Election Profile: Patrice Myers

CONCORD, NH — Patrice Myers is running for the District A Concord Board of Education seat. She filled out this candidate profile for voters to read:

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: My children were in the military; my youngest still is. But they are not yet residing in New Hampshire.

Education: BS in Education; Language training, military training; life experiences

Occupation: I am retired from State service.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: I am currently the President on the Board of Directors for the community in which I live. I was elected last October, during the annual meeting.

I missed the televised debate with Concord TV on October 29, because it was on the same date and time of my community's annual meeting. We were revising the by-laws and rules, voting on the proposed budget and electing officers, so it was imperative that I be there.

I knew that I would have other opportunities and venues, such as this and an interview with Mr. Schinella of Concord Patch, to air my views.

Campaign Website: None. The reason being is that I would rather meet people face-to-face. I would rather talk on the phone than e-mail, or utilize social media. Because of the amount of robo-calls that I get, if I don't recognize the number, I will let it go to voice mail. If a legitimate message is left, I will definitely return the call.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it: The lack of accountability is the most pressing issue. Concord School District is the only district in the State that is autonomous. I propose that we explore going back to the previous system of oversight - that in which the school system is under the jurisdiction of the legislature, or at least see what works for the other districts in the State. I do believe that the other issues facing the school system stem directly from that.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?: As a member of the Board on which I now serve, I have experienced coming on the job with a great many issues to resolve. We have infrastructure issues (for which we have a plan in place), we had issues with the previous property management company (whom we fired), we have had by-laws and rules violations to deal with, abandoned properties, scams - you name it! We have utilized every resource to overcome these issues. And we had to get creative. We are still dealing with some of them, as they are of an ongoing nature, but we have a plan of action. We've revised the by-laws and rules to make them more clear; we've established policies, we've hired a property management company that understands the unique issues to our community. we have an awesome Board. Each Board member of our community brings a unique strength to the table; focusing on those strengths, rather than on weaknesses, or irritants, makes for a unified, strong Board.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?: People get busy. They get distracted. Because of that, they may not have, or take, the time to research information that they are given; taking it at face value. It is important to ask the correct questions. I was once told that the best lie is put between 2 truths. One can be given the "technical" truth, but critical information is left out. A wrong conclusion is reached, and when discovered, the blame is put on the one who made the conclusion because "that isn't what I meant." The Principal of the high school comes to mind. A lack of the administration's credentials is most distressing due to the many years it was allowed to continue. This is why a system of checks and balances should be in place. It is not reasonable to put all the responsibility on one entity. That's why our founding fathers instituted the system of checks and balances in our government. When utilized properly, it works, for the most part. We need to get back to that in this instance.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform: The safety of students is of primary concern, as is the safety of everyone who is involved with the school system. Teachers can't be afraid to teach and children can't be afraid to learn. A system of checks and balances, which at this point is non-existent, would go a long way towards accomplishing that goal. Another issue I'd like to address is to guarantee that those whose positions require certification, are indeed, certified. A hairdresser can't cut my hair without a license; how much more those who have the oversight of our future, which is our children, should be certified and rigorously vetted. I believe that the curriculum should be balanced. Teaching students how accomplish things without the use of technology, as well as instruction in technology is just wise. I am a fan of Elon Musk.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?" Again, my position as President of the Board of Directors for the community in which I live is the most recent accomplishment. My military service (to include being a military wife) taught me a great deal. I learned how other countries operate, which instilled in me huge respect and gratitude for this United States. Teaching my daughter at home gave me experience in developing K-12 curriculum, with the exception of 3-4 and 7 grades. I started State service in the Department of Safety, where I learned a great deal about law enforcement; my time as administrative assistant working for the Attorney General gave me experience in the legal side of things and my position as administrative assistant with Economic Development taught me about business development. This is just a shortened list. I have learned so much from everything that I have done.

The best advice ever shared with me was ... "Do unto others as you would have them do to you," and "Love costs." I am certainly not proficient, but my goal is to live that advice. My Dad, before he died, told me that love costs. I'm still learning what that means; the more I learn, the more profound it is.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?: Without specific questions, I think I've pretty much covered it.

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