Laura Clancey, Worcester School Committee Member, Seeks 2nd Term

WORCESTER, MA — The Worcester School Committee race may be one of the most pivotal in Worcester this year.

Four incumbents — Tracy Novick, Laura Clancey, Dianna Biancheria and Molly McCullogh — are all seeking another term in 2021. Meanwhile, committee members John Monfredo and John Foley are not seeking reelection, and four challengers — Sue Mailman, Jermoh Kamara, Jermaine Johnson and Shanel Soucy — have stepped into the race.

Any combination of candidates could emerge after the Nov. 2. election. But there's no question the new School Committee will have a lot to do heading into 2022.

Worcester has begun the process of searching for a new superintendent after the committee voted in September not to renew Maureen Binienda's contract when it ends in June. The committee will also have a role in spending the district's American Rescue Plan Act, and could see a transition from at-large representation to a district system during the next term.

Worcester Patch asked each of the eight candidates to answer a questionnaire to tell voters why they're running, and what they plan to do. Clancey is one of the newest members, elected in 2019 when 11 candidates were vying for seats on the committee. Here's what she had to say:

Why did you choose to run for reelection in 2021?

I chose to run for my second term because we have so much to do. The pandemic shut us down three months into my first term. That shut down forced us to shift our focus. We had to make sure our students mental and physical needs were taken care. Then we had to begin the enormous task of shifting our entire education system on line. We have an funding coming our way that we have never had before and it will be important to have committee members who can prioritize the needs of our students and staff.

Can you tell voters a little about your personal background? Where did you go to school?

I am a licensed guidance counselor and for the last 15 years I have worked as the Education and Career Counselor with the Department of Youth Services. I have a bachelor’s degree from Worcester State University in early childhood education and psychology and a master's degree from American International College in educational psychology.

The school committee approved a new sex ed curriculum last spring, but a small movement has come out against it. Can you tell voters your view of this curriculum and what it does for students?

I feel this is the right curriculum for Worcester. Working with the youth in this city for as long as I have, I know this was needed. Students are not getting the correct information. Without this knowledge I am seeing students getting into very dangerous situations. We can’t turn a blind eye to this any longer. We have to teach health, its part of the requirement for Massachusetts curriculum and I am proud of the curriculum we have chosen. If people took the time to look at what we are teaching, instead of reading false information I believe they would have a very different point of view.

Like most districts, Worcester had to put a remote learning system in place during the pandemic. How do you think the district succeeded and failed at that, and what improvements still need to be made?

I believe we failed at not getting the technology into our student’s hands earlier. However, I do realize that there were a lot of things that had to be worked out beforehand. Once we were able to get that done, I believe we did a good job providing for online learning. We expected not only our students to learn a new way, but we also expected our staff to develop a new way of teaching in a matter of months and they excelled.

The school committee will begin searching for a new superintendent in the next term. What are you looking for a candidate?

I am looking for a transparent process. We need to make sure our community partners, families, citizens and students are part of this process. I would like to see a candidate who has significant experience working in a district of this size and working with a diverse population as we have in Worcester.