Candidate Profile: Mandy Sim For Sudbury School Committee

SUDBURY, MA — The Sudbury spring 2021 election is less than a month away, and Patch has asked candidates running in the Select Board and School Committee races to answer candidate questionnaires so voters can get to know them.

Mandy Sim is making her second run for a seat on the Sudbury School Committee. She is running for one of two seats on the committee. Chair Silvia Nerssessian is running to keep her seat in 2021, but there's also a vacant seat after member Lisa Kouchakdjian decided to make a run for Select Board. First time candidate Tyler Steffey is also seeking a seat on the committee.

Here's how Sim answered our candidate questionnaire:

Mandy Sim

Age (as of Election Day): 43
Position Sought: Sudbury School Committee
Family: Malcolm, husband. Alexis, 9th grade, Henry, 7th grade
Education: BA, Ithaca College
Occupation: Business Owner, 10 years
Campaign website: www.mandysim.net

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for School Committee because I love Sudbury and I want to use my passion for education, my leadership skills and business acumen, and my collaborative nature to be the voice of Sudbury's children, parents and taxpayers.

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

First and foremost, it’s imperative to get students safely back into our classrooms. As a business owner who must work with my local health and government officials I understand the requirements and challenges that we must overcome in order to bring kids back for full in-person learning. By working with our amazing teachers, staff and administrators who are the heart of our schools, I will continue to be supportive of our district’s efforts to fully re-open for in-person learning this April.

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

As a Sudbury resident for the past 10 years, I have a proven commitment to serving our schools. From being a PTO Co-Chair, serving on the SERF (Sudbury Education Resource Fund) Board, running a business that caters to enrichment of young children, I not only understand the needs of our families, I have a collaborative nature to work with our entire community of taxpayers, our Superintendent and fellow School Committee members. I also have the unique experience of having gone fully through all of SPS from Haynes, Curtis and now having a child at LS. It's imperative that our School Committee represent our community and the needs of our students. The Superintendent leads our district by being the voice of the administration and the needs of our students from an administrator's expertise. I will be the community voice of our students, parents and taxpayers using my business expertise and long-standing commitment to Sudbury.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

As our entire world works together to overcome the pandemic, our Superintendent and School Committee had and continues to have the difficult and most important challenge of educating our children during this time. While there were many bumps in the road as we transitioned to fully remote learning last spring to offering hybrid learning in the fall, what's most important now is getting our kids back into our classrooms for full in-person learning and ensure that not only their academic needs are being met but that also that we are supporting their social emotional needs.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Equity work, technology and STEAM expansion, Special Education, professional development, keeping a balanced budget – these are essential to our children's academic success. I am compelled and prepared to support and nurture our next generation of critical thinkers.

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

Having lived in Sudbury for the past decade, my commitment to our town and children is evident as detailed above. Combined with owning a cherished local business which caters to the enrichment of young children, I am often a child's very first teacher. I understand the fundamentals of learning and supporting a child's individual needs. Having grown my business to 4 locations throughout Massachusetts, I understand the importance of keeping a balanced budget, of being fiscally responsible and managing resources, of being collaborative and knowing how to problem-solve and think outside the box. I have a willingness to listen and learn. I am not afraid to make tough decisions. These skills I use everyday managing my business compliment the job of a School Committee. Prior to living in Sudbury, I spent a decade acquiring management and negotiation skills: as a Hollywood producer I was responsible for film budgets, schedules, artists and directors. My entire career gives me the exact experience required for a strong School Committee Candidate.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My very first boss out of college would always tell our team "never assume". The drive to be thorough, detailed oriented, transparent, and really research all sides of an issue to ensure no assumptions are being made has followed me throughout life. I often find myself now telling my staff and even my own children to "never assume" and make sure the job is getting done. If elected on the Sudbury School Committee, I would never assume our schools are the best in the district, I would work tirelessness with our Superintendent, teachers, staff and fellow School Committee members to ensure they are indeed the best in the Commonwealth!

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

Four year ago, I previously ran for Sudbury School Committee. I have learned so much since then and feel even more compelled and prepared to serve our community - the community who has given me so much - and I ask for your vote on March 29th.