Melissa Clark, Concord School Board Candidate

Melissa Clark

Age (as of Election Day)

37

Position Sought

Concord School Board District B seat (Wards 5, 6, 7)

Party Affiliation

N/A

Family

My husband Keith, the Director of IT at a biotech company in Boston, and I have an adventurous and caring 7 year old son.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a focus on Child Development.

Occupation

I currently work at a local non-profit, Mary's Dogs Rescue and Adoption, where I am driving positive change within the New Hampshire community to help grow the business to become a leading rescue, not only in our state but throughout New England. Over the last two years, I have been a substitute teacher in the Concord School district focusing the previous year on long-term positions. I previously worked in the Special Education Department in the Pelham school district, as well as working at a Private Elementary School outside Houston, Texas.
My background continues back to when I worked in Emergency Medical Services both volunteering as an EMT and working as a dispatcher for Police, Fire, and EMS.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/mclark.concordnh.schoolboard

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for a seat on the School Board because I felt a calling to help make a change in our community. Between being directly involved in the Concord School District as a long term substitute at both Abbot-Downing and Rundlett, and my work with a local non-profit, I knew my experiences and knowledge would be helpful as a School Board Member. I want what’s best for every student and taxpayer in the district. I am ready to tackle the budget and incoming issues with grace and an open mind. Decisions will be made based on an educated and informed standpoint.

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

Every issue has it's level of importance, prioritizing these issues is the responsibility of the board, while taking into consideration every taxpayer and each student. I believe that when a board member has a focused, singular issue, they don't represent the community at large. Being a school board member is about serving the community and making decisions (sometimes hard decisions) that are based on facts, learned, or presented. There are a lot of important issues coming into view and I will review each issue strategically and objectively. I am eager to drive positive change and make these tough decisions with grace and objectivity.

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

I am a candidate who is not from New Hampshire. Having lived in Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, and Arizona has given me experience with different social dynamics and diversity. Although my husband grew up here, we set roots in Concord a few years ago. Since then, I have been actively involved in the community, teaching, supporting downtown businesses, and working for a local non-profit. It is with all of this that I am able to contribute a broader view of things to the City of Concord. I am running for a seat to be of service to the Concord community, primarily the students and taxpayers. I am running with no agenda or primary issue and feel that when a candidate has a single, driving force, they are not representing the school district as a whole. I am eager to participate and contribute to decisions around the district's budget and help make thoughtful decisions about funding. My past experiences, both professional and personal, help make me a strong candidate who will be able to make tough decisions that will be based on the information available and will come from an open-minded, informed position.

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

N/A

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

There isn't one issue that defines my campaign. I am a taxpayer, homeowner, mom, and experienced teacher who cares a great deal about our community. I am eager to dive into the school budget and tackle other issues head-on. Looking over Union contracts, getting involved in searching for our next Superintendent, and reviewing plans for the possibility of a new Middle School are just a few other important issues that many candidates aren't even discussing. I am excited to be of service to my community.

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

Over the past 20+ years of employment, I have held a variety of positions that have helped shape who I am as a person. For many years I worked as a 911 dispatcher, in 3 different states, for fire, police, and EMS. It is within the training of this position that I learned how to handle stressful situations, calm people down, defuse highly intense calls, and be able to release all of that stress at the end of the day. There are going to be times when emotions run high or when the days seem long and the budget planning seems endless; it's within these times that I will pull from my past experience, lean on my husband for support, and help continue to move the district in a direction that many of us will be proud of.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

The best advice ever shared with me was..."Make your bed." This was a task that was always mandated by my parents growing up and something that my husband and I require of our 7-year-old to do every morning. Before leaving his room in the morning, the first task of the day is to always make your bed. It was second nature to me to do and honestly, a task and advice that didn't seem to hold value until I read the book "Make Your Bed: Little things that can change your life...and maybe the world." written by Admiral Willam H. McRaven. In this short, but inspiring book, Admiral McRaven discussed that making your bed sets the tone for your day. As the day gets hectic and stressful, and can often seem overwhelming, you can look back at the day and realize your accomplishments, even as simple as making your bed. Tackling one small task at a time leads up to larger tasks being accomplished. This would certainly hold true when discussing my role in the School Board and how I will handle each issue...one small task at a time.

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

I believe that running for School Board isn't about a cause or a crusade; it's about being of service to my community.