Neil Claffey, Nashua Board Of Education Candidate

Neil Claffey

Age (as of Election Day)

58

Position Sought

Nashua Board of Education

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Wife Renae
Two sons
Elias NHS North Class of 2012, math teacher for two years in the District
Thomas NHS North Class of 2015

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

M. Ed. Harvard University
B.A. Economics UNC-Chapel Hill

Occupation

Social Studies teacher Nashua High School, Nashua High School South 1989-2021
Driver TJ's Deli and Catering April 2021-present

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

neilclaffeyfornashua.weebly.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I had no intention of running for the Board of Education when I decided to retire last winter. But as I witnessed divisive voices disrupt our meetings with personal attacks on board members, I decided to step forward. I hope to move from the classroom to the boardroom in order to leverage my decades of teaching experience.

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

We must assess COVID's academic and psychological toll on our students and invest accordingly with all deliberate speed before the three-year window for spending federal pandemic relief closes. The next Board of Education must work closely with school personnel to identify and aggressively address learning gaps and social/emotional needs with these funds.

This could include remediation programs during the school day, after school, and during the summer, supplementing mental health services at the high schools (where counselors service an average of 230 students), and delivering on the promises the District made to our English Language Learners in its May settlement with the Civil Rights Division of the US Justice Dept.

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

I would bring to the Board 32 years of experience as a Nashua teacher. It is disheartening to see that some candidates promise to fight for parents and taxpayers but omit the very people entrusted with their students' education and safety.

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

I am not challenging the only incumbent on the Board of Education who is running for re-election. I plan to give her one of my three other votes. She has done an admirable job of giving residents an opportunity to voice their concerns, despite what you hear from her critics. Citizens have had two opportunities to speak at every meeting; at the Board's most recent one, only a handful of residents chose to use the time offered for public comment.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I think city officials, including the Board of Education, deferred to recommendations made by health experts, and I would do the same if elected. Some seem to be blaming the Board for the worst health care crisis our nation has faced in a century. That is neither fair nor productive. The Board did its best to keep our students and school personnel safe. Fortunately, our schools have been open for in-person instruction without interruption since April. Reliance upon sound evidence has much to do with that success.

I sympathize with the frustration parents felt when schools were closed. My brother endured a year at home with twin kindergartners and a second grader while his wife worked full-time as a nurse. Others needed to work and care for children at the same time. Many colleagues had to teach their classes while overseeing their young children's Zoom sessions. It was certainly a stressful, unprecedented time.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Honor the promises made to our English Language Learners by the District in its May settlement with the Civil Rights Division of the US Justice Dept.;
Ensure that middle school projects are completed with a redistricting plan that is equitable;
Recruit a Superintendent who is highly qualified and committed to Nashua;
Secure contracts for our paraprofessionals, custodians, teachers and other school personnel we entrust with our students’ safety and education.

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

I believe I have extensive experience working with people from all walks of life and building relationships. Managing classrooms of up to 31 students requires interpersonal skills like active listening, patience and empathy.

As head teacher for the Social Studies department at Nashua South, I supervised roughly 17 teachers, oversaw the hiring of new teachers, guided course curriculum revisions with Central Office officials and social studies teachers at the middle schools and high schools, and worked closely with administrators at weekly meetings. With my counterpart at North, I worked to improve continuity and collaboration between the three middle schools and the high schools.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Strive to live by the Golden Rule.

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

Quality schools are the cornerstone of a vibrant Nashua. I have a local – not a national – agenda. The classroom perspective is one the Board needs, and I can provide it. On November 2, please consider me for one of the four Board of Education seats.