the way he'd been coaching youth Destination Imagination (think Odyssey of the Mind) where ever he went. Then the couple started looking to move to someplace they could afford but with a good school system.

Newton houses weren't exactly affordable, but they lucked out with a rent that was just doable in the Oak Hill area of the city. They found a gem of a home in the neighborhood that was relatively in their budget. They pleaded with the owners not to sell it to a developer who'd bid on it, too. And won. Miller said he felt like the house with the back yard and the great school system in Newton was a dream come true. Two of his kids are on specialized education plans and they've had a great experience in Newton public schools, he said. It was the right choice for his family. So the volunteering began.

"I try to be a good community volunteer. I might not live in a $2 million home, that doesn’t make me less worthy. I’m a part of the community, too," said Miller.

Why run?

"There’s something about being able to change the world," he said.

Miller said he became passionate about community engagement as PTO president. As part of the PTO's duties he sat down with all the PTO presidents across the community and the conversation that unfolded was one about equity at the different schools.

"Here I was coming from the 'poor' house on the block and we're talking about equity. I was fascinated," he said. And this desire for community engagement and equity issues are things he wants to delve into on a more broad scale. "I want everyone to have what I have. So the question is: how how can we as a district be better?"

Marjorie Ross Dector encouraged Miller to run, he said, some two years ago. He gave it some thought and met with her at Little Big Diner to talk about what it would look like to run. He went home inspired about it and asked his husband what he thought. A day or two later he texted her back. He was in.

He sees his role as part cheerleader, yes, even though some have told him to cool it with the cheer leading, ("What's wrong with being an advocate?") but he also recognizes the school committee has very set jobs, he said.

"I'm really excited about collective bargaining. I don’t get why we can’t go in there and work together. Why does it have to be this litigious thing?" he said.

Miller said the way he views it, both sides are his friends. He's optimistic. "We’re both gong to have to sacrifice a little. I think I can bring a sense of creative thinking compromise that will heal some of the volatility over the years. I don’t want to see teachers picketing. I want them to feel empowered loved and part of our community," he said.

On transparency:

Miller said he knows that not everyone will agree with him nor will he agree with everyone around him, but he wants to have the tough conversations and he professes he will listen.

"I want everyone to know that we are available we are transparent and we are engaged and without trust at the very foundation of everything we want to do. We can't accomplish anything," he said.

First openly gay Newton politician?

Miller said according to his research, it looks like if he wins he will be the first openly gay School Committee member seated at the Newton table.

"I want to avoid identity politics," he said. That said: "If someone wants to vote for me because I’m gay I’ll take the vote. When we’re thinking about achievement gap, bullying, hate crime. If you’re not a minority you don’t get it in the same way. I think I’ll bring that extra layer."

He said he'd like the district to push further on LGBT efforts and gender neutral bathrooms. "We can definitely do better," he said.

Also on Patch:

Gail Spector: The Journalist Running For Newton School Committee

Newton School Committee Race 2017: Who Is Running?