To the editor:
I am writing in support of Kristen Elworthy’s candidacy for the one-year term for School Committee. Kristen is a life-long Lynnfield resident and fellow graduate of Lynnfield High School who cares deeply for her hometown and the schools which she attended and from which she graduated. She has an impressive resume, graduating near the top of our class at Lynnfield High School, attending Boston College, obtaining her master’s degree in journalism from Boston University, and now owning and running a successful business. The mother of three children at Summer Street School and Lynnfield Middle School, Kristen has already demonstrated herself as a leader and forward-thinker in our community with her thoughtful advocacy before the School Committee over the last several years, as well as her leadership on town committees and Summer Street School Council. Kristen has the drive, passion, and professionalism needed to navigate the current LPS environment and I am confident she is the right person to move our district forward.
Kristen will be an asset to the School Committee and tireless advocate for Lynnfield families, teachers, and other stakeholders for several reasons:
Experience working with town government: Kristen is no stranger to Lynnfield local government, having graciously volunteered her time over the years to several different initiatives in town. She served on the Lynnfield Finance Committee, specifically sitting on the School Budget Subcommittee, and is therefore very familiar with the school budget process and the competing financial considerations that come with it. Kristen also was instrumental on the Public Safety Building Committee, working to pass the project at Town Meeting by educating and communicating with residents to help them better understand why upgrades to the Public Safety Building were necessary. Early in Kristen’s career as a journalist, she covered town government, which often included coverage of the schools in a particular town. Preexisting knowledge of the municipal budget process including the school budget process, understanding town government operations, and knowing how town government decisions impact education priorities will enable Kristen to hit the ground running in a School Committee role.
Accountability and professionalism: Characteristics that I deem important in any elected official — particularly one on the School Committee given the current state of LPS — are the ability to engage in professional and direct conversations, hold stakeholders accountable in that process, and also individually and collectively as a committee be held accountable to the public for those decisions. Kristen will not shy away from asking the difficult questions and having the hard conversations; instead, we can rely on her to engage in critical fact-finding so that she can make informed decisions in the best interests of the district. Accountability — both of others and one’s self — is an essential attribute that Kristen will bring to the table. That Kristen owns a business, manages employees and clients, and makes difficult decisions each and every day makes her uniquely qualified and primed for a role on the School Committee.
Communication and collaboration: Kristen is a communicator in every sense of the word. She communicates as a profession, which explains her innate ability to break down and simplify complex issues to others. No decision is without consequences, and we can count on Kristen to do her homework and collaborate with stakeholders to arrive at an informed and educated decision. In a recent public forum, Kristen noted concerns about the high school curriculum, which demonstrated to me that she is focused not just on one school, but on the best interests of all schools in the district. She will bridge gaps and foster collaboration between competing district interests to build trust and consensus.
I have known Kristen for many years, but have recently in the last several years had the privilege to reconnect and get to know her better through our children and other professional initiatives. Simply put, Kristen is a “doer.” She is smart, articulate, and thoughtful, and she will unequivocally hit the ground running with her natural leadership abilities if elected. Kristen will effectuate change, collaborate and communicate respectfully and professionally with all stakeholders, and propel our district forward. Please join me in supporting Kristen Elworthy for Lynnfield School Committee on April 9.
Amie Tracia Geary
