Hopkinton Candidate Profile 2022: Ashley Fogg

HOPKINTON, MA - Hopkinton voters will have some big choices to make in the election on May 16 for School Committee members.

There are three seats up for grabs, each with different term lenghts. Current Chair Nancy Richards-Cavanaugh is running for reelection for the three-year term against Christopher Melton.

The two-year opening became available following the resignation of Meg Tyler. Independent Ashley Fogg is running against Democrat Holly Morand for this seat.

Joe Markey's resignation led to an opening for a one-year term. Democrats Jenn Devlin and Jared Pray are running for this seat.

To help voters get to know each candidate, Hopkinton Patch sent all candidates a questionnaire to probe their thoughts on the issues. Here's what Fogg, who is seeking a two-year term, had to say.

Age as of Election Day:

37

Position sought:

School Committee - 2 year vacant seat

Party Affiliation:

Un-enrolled

Family:

Peter (Husband), Children: James (9), Madison (7), Alex (4)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

None of my family works in politics.

Education:

B.S. in Applied Legal Studies from Suffolk University in Boston; Graduated Magna Cum Laude, and top award for highest G.P.A.; Elected Officer of the Paralegal Association.

Occupation:

Currently Stay-at-Home Parent. Previously a Paralegal in law firms in Boston and Woburn.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

None.

Campaign website:

https://www.facebook.com/group...

Why are you seeking elective office?

I would consider it to be an incredible privilege, honor and responsibility to serve as School Committee member for the Hopkinton Public Schools.

I grew up in Hopkinton and attended the schools. After attending college in Boston, my husband and I moved back to Hopkinton with our family in 2018. We knew that this community was a wonderful place to raise a family, and the schools were top-notch in the state.

As a parent of young students in the district, I have a vested interest in the longevity of Hopkinton Public Schools' performance and quality of education. Growing up here and now raising my children in Hopkinton, I deeply value this community and have a lengthened understanding of its past more so than any other candidate. I hope to provide a new and fresh perspective on maintaining the excellence of Hopkinton Public Schools. I understand at a practical level the policies the school committee will implement, therefore I am seeking office so that I can help guide, promote and strengthen the public schools.

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

The pandemic has been difficult for our community and school district. The past two years have been exceedingly difficult for our town. If elected I hope to move forward in unity and with compassion for my fellow committee members.

My top priorities as I run for election:

1. The mental health crisis facing our children - We need to start giving our children HOPE for the future. The past 2 years we've been telling our children to be alarmed, that the world is a uncertain place. Children have been removed from real-life interaction, and the normal development that typically happens did not take place. We need to start having our children look forward to their future and have hope for their goals. As adults we set the tone... we can do better.

2. Managing effectively the exponential growth we have seen in our student population in the last several years - We are expecting large enrollment growth in the next 10 years! We need to continue to look for ways to improve and expand the school buildings and campuses to handle such an increase.

3. Continuing the excellence of Hopkinton Public Schools - Hopkinton already does a phenomenal job. I hope to provide a new perspective and bring all voices to the table when it comes to implementing policies that will promote our students.

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

My challenger often talks about her qualifications and education being far superior to mine. She has stated that this lack of experience and education could be potentially harmful to our children. My opponent seems to suggest the fact that she has more degrees than I do makes her a safer choice for the future of our students.

This position is not only offensive, it demonstrates flawed logic. I am a college-educated person, who has a strong relationship with the schools. I have lived in Hopkinton almost my entire life, and I deeply value this community. I have a lengthened understanding of its past and how that impacts our future.

The M.G.L. Part I, Title XII, Ch. 71, Sec. 37 breaks down the 3 responsibilities and duties of the school committee, all of which I am qualified to handle and ready to take on.

These duties are:
1. The power to select and to terminate the Superintendent
2. Review and approve budgets
3. Establish educational goals and policies for the school

The first one speaks about our Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh. Last year, she signed a 5-year contract with HPS. Therefore the hiring of a new Superintendent during this School Committee tenure would not apply to either me or my challenger.

