Andover Educators Back 2 Candidates In School Committee Election

ANDOVER – Andover teachers and instructional assistants are endorsing School Committee candidates Jake Tamarkin and Chris Shepley running in the March 25 town election, according to a statement from the Andover Education Association.

The educators' union said more than 90 percent of the membership voted to support Tamarkin and Shepley.

“The educators in Andover have known for a while that our schools will benefit from a diverse group of elected officials,” high school history teacher and president of the Andover Education Association Matt Bach said in a statement. “Last year, we supported two educators from neighboring communities. This year, I’m proud to support a recent graduate and a strong public schools activist. Our schools are at a crossroads and this upcoming election is vital to ensure we have fully funded schools with small class sizes and a commitment to excellence. Jake Tamarkin and Chris Shepley will help us protect Andover Public Schools during such uncertainty.”

The union will participate in a national day of action to raise awareness of potential cuts to education spending by the federal government on March 4.

Andover Public Schools receives nearly $150,000 in Title I grants and $1.4 million in IDEA grants from the federal government "to support the town's most vulnerable students," according to the statement. The district’s educators believe that Tamarkin and Shepley will be leaders in ensuring Andover Public Schools maintains its high reputation in the event of potential cuts.

“Educators across the district will be standing in front of their schools this upcoming Tuesday to raise awareness of the election on March 25 and why it’s important for the community to be plugged in,” Elizabeth Tyrell, the union’s vice president and math teacher at Doherty Middle School, said in a statement. “Every student deserves a high quality free public education. I don’t understand how larger class sizes and eliminating elective classes fulfill our town’s obligations to that mission. Jake Tamarkin and Chris Shepley have been outspoken on prioritizing resources that benefit our students. They must get elected to ensure our students continue receiving the education Andover is known for.”

Residents who need to register to vote can do so on or before March 15 to be able to participate in the March 25 town election.

More information on voting in Andover's upcoming town election can be found here.