Valle: Why I'm Running for Concord School Board

General information

Name : Matthew Valle

Age : 35

Background/education

Matthew was born and raised in Concord, and attended private school until 10th grade. Matthew’s interest in science and mathematics led him to Concord High School where he finished his secondary education in 1998 with an excellent foundation which would suit him well for his career. Matthew received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from The University of New Hampshire, and his M.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University. Recently, he received his MBA from Boston University in May of 2015.

Experience/occupation

Matthew started working for Pike Industries in 1999, and continues working for Pike’s parent company Oldcastle Materials. In his current role as Vice President of Development, Matthew is responsible for the strategic growth of the Northeast Division of Oldcastle Materials through acquisitions and greenfield development. Matthew provides strategic planning, guidance, and support to Oldcastle’s seven operating companies located in the northeastern US to ensure the organization remains competitive well into the future.

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-valle/b/644/88

Personal

Matthew and his wife Sarah reside in Concord with their two children Neil (9) and Lucie (4). Neil attends Beaver Meadow, and Lucie is looking forward to kindergarten next year. Sarah works as a Speech Pathologist in the Manchester School District.

Why are you running?

As a parent of young children, I have a vested interest in ensuring that they, along with their peers receive a world class education. I fully understand the power of education, and the opportunities it brings to those that are fully engaged in the learning process. This engagement starts by attracting and retaining world class teachers, who have the facilities and resources to spark the imagination of their pupils. I hope to bring my engineering background, strategic thinking, and business acumen to the school board and add value as the district forges forward into the future and sends students well equipped out into the globally connected workplace.

What perspective will you bring to the board that isn’t already there?

As a civil engineer and businessman, I am well equipped to help the district think strategically about the short and long term decisions needed to provide our students with the best possible education. My perspective as a civil engineer allows me to assist the board in developing a robust plan and strategy for the schools in need of repair and renovation. As a businessman, I am continuously engaged in negotiations with the companies Oldcastle is acquiring, this experience, along with my negotiation training allows me to offer advice and input in crafting negotiations which offer win-win solutions for the involved parties.

What are your priorities?

My main priority is the long-term success of students coming from Concord School District. To support this, several components must be in place: world class instruction and standards, warm & welcoming physical spaces in which to engage our students, and community support.

World class instruction and standards: Our teachers need to have the latest tools and skills to deliver classroom instruction to engage the minds of our children and help them be successful. We are immersed in technology, and developing a strategy to maximize the learning potential from the tools technology offers is critical if we are to remain globally competitive. As every child learns in unique ways, we need to offer flexibility in the ways in which our children are taught, but ensure accountability through analysis of student performance related to our strategic goals. World class instruction includes engaging our smallest learners, and offering them a chance to work with their peers on a full-day basis.

Warm & welcoming physical spaces: As our schools age, and begin to detract from our students learning, a critical assessment needs to be taken to determine the optimal use of the district’s scarce resources. Rundlett Middle School provides a prime example of a space in need of upgrading to provide our students with an environment conducive to learning. With my background in engineering, project management, and strategic planning, I can provide insight and probing questions to ensure the district’s resources are used in an optimal way.

Community support

Our community must have an active role in helping to provide our children with a world class education. I plan to engage the citizens of Concord through regular “Chat with Matt” discussions over coffee around Concord. With the ever-present role of social media in our lives, I will work to make reaching out to the school board through various technology channels very easy for our citizens. I can be reached at facebook.com/votevalle.

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