LETTER: Jerome Rekart Announces Candidacy

(Editor's note: The following is a candidacy announcement submitted to Windham Patch. If you'd like to reach out to us and announce your candidacy, submit a letter and photo to Local Editor Michael Ryan at michael.ryan@patch.com)

By Jerome Rekart

My name is Jerome Rekart and I am running for one of the two open spots on the Windham School Board.  My desire to serve my community in this fashion is a credit to the many educators who made a lasting impact on me: Mr. Snow, Mrs. Lang, Mr. Krogh, and Mr. McNabb.  Indeed, the list could go on.  They fueled the spark within me that lead to a lifelong love of learning and an appreciation for the value of education. 

My background and expertise make me an important addition to the board.  I earned a B.S. in Biochemistry, with minors in Biology and Psychology, from Indiana University.  I have a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Psychology (concentration in Brain, Behavior, and Cognition) from Northwestern University, where my research focus was on the way that learning changes the brain.  I was a Postdoctoral Associate at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Currently I am a professor at Rivier College with a dual-appointment in the Departments of Education and Psychology.  I am also the director of both the Master's Program in Experimental Psychology and the Behavioral Science Laboratory. 

As a member of the doctoral faculty in Leadership and Learning, I am not only versed in the "alphabet soup" of today's educational initiatives (e.g. RTI, PBIS, NAEP), but I also teach school administrators and teachers about cutting-edge advancements in education.  In my own classroom, I show my students how to assess their own teaching and make adjustments to enhance student learning.  Most importantly I help them become informed consumers of educational research and policies. 

I have published in international and national publications on learning and teaching in K-12 settings.  My articles have provided creative, research-based solutions to current educational problems.  I have co-authored national presentations on special education.  This past summer I was invited to speak at the annual meeting of the New Hampshire Association of School Principals about my research.  I have an insider's understanding of the NEASC accreditation process from participating in self-studies at the College and as a site reviewer.  With your vote I will be in a position to put this knowledge to work to serve the Windham students, parents, educators, and taxpayers.

As we as a community weigh the benefits of a new curriculum, a building, or other expenditures in the current economy, it is imperative that we have as much evidence available to us as possible so that we may make informed decisions about how best to allocate our tax dollars.  I am committed to making sure that the Town of Windham receives the best returns possible on educational investments. 

My wife, Kathleen, and I met in graduate school while pursuing our doctorates.  We discussed, early on, our plans to move to Windham, where she grew up, to raise our family.  As I can name the teachers who shaped me, so can she: Ms. Renda, Mrs. Putnam, Mrs. Denneen, Mrs. Kryzynski and her list goes on.  It was clear that my wife benefitted from the student-centered policies supported by the Town of Windham, and we wanted the same high quality education for our children.  Now as a parent of three daughters, we are thankful for the dedication and hard work of the administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and taxpayers who have made the Windham schools such a source of community pride.

I believe that with my knowledge and expertise, I can represent your interests on the Windham School Board and help make the schools in our community even better. 

Please vote for me, Jerome Rekart, for Windham School Board on March 13^th from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. at Windham High School and be sure to visit www.jeromerekart.com for more information and to share your thoughts.