Candidate Submission: Dawn Macklin, Ward 4 School Committee

MALDEN, MA — Dawn Macklin will represent Ward 4 on the school committee following the retirement of Lenny Iovino. She is running unopposed in the Nov. 2 municipal election.

Macklin has served on the Democratic City Committee since 2020 and was elected chair of Affirmative Action and Outreach. She has worked as a residential property manager for more than 20 years.

Macklin shared with Patch what she hopes to accomplish on the school committee/

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Age (as of Election Day)

56

Position Sought

Malden School Committee, Ward 4

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Spouse - Wallace Macklin, Daughter (adult) Marissa, Two grandsons - Jeremiah, 11 and Gabriel, 2

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My cousin Kim Schofield, who attended Fisher College in the 80s (and the reason I came to visit Boston and ended up staying in the area) is a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, representing the 60th district since 2017.

Education

Lincoln University of PA, the nation's first degree granting HBCU

Occupation

Senior Residential Property Manager - 20+ years in property management

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Malden Democratic City Committee, 2020 (subsequently elected Affirmative Action and Outreach Chair by the Committee)

Campaign website

macklinforward4.wixsite.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Our school staff and administration should more reflect the students they serve, as representation matters. I want families to know their voice and input on academic and other matters and how it may impact their family is important to shape and effect change within Malden Public Schools. I want to be the bridge that brings our families and local government together, in a welcoming space. I will be an approachable member of the school committee that will always put our children first.

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

There are several pressing issues with the district, including overcrowding, equitable and affordable after school care, better dietary and nutrition options, as well as lack of vocational training and arts in our schools. The most pressing issue for me is lack of representation and missed cultural connections for our divers student body. Representation goes beyond just race and must include intersectional identities in order to advance educational equity for everyone. MPS has made some progress in their hiring efforts but "some progress" isn't well enough if we are not making a plan to create a welcoming environment and taking steps to ensure retention. We often hear that there are not many applicants of color showing interest. I have also heard from a previous Malden Superintendent that "even Boston is having a hard time finding educators of color'. Perhaps we need to broaden our search or think outside the box - let's contact the HBCUs and identify education majors or participate in career fairs to engage these potential applicants. Another roadblock is salary. We must be competitive if we want to increase interest - let's offer a generous sign on bonus and require a 3 year commitment. Lastly, it's very expensive to live in our great city so where will our new recruits live? Our city has experienced a multi-family construction boom in recent years. How many of those units are designated affordable? Why have we not sat down with the developers and required more low or moderate income units as well as a preferred employee program for our teachers, faculty and city employees? We can do better when we commit to be better.

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

I would like to thank Mr. Lenny Iovino for his many years of service to our community and Malden Ward 4 residents. Mr. Iovino has decided to step down and retire at the end of this term. My fellow school committee candidates all care about this great city and the children/families they serve in their respective wards. I look forward to working with them in a collaborative effort to advance Malden Public Schools.

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

I am satisfied with the city's response to the coronavirus and keeping the residents informed. I am especially pleased that the school committee voted to have a mask mandate in place for MPS, ahead of DESE. This was important, given there was not going to be a remote option and our children under 12 are still not eligible for for the vax. Hopefully, the mask mandate will remain in place at least until the end of the year, which will give our younger scholars an opportunity to get vaccine protection, with the impending approval for the 5-11 age group.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I am an enthusiastic advocate for special needs learners. Our new middle schooler is on the Autism Spectrum and has an IEP. Equal and equitable access is a must. Parents and caregivers are the best resource and advocate for their children. They should feel comfortable asking questions or appealing decisions they believe are not in the best interest of their children. I also want an updated and clear policy for bullying that is impartially enforced across all Malden Public Schools.

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

As a senior residential property manager in Malden Center, I have been able to develop and maintain relationships with a multi-cultural demographic. I also have a deep commitment to this community. Last year I was appointed commissioner on the Malden Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission by Malden City Council. I have assisted and sat in on other family Team meetings at MPS to help navigate the academic placement process, I was a key organizer for the 2020 Malden holiday drive, I titled 'Merry Malden', which is expected to be an annual event. Merry Malden expanded into Merry Malden Coats, with a successful coat drive earlier this year as well as Merry Malden Prom to further assist Malden residents. Many of the current councillor candidates - Amanda Linehan, Karen Colon Hayes, Ari Taylor, Michelle Luong and school committee candidates - Sharyn Rose Zeiberg and Keith Bernard and I will once again coordinate efforts to make this a success in 2021 as well.

I recently joined two boards - Metro North Housing Board and Cambridge Healthcare Alliance (CHA) Wellbeing Assessment Community Advisory Board. I was also a Core Team Member for Black girls CODE for many years.

In May 2021, I was a panelist for Black Educator's Alliance of Massachusetts (BEAM) Family Panel and Resource Fair.

I was also a substitute teacher on the junior high school level many years ago and remember how much patience and dedication is required from our educators and school staff. Teaching is a selfless career choice.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Don't fret over things you have no power to change because everything always works out in the end, exactly as it was intended.

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

I LOVE Malden. But most folks know that already.