Candidate Profile: Erin Cash For Andover School Committee

ANDOVER, MA — Andover will have two contested races in the March 22 municipal election, including a five-candidate open race for two seats on the School Committee.

Neither incumbent — Paul Murphy and Shannon Scully — is running for re-election.
Andover Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and is publishing candidate profiles.

Erin Cash is one of the five candidates running for the School Committee seat, facing Sandis Wright, Emily DiCesaro, Shishan Wang and Jo Thorlin.

Cash is a teacher, administrator and coach running for her first elected office.

Are you running for office in Andover? Contact andover@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Andover Patch.

Previously on Patch: 11 Candidates File For Andover's 2022 Election

Erin Cash

Age (as of Election Day)

49

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

School Committee seat

Family

My husband, and 4 kids (3 girls, 1 boy), ages: 11, 9, 8, 6.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelors (BA) in History, Boston College, '95; Masters (MA) in History, Brown University, '96; Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) in Education- Curriculum and Teaching, Boston University, '14

Occupation

Teacher/Admin: 16 years; Coach: 25years; Mom: 11 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None, I have no ties to anyone or any office

Campaign website

cashforandoversc.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for Andover School Committee because, for me, it’s personal. We have 4 kids: three girls, in 6th, 4th, and 3rd grades and one boy in grade 1. Currently, we span both the elementary and middle schools and will very soon be in all three school levels! Our children love school, learning, competing in sports, performing in the theater, creating in the art room and having fun with wonderful friends on the playgrounds. I attribute that to the wonderful teachers AND IAs and specialists that our kids learn from on a daily basis. Our kids are into everything- sports, theater, arts, rec, and like all children, when they learn, they sometimes falter. We have faith they are picked back up and nurtured by Andover’s supportive community and loving teachers/IAs/staff.

I do not have a political agenda, but rather, I want to help. I want to bring the perspective of experienced parent-teacher-coach-mentor to the school committee. IT IS NEEDED! I have been an educator and coach for over 20 years, and I want to represent and support the hardworking and amazing people that create the Andover community. For me, it is all about standing up for the best possible education for our children and for parents to have the opportunity for valued input for the school committee. Therefore, I feel the need to get involved by offering my experience, time, and passion for all the families in Andover who work so hard for our children. I am one of you and I will do my best for you.

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

We need to remember that the kids are the most important thing and most pressing issue. We need to approach everything through that filter. It's all about their education, their emotional support, their confidence, their opportunities, their safety, their experience....this is why we are here. This is why we make time, give our love and energy. We need to build an educational experience worthy of their potential, regardless of our own personal/political beliefs, agendas and/or alliances.

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

I have professional teaching, administrative and coaching experience. I have worked in schools, in the classroom and also led teams in conflict onto victory. I also have four young kids involved in many things the town has to offer- athletics, academics, special education, and the arts. This combination of knowing schools, knowing needs, and currently being in the trenches with all of the awesome parents out there is an essential perspective to have on the SC.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

We are thankful to be part of the Andover community for APS is a strong school district. If elected, in addition to listening and conveying the concerns of the community, I look forward to taking a look at the following points, which are in no particular order, and briefly stated:

• Recognize and respect the critical role that APS Teachers, Instructional Assistants and other school staff play in our children’s experience, learning and development.
• We need the parents and teachers in Andover to feel more represented, respected and heard by our School Committee. They need to feel confident that their interests and concerns are heard, acknowledged and taken into consideration. We need more outreach, more interaction and more conversation.
• The formal development and transparency of our academic and social emotional curriculums. Parents should be aware of what our children are learning in school because the home plays an integral role with regards to our kids' education. Curriculums are changing and parents should know how. Let's work together.
• More emphasis and resources to assist our students’ mental and emotional health needs. Not only independent programs and Teacher/Staff Training, but proactive workshops and skill training for both students and staff. These are really hard times for kids and educators, we need to be proactive with helping them live their best lives.
• Continued dedication to early understanding/evaluation of our children’s individual learning styles, challenges and needs. We need to prioritize early detection of learning differences/challenges so that appropriate interventions and support can be given in a timely manner. My kids have been the lucky recipients of such early detection, and thanks to the general education teachers' quick recognition and the specialists' and IAs' hard work and dedication, it has changed their learning trajectories.

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

In schools, I have sat on various action and search committees, I have worked with faculty groups, I have managed entire graduation classes at schools, I have worked with disadvantaged students on leadership concepts, I have led hundreds of kids through optimism workshops, I have coached championship teams and more over the past 25 years. I have spent my entire professional life working for and with students, and I see this as the next venue in which to continue that effort.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My Dad said to me once, that time is a significant constant in life. You can't speed it up when times are tough, and you can't slow it down when life is good. You have to try and embrace and live every moment as deliberately as you can, because you can't ever get them back. You build your life one action at a time.

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

There is a lot of concern out there right now. Concern for our schools, our kids, and our community. I would be a strong, common sense, listen to all sides, honest, get it done kind of member for our town. A member that would always try to reach out for and consider everyone's perspective.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.