Hopkinton Candidate Profile 2022: Holly Morand

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

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 Morand, who is running for the two-year seat, had to say.

Age as of Election Day: 42

Position sought: School Committee - 2 year seat

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Family: Husband, Matt (41); Son, Dylan (9); Daughter, Emilia (7)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No, no one in my family works in politics and government.

Education:

BA in Chemistry/Philosophy; MS in Applied Statistics; MSW; Doctoral Candidate in Behavioral Health (expected graduation Dec. 2022)

Occupation:

Behavioral Health Research Fellow at Brigham and Women's; Doctoral student.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I was appointed to the Permanent Building Committee in 2013.

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/Holly...

Why are you seeking elective office?

There are several reasons I am seeking this particular seat. The first is mental health. Our kids struggled with mental health before the pandemic and now those issues have worsened. I have a strong background in mental health and experience in counseling, so I am perfectly suited to help address this issue. The other reason I am seeking a School Committee seat is to help the district seamlessly create an atmosphere of inclusion, empathy and equity for the growing student population.

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

The single most pressing issue facing our district is managing growth. None of the social-emotional programs we implement will matter if kids are in crowded classrooms that are not conducive to a safe learning environment. There are already building additions on the table, and significant thought around space, but I think we also need to be extremely thoughtful around the staff that is hired to fill these positions. We have an opportunity to hire bilingual staff, or staff educated in social-emotional learning, or culturally diverse staff. I think that we need to be thoughtful about these decision and I hope to helping that respect.

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

The biggest difference between myself and my opponent is experience and education. While I do not believe that degrees necessarily make a person superior or smarter than anyone else, in this case we are talking about the lives and future of children. I have a robust background in research and data analysis, child development, applied science, mental health assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and program management. Implementation of programs without research or tangible data to back it up can be wasteful of time and funds, as well as potentially harmful to the children experiencing the changes.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community?

I would not consider myself a challenger, because neither my opponent or I have served on the School Committee.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The other issues that define my campaign are bullying, and how to address bullies at every grade level. Also, diversity and inclusion, particularly as the diversity of our town grows, we need to consider how our curriculum, our traditions and our schools in general can reflect new cultures, religions and languages. We want every kid to feel seen and safe in our schools. And I also want to expand support and resources for our LGBTQIA students. The current sociopolitical environment has been extremely toxic for our LGBT+ students and I want to ensure they feel seen, heard and worthy of love and support in our schools.

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

I have served as an in-school social worker in both Franklin and Milford, as well as an in-office social worker for 3-85 year-olds. I practiced as a community social worker in Hopkinton, so I have an in-depth understanding of the issues that our residents face on a daily basis. I served as the President of the HPTA which gave me experience in managing over a hundred volunteers and a six-figure budget. I am also a Board Member of the Hopkinton Freedom Team. We work with community leaders on addressing social justice issues within the community. Also, I am current running a research project for Brigham and Women's Hospital that involves around 500 kidney transplant patients, which obviously have many challenges and moving parts.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. (Gandhi)

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

My opinions are based on data, research and professional experience. I am open to any and all discussions on any topic, and would love to hear the opinions of those who disagree with me. All stakeholders should be involved in important decisions, and all voices are valuable. I view the School Committee as a job that requires many of the skills I learned as a social worker: active listening, mutual respect, collaboration and the building of trust.