The second one is to review and approve budgets. We have a Budget Director who helps guide the School Committee members. I am very organized, detail oriented, a fast learner and work well under pressure. This skill set will enable me to make sound decisions regarding the budget.

I believe the third duty is the most relevant and important requisite for a School Committee member. Reviewing and implementing policy for Hopkinton Public Schools is what most of our time and energy will be put into during our tenure as members of the School Committee.

As a parent of elementary-aged kids, I am uniquely qualified to shape and understand those policies. I am directly affected by those policies and living them out with my own children. The School Committee currently does not have a representative who has elementary-aged learners in our schools. The policies that the School Committee will decide and put in place will have a real life impact on my family and therefore give me a greater understanding of their importance and effect on the students in town.

Lastly, I come from a legal background. My legal education and experience has taught me to be organized, patient, to work well under pressure and also be a good teammate. I have also learned good negotiation skills, which will be relevant when negotiating with teachers unions, etc. This is also another unique asset I bring to the School Committee.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

On the topic of mental health, the harm caused to our youth during the pandemic is undeniable. My challenger pushed for remote learning to be continued into the Spring of 2021. The mental health challenges, and even more so the bullying, stem from the fact that these kids were out of school for over a year. They didn't have the opportunities to develop social skills that they normally would during this typical period of development. Kids were pushed onto screens for their learning and communication. It removed them from real-life interaction. Now that the kids have returned to school many do not have the coping mechanisms to effectively navigate social interactions.

I think keeping kids in a full-time structure is vitally important. (Many say this is a non-issue now, but if COVID numbers rise in the Fall/Winter - this could be a very real issue we may face again.) When kids go to school they feel cared for and supported, and have sense of belonging. The lockdown and subsequent isolation of remote learning caused a severe disruption to their well-being. I would absolutely do all in my power to keep our kids in school, full-time.

I have friends and community members in Hopkinton that do not always share the same point of view that I have in many topics but I have continued to be able to maintain a healthy friendship and relationship with them. Through respectful dialogue and kindness we have been able to discuss these sometimes-heated topics without resorting to cruel, harsh or hurtful comments.

As a school committee member, and more importantly as a community member of Hopkinton, I promise to continue to rise above the bully culture. I will not stoop to the drama or the harsh language that has become so commonplace in our community. I promise to be compassionate on issues, hear people out, and meet people where they are. Each person’s opinion is valid and should be considered, and no one should be silenced or made to feel like that cannot speak because they are concerned what others may say about them. I promise to make logical, common-sense decisions that are not based on fear or pressure. I will continue to have the courage to try and turn the tide of bullying and actually promote an open and fair dialogue for all community members.

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

I wholeheartedly believe having children in the Hopkinton Public Schools makes me uniquely qualified to make informed decisions as a member of the school committee. Let me provide an example of how my real time experience plays into my decision making: In the 2020-2021 school year I was able to have a true understanding of what it looked liked to parent young learners during the lockdown and the subsequent remote and hybrid learning models. I, too, was a parent at home struggling to manage 3 different learning levels and navigate the needs of my children through an exceedingly challenging season.

While I was really impressed with what the teachers and staff in Hopkinton were able to do in such an unprecedented time, I saw the effects of what remote learning was doing to my children and other children in the district. I lobbied, sent numerous emails, attended virtual meetings and pushed hard for full-time return for our students, knowing how much our children needed to be in school full-time. Students need to be in school not only for the academics but also for the crucial social and emotional development that only the full-time structure can provide to our young learners.

I understood on a real, not just abstract, level the policies the school committee implemented during that time because they had a real-life impact on the students in my home.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Be kind always, you never know what another person is going through.

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

It would be my privilege and honor to serve on the Hopkinton School Committee, please consider me when you vote on May 16.