*ANDREA'S CANDIDATE VIDEO PROFILE*
Check it out below to learn more about Andrea and her visions!
"My family has always been involved in public service, and I have always been inspired by their dedication. My mission is to create more opportunities for our students, improve school operations and functioning, and to enhance the safety of our students--preventing school violence. I know what it takes to make change happen: navigating tricky bureaucracies, finding effective solutions, and getting things done."
-Andrea Satterwhite
PRIMARY FOCUSES:
SAFETY
It is not easy sending our kids off to school with the worry that they may not come back. As a parent of 3, I understand how fearful this can be. Safety must be actively prioritized above all else—just empty promises are not enough. We should ensure that all security measures are properly in place, hiring more resource officers for the larger schools at minimum. Teacher safety issues must also be addressed adequately or else we risk losing more highly qualified teachers. They won't stay in an environment that does not make them feel secure; they will find somewhere else to work, which could mean outside of LPS if the situation isn't improved soon. This could be a preventable loss.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
To ensure that the best outcomes are seen, it is essential to assess policies and procedures regularly in order to determine where resources can be used most effectively. Extending the length of time spent on education will not guarantee improved achievement; rather, quality at each step in a student's school journey is key for success. Allocating resources towards programs with the greatest positive evidence will only benefit students. Careful preparation at the end of every grade level will protect against any need for remediation later on.
EDUCATIONAL TRAINING
Establishing an environment that supports learning is the first step to creating a successful educational training program. Lynn Tech stands out as a school with exceptional trade abilities during educational training. This allows their students to become better equipped for the future without the need for furthering their education at college. It's no secret that Lynn has more residents than it can handle, so there are limitations on how many students Lynn Tech can accept. By replacing electives in high schools with opportunities for certification courses, individuals in the Lynn community will have greater chances of improving their careers. This may also lead to other commercial businesses coming into Lynn, where credentialed students can meet staffing needs.
SPECIAL EDUCATION/IEPS
Enabling successful learning means taking into account individual differences or disabilities. This calls for tailored teaching plans that are evaluated systematically and continuously updated. Accessibility to the necessary equipment, materials, and settings must also be available. My time spent as a public school nurse in Lynn, and my husband as a Special Education Attorney, has allowed me to get experience with IEPs where applicable and advocate for the resources needed for success.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Lynn Public Schools can improve its Local and Regional Partnerships.
For a Local approach - Our schools should collaborate with businesses to provide more training opportunities to our students, as well as work with financial institutions to help them open accounts and teach financial literacy, including what is needed to purchase their first house (planting the seed). Additionally, it is of utmost importance to recognize the issues present in our neighborhood such as homelessness, addiction, etc., and partner up with local nonprofits like the Haven Project to tackle these problems.
As for a Regional approach - To ensure everyone's safety, the city should join forces with neighboring police departments (similarly to what is done for details in Lynn) to provide our middle and high schools with assured resource officers onsite at the schools.