Beverly Candidate Profile: John Mullady For School Committee

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly will have contested races for City Council in Wards three and five and a contested school committee race in Ward Four this fall. Beverly Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

John Mullady, 36, is running for reelection as the Ward 4 representative on the Beverly School Committee. Mullady is being challenged by Jeffrey C. Silva. He and his wife Elizabeth have three children. Before joining the school committee in 2015, Mullady served on the Beverly Planning Board.

Are you running for office in Beverly? Contact Dave Copeland at dave.copeland@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Beverly Patch.

Previously on Patch: Beverly Election 2019: Here's Who's Running

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

This is a really tough question because I don't think we are facing one singular issue here in Beverly. Across the state, cities, town, and communities of all sizes and demographics are grappling with the challenges of providing for all of their residents. The cost of educating a child in Massachusetts has increased over the past ten years and those costs will continue to rise. It is essential to make early and continued investments in our public education.

We need to look at some of the barriers that are preventing students from coming to school and or impacting their learning. Some of these are: food security, health, mental health, housing stability and a sense of safety. The schools alone cannot solve these problems but as a city we need to come forward and create opportunities that help all of our students.

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

My passion and career is education, something that I have been fortunate to be doing since I was 21 years old. As a classroom teacher I have worked on educating all of my students by adapting my practices to meet the needs of all learners. I have seen how public education has changed and evolved to address the challenges that are now facing our students, teachers, and families. I know how significant school is in the lives of students as well as the consequences of when the system fails. I know how much time and energy teachers put into their careers and how effective proper professional development can be in helping teachers improve their craft.

As a member of the Massachusetts Teacher's Association and as the Vice-President of the union in my district I have advocated for the working conditions of teachers as well as for more money at the State and local level for schools. I was fortunate to be invited to speak at a Fund Our Future Campaign Rally that featured fellow teachers, students, State Representatives, University Professors, and School Committee members from across the North Shore.

In addition to my experience in the classroom, working on the Beverly School Committee has allowed me the opportunity to further continue my service in education. I have worked very hard on being an advocate for all of our students and have been an independent thinker and innovative voice on the School Committee. During this time I have gained invaluable experience working on our city's budget, been trained on hiring key roles, cultivated strong relationships with our city's PTOs, school administrators, countless citizens, and fellow elected officials.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

I try to follow this quote from John F. Kennedy, "One person can make a difference, and everyone should try."

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

I am very grateful for my time serving on the School Committee. I would love the opportunity to continue to represent my neighbors and my friends.

Previously Published Beverly Candidate Profiles:

Candidates for reelection are marked with an asterisk (*).

City Council, Ward Three

Stacy Ames

Euplio "Rick" Marciano

Kris Silverstein

City Council, Ward 5

Don Martin *

School Committee, Ward 4

Jeffrey C. Silva