Malden Candidate Profile: Dawn Macklin For Ward 4 School Committee

MALDEN, MA — With the Malden Municipal Election scheduled for Nov. 7, Patch is profiling the candidates.

Here, we learn more about Dawn Macklin, who is running unopposed to represent Ward 4 on the Malden School Committee.

Macklin, who is a senior property manager, is an incumbent who was first elected to the School Committee in 2021. That year, she ran unopposed to replace the retired Lenny Iovino.

Candidates were sent questionnaires and filled out the answers.

Name

Dawn Macklin

How old will you be as of Election Day?

58

Does your campaign have a website?

https://macklinforward4.wixsit...

What city or town do you live in?

Malden

What office are you seeking?

Malden School Committee, Ward 4

Education

Attended Lincoln University, PA, the first degree-granting HBCU, and currently enrolled in Human Service coursework at Bunker Hill.

What is your occupation?

Senior Property Manager

Family

Spouse Wallace, a school bus driver for 35+ years, adult daughter Marissa and three grandsons: Jeremiah 13, Gabriel, 4 and Noah, 20 months

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Cousin is Rep. Kim Schofield, Georgia House of Representatives, District 63

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Previously elected to Malden School Committee, 2021

Why are you seeking this office?

Malden Public Schools are the most diverse in Massachusetts and rank as the eighth most diverse public school system in the United States. Representation doesn't just matter, it's essential in today's climate to ensure equal access as well as the academic success and emotional support of all our learners.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___ and this is what I intend to do about it.

Open communication and transparency. I believe we have made improvements in these areas over the last two years but we still have work to do. I have worked with caretakers across the wards, most of whom have come to know me from the holiday drive I co-created, Merry Malden. I will continue to make myself available and work with our superintendent and the Central Office on any concerns to find satisfactory resolutions.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Currently, many of my colleagues on the School Committee, including myself, are supporting the THRIVE Act, which is seeking to exclude the MCAS standardized testing as a measure of requirement for graduation. Not all learners test well for various reasons. We should be using all tools in the toolbox to promote our learners and not just the MCAS hammer.

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

I have lived in Malden for almost ten years and have been very committed to this community. This will be my second term on the School Committee. Additionally, I was appointed by the Malden City Council in 2020 to the Malden Human Rights and Fair Housing Commission, where I am currently serving as vice chair. I have a 13-year-old grandson with Autism Spectrum Disorder who attended the Malden Public School System kinder-5th grade. There were some unpleasant encounters and experiences with MPS during some of my grandson's time in the city. I was very vocal back then about these incidents and will continue to speak up and encourage caretakers to advocate for their learners.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Seek out what you are most passionate about, especially career-wise and see it to fruition. If you love what you do, you will not be burdened by the work.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I enjoy traveling and spending time with family. Fun Family Fact: everyone in my family of origin, their children and their children's children have middle names that begin with the letter M.

Please vote on November 7th.