Pamela Walsh, Concord School Board Candidate

Pamela Walsh

Age (as of Election Day)

47

Position Sought

School Board At Large

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Second grader at Christa McAuliffe

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

yes, work for the federal government

Education

BA, Northeastern University; MBA, Southern New Hampshire University

Occupation

Congressional employee; former chief of staff, NH Governor's office

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

No previous elected office

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/PamelaWalshforSchoolBoard

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am a Concord public school parent who is running for school board to help build a school district that works better for families, addresses pressing challenges, to ensure high-quality schools, and to rebuild the public's trust in our schools by improving transparency.

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

There are many critical issues in ensuring quality schools in Concord, but to address them, the first priority must be rebuilding trust between the Board/District and the community. While the Board holds frequent public comment sessions, we need more two-way conversations and public forums where questions can be asked and answered, where ideas can be debated and aired. The public must have confidence that the District is communicating with them, listening to the, and being transparent.
Building that trust is essential to addressing recovery from the pandemic, addressing the aftermath of the Howie Leung case, improving racial equity, and ensuring high-quality schools.

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

I am the parent of a child in Concord schools, and would bring a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing the schools and families in these unprecedented times. I see how hard teachers (especially teachers who are also parents) are working, but also how much families are struggling. The District can do more to make this difficult situation work better for both families, faculty and staff.
Professionally, I have an MBA and 20-plus years experience in all aspects of government management on the state level, from communications and crisis management to budgeting and policy development. I would bring practical problem-solving, strategic-planning and communications skills, which could help the District better define and work in partnership with the community, teachers and staff, to address the challenges our district faces.

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

Open seat

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

1) A school district that is more responsive to its community, including better understanding and addressing the needs of working families.
2) Keeping students, teachers, and staff safe and learning through this pandemic with a transparent process and standards, including developing a plan to return to full-time in-person learning. In the event, we stay with hybrid or return to remote learning, the District should address issues such as child care/educational access for the children of teachers and staff; more equitable access for children at remote learning sites; and making remote schedules more workable for families.
3) Concord Schools should also develop now a strategic plan for recovering from the pandemic and addressing issues, including 1) learning loss and larger inequities between children; 2) Budget crunches from the pandemic’s economic impacts 3) the mental health impacts on students, teachers and staff and 4) Attracting back students and families who may have left.

4) Addressing racial equity and sexual discrimination, including modernizing curriculum, training, rules for staff, teachers and students, and disciplinary standards.
5) Ensuring innovative, forward-looking schools and curriculum, including a safe, modern middle school. We should be using this period of change to have a community conversation about what we may want to be different when school returns to "normal."
5) Using tax dollars efficiently and effectively.

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

I have 20 years experience working in communications, public administration and pubic policy, which I believe will help me hit the ground running.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

The Golden Rule: Treat others like you would like to be treated.

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

I would love your vote on November 3!