Amy L. OConnor - Candidate for School Committee

Thank you for taking the time to read this column. My name is Amy OConnor, and I want your vote for School Committee. My husband John and I moved to Swampscott five years ago, and really love our little town by the sea. Our choice was purposeful. We like the small town feel and proximity to Boston. We wanted no part of the high pressure competition that families face in towns like Weston and Wellesley. We want to raise our children in a place where they learn in school, on the athletic fields, in the cultural landscape and in the outdoors. We find that here in Swampscott. So I dove into what is most important to us, the education of our children. I have been an active volunteer in our schools since our arrival. We have two children: Finn who is 8 and Cecilia who is 6. Both attended the town's pre-school and are now at Stanley. I've served in various roles at both schools, from Vice President of the PTO to fundraiser, from parent representative to Director of After School Programs. Prior to my school volunteerism, I earned nearly 20 years of business experience in marketing and communications. During most of this time I was an account and project manager with one of the world's largest institutional asset managers. I was a vice president in a creative group working with a global group of artists, portfolio managers, salesmen and managers. This was a varied group of personalities, needs and cultural differences all working towards the same goals. These experiences guide me through all that I do. I am eager to bring my experience to the School Committee. The Swampscott school district has come loose from its mooring, and I for one want to do something about it. I have contemplated running for School Committee for the past two years, and the chaos at our schools during the previous two months has cemented my decision. Nothing is more important for our district than planning and stability. We have been steadily making strides, but our management team just imploded. To fix this we must shift the atmosphere of our School Committee and the way that it works with School Administration. With the pending departure of the Superintendent, and the not unexpected loss of the high school principal, we need new appointments. Simply said, the School Committee needs to get it right with the next Superintendent. I am sure we will attract the talent as we have in other recent searches. But hiring is only one piece of the puzzle. I read recently about the challenge of school committee, "We watch this all over the ... commonwealth. ... When people understand where their responsibilities begin and end, it makes a huge difference," said Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents executive director Tom Scott. "Anything that can be done in a proactive way ... really goes a long way towards the longevity of the superintendent." He is speaking specifically about expectations and laying groundwork for effective communication. I think his words are very meaningful for Swampscott, and to this end, our school committee must be absolutely able to PARTNER with our next superintendent. The makeup of our current school committee just demonstrated that they aren't doing that. Lets get it back on track. Do I have a magic bullet for a new hire? I can't say that anybody does. But what I do have is a fierce sense of working with a team of people to coax out the best results. I know that how things get done is as important as what gets done. Building consensus and promoting a collegial atmosphere is critical. School Committee is no place for steam rolling and back door deals. Great things are happening in our schools. But we have to regain the momentum after the Superintendent's surprising removal, and the high school Principal's departure. Preventable disasters like we are seeing now happen when the team isn't functioning properly. Every member of the Committee is there with the best of intentions, but its current make-up isn't getting the best results. So while the running incumbent touts her accomplishments of the last three years, I see this boat floating away. Not only were the mooring lines not tied, but they were cut a critical time. This current team line-up shouldn't be the team in charge of securing the next boat. The incumbent is fighting for continuity of School Committee members; but I am advocating for school leadership continuity. I want to be a part of changing this experience. Friends and colleagues who know me well know that I am collaborator who get things done. I play well in the sandbox. I am outspoken in a way that is constructive. I wear my heart on my sleeve with no hidden agenda. I'm not afraid to go against the grain, and can disagree with respect. I am quick to admit when I am wrong, and eager to navigate new things. I believe that I would be a great asset to this school committee. If you agree that the atmosphere needs improvement, I hope that I can count on your vote.