Candidate Profile: Tracey Spruce For Andover School Committee

ANDOVER, MA — Andover's town election is March 23. Andover Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Tracey Spruce is running for re-election to the School Committee. Just two people filed for two seats on the committee — Spruce and her fellow incumbent Susan McCready.

Spruce, an attorney, has been on the Andover School Committee for three years.

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

Previously on Patch: Andover Election 2021 Voter Guide: How And When To Vote

Tracey Spruce

Age (as of Election Day)

52

Position Sought

School Committee

Family

Husband Trevor, daughter Tessa and son Will. Both kids attend Andover High School.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Middlebury College BA; Boston College Law School JD

Occupation

Attorney, 24 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Currently member of Andover School Committee

Campaign website

www.spruceforandover.org

Why are you seeking elective office?

I'm seeking re-election because right now, Andover needs stable leadership to navigate through the pandemic, prepare for post-pandemic education, hire a new superintendent, build a new West Elementary/Shawsheen pre-K, and continue to work on implementing the district's Educational Equity Policy.

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

It's hard to pick just one. The top 3, in my view, are planning for post-pandemic education, hiring a new superintendent, and upgrading our school buildings (most immediately, West El/Shawsheen pre-K, but in the near future we also must address Andover High School and Doherty Middle School).

The SC's role in operationalizing post-pandemic planning is limited to the areas of budget and policy, so I will ensure the FY22 budget is well aligned with our post-pandemic needs.

I am a member of the West El/Shawsheen building committee and will continue to work with that group, in partnership with the MSBA, to secure town meeting and ballot box approval for the project.

The SC hires only one employee, the superintendent, and I will continue to work closely with my colleagues, our search firm, and Human Resources to find the right person to fill that key role.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

On the SC, our role was limited to approving one of the 3 learning models DESE required districts to develop, and overseeing the budget to ensure adequate funding for pandemic needs (like PPE). Andover school administrators have worked extraordinarily hard since schools were closed in March 2020, and they have done an excellent job managing the crisis to maximize our students' learning during an incredibly difficult year. Our teachers and staff have stepped up in ways no one could have imagined one year ago, and the level of their dedication cannot be overstated. One thing I might do differently is recognize how serious the mental health impacts of ongoing isolation would have on our students, especially our adolescents. It seems obvious in retrospect, and the district has excellent programs in place to support families. But I worry about the long-term effects on our students' mental health.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Last summer, the SC adopted an Educational Equity policy. The district has a strong commitment to equity, and I look forward to continuing our work to operationalize the Educational Equity policy for our students' benefit.

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

I've served on the SC for the past 3 years, working collaboratively with my SC colleagues, school administrators, and town officials.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

In my very first job out of college, someone advised me: Don't dress for the position you have; dress for the position you want.

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

I am available to members of the community who want to share their thoughts, feedback, concerns, suggestions, and questions. While it is impossible for every vote I take on the SC to please every Andover resident, I make an effort to listen to, and carefully consider, all points of view before deciding how I will vote. So I always welcome residents to reach out to me for a conversation!

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