Wayland 2020 Candidate Profile: Chris Ryan For School Committee

WAYLAND, MA — The Wayland spring 2020 election is coming up on June 9, and Patch has reached out to candidates in several key races to learn more about why they're running this year.

In the Wayland School Committee race, three people are vying for two seats. The current chair, Jeanne Downs, is running for a third term. Amanda Miles and Christopher Ryan are both running for their first term on the board.

READ: Wayland 2020 Election: Who's On The Ballot

Wayland will be holding regular in-person voting on June 9, but the Town Clerk is encouraging absentee voting due to the coronavirus crisis. You can vote absentee by mail or in-person. Find out more details on how to apply on the Town Clerk website.

Chris Ryan

Age (as of Election Day): 40
Family: Wife, Jen Ryan; sons Jake, Owen, Spencer
Education: BS in Business at University of Connecticut; MS in Taxation at Northeastern University
Occupation: Certified Public Accountant, Managing Partner of Accounting Firm, 17 years experience
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Wayland Audit Committee
Campaign website: www.votechrisryan.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Hoping to make a positive contribution to the school district.

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

Most pressing issue is the interview process and selection of the new superintendent. I intend to advocate for a process that starts immediately, creates an extensive recruiting process, thoroughly vets candidates, and ultimately does everything possible to hire the ideal and best candidate for Wayland's community and school district.

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

My family: I have three young kids attending the Happy Hollow elementary school with twins who are in kindergarten, so I am invested in the long-term plans for Wayland's school district. My wife is an exceptional educator who works as a teacher and ELA coordinator in Sherborn Public Schools and was a semi-finalist for Massachusetts Teacher of the year; we often discuss the challenges facing public education.

Operations/Budget Experience: I have been the School Committee's appointee to the Wayland Audit Committee for the past 4 years during which time I have gained an understanding of the town and school district's financial operations and budgets. I am a certified public accountant and have my own accounting firm, so I have the experience necessary to analyze the budgets and ensure that our resources are maximized for student benefit.

Transparency/Collaboration: Before the campaign started, I have been advocating for the need for the School Committee to work with parents in a transparent in collaborative manner to ensure that decisions are based on what is in the kids best interest.

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

I look forward to a School Committee that openly communicates with parents and residents in a transparent and collaborative manner to do what is best for our kids, especially during this challenging and fluid time when important decisions require teamwork.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

I am a diligent researcher and I will bring that attribute to the committee as I will always research issues and look to see what our peer communities are doing before I cast my vote.

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

Through my involvement on the town Audit Committee, I have shown that I can initiate important conversations in a productive manner even though they may be challenging discussions.
As the managing partner of my accounting firm, I have shown that I can guide a team that accomplishes a lot in a short amount of time by being organized, focused, thorough, collaborative, and caring.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

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

Like many of you, I am a parent who wants the best for my kids. I am running for School Committee to make a contribution to the school district and help Wayland Schools down a path to be a leading district in the future. This is a crucial time for Wayland Schools as we embark on the search for a new superintendent who will have initiatives that significantly impact the majority of the educational career for many of our children. These are our kids and we need to advocate for what is best for them.