N. Andover Candidate Profile: Helen Pickard for School Committee

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — North Andover will have two contested races in the March 24 town election: School Committee and Board of Selectmen. North Andover Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Helen Pickard is running for re-election the School Committee. She and another incumbent, Holly Vietzke Lynch, face a challenger, Kevin Dube. There are two available seats. Pickard, an educator and non-profit administrator, was first elected to the School Committee in 2017.

Are you running for office in North Andover? Contact Christopher Huffaker at chris.huffaker@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to North Andover Patch.

Previously on Patch: Nine File To Run In North Andover Annual Town Election

Helen Pickard

Age (as of Election Day)

53

Position Sought

School Committee

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Tim Pickard, spouse since 1991, age 52; Luke and Jesse Pickard, adult offspring - 2015 and 2018 graduates of North Andover High School - attended Bradstreet, Thomson, Atkinson, and NAMS - currently college students majoring in the sciences at UMass Amherst and Rochester Institute of Technology.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Roanoke College, Cum Laude, BA, Spanish 1989
Winnacunnet High School, 1984

Occupation

Educator, Non-profit administrator 30+ years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

North Andover School Committee, since 2017

Campaign website

helenpickard.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for re-election because strong, consistent, proven leadership ensures continued school improvement. Starting in 2002, I raised two (2) children through the North Andover Public Schools with very positive experiences. Since 2017, serving on School Committee, we reduced class size at all elementary schools, opened the new Anne Bradstreet Early Childhood Center, adopted curricula and provided resources for math, reading, writing, and social-emotional learning, completed the 10-year NEASC High School Accreditation, developed consensus improvement budgets to positively impact student achievement, increased availability and use of technology in education, and created opportunities for student voice and civil discourse.

There are challenges ahead to ensure our student needs drive our space needs, to decrease class sizes at NAMS, and to renovate several schools. We need to collaborate as a community on Facilities Master Plan II for our building needs, timelines, and funding, as well as our operational budgets. We need to review our curriculum resources in science and social studies to meet the new state frameworks. As a re-elected member of the North Andover School Committee, I will help North Andover Public Schools move forward with our updated Strategic Plan to meet the needs of ALL students.

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

Equity — in order to provide excellence in education to ALL North Andover Public School students, we need adequate resources for space, curriculum, programs, and professional development. I will advocate for breadth and depth of rigorous academic opportunities and equity beyond access for ALL students pre-K to age 22.

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

My experience as a parent of the North Andover Public School students from kindergarten through graduation is unique among the current School Committee members and candidates, as well as my volunteer service at all levels of our schools and across the district. I taught high school in three (3) public school systems and held teacher certification for 20 years.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I approach this job as a life-long learner. We continue to grow from our experiences, and that openness allows us to serve our community with humility and inclusion. We do not have all the answers, but we strive together to find the best solutions to address issues within the boundaries of our resources and responsibilities.

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

As an active member of the community, I am available and ready to engage in respectful discourse.

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

I am thankful for the excellent educational opportunities North Andover Public Schools provided for my children, and that voters provided me the opportunity to serve as an elected member of the School Committee. I ask for your vote on March 31 to continue that service for ALL our children.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.