Melrose Candidate Profile: Melissa Holleran For School Committee

MELROSE, MA — The municipal election is fast approaching in Melrose, and the School Committee is one of the most contested races.

Melrose Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles leading up to November.

Melissa Holleran is running for School Committee in Melrose.

Age

41

Position sought

School Committee

Party affiliation

Democrat

Family

Husband, Ted, and two children, Ada & Connor age 8 (twins)

Education

BA in Psychology from Stonehill College, MSW from Simmons College (I hold an LCSW)Occupation: Currently working part-time in operations at EF High School Exchange Year

Previous or Current Elected Office

None

Campaign Website

https://www.facebook.com/melissaformelrose

Why are you seeking elected office?

I am seeking one of the three open positions on the School Committee because our schools need support and I want to be a part of the solution. Parents in the community are concerned about our schools. We're on our fourth superintendent in four years and we're facing an extremely important override vote. I believe I can be a force for good and can contribute meaningfully to supporting our students and educators.

The single most-pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is

the budget. Over the past two years we have had to eliminate almost 50 positions within the schools. Our class sizes are increasing and teacher retention is not where it needs to be. These are serious issues that are affecting our students. As a member of the school committee, I will work with the Superintendent and my fellow Committee members to create a budget that supports our students' needs and provides educators with the resources they require to create a positive learning environment.

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

I've had the pleasure of meeting some of our other School Committee candidates and they share a similar passion for supporting our schools. In speaking about me, I am in favor of the override. I believe every child deserves to be seen, supported and inspired to learn. I believe our educators should feel valued. I'm here to listen - to the students, teachers, administrators and parents - and to build relationships. My background in Social Work, student services and volunteerism will make me a strong candidate for the role of a School Committee member and will allow me to make decisions that reflect our shared values so everyone feels confident in our public education system.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I am not running my campaign on one particular platform. It's important to understand that the needs of our schools will change over the next four years, and if elected, my goal is to support our students and educators with the needs facing us at that time. I'm eager to learn, grow and adapt as necessary. Our imminent needs will be to address the budget in a way that highlights student education and values educators. If we have a budget that allows, we can discuss reducing class sizes and bringing back resources that support learning. We can also discuss rehiring for positions that allow students to come back to MPS from out of district placements. Additionally, there will be conversations about the Superintendent position. There have been four Superintendents in four years and parents would like to have a strong leader who is committed to providing stability within the role. Strong leadership at the top will also help to provide stability with teacher retention along in addition to an appropriate budget.

The best advice ever shared with me was

It's okay to ask for help. It's so simple, but it's not something we ask for often. Melrose is asking us for help now. We need help with increased funding. We need help supporting our educators. We need help providing services and staff that support student learning. It's up to all of us in the community to help in whatever way we can and I feel that I can help as a member of the School Committee.

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

My family and I have lived in Melrose for almost 10 years and love this community. It's been a pleasure volunteering through the PTO in classrooms and school events. I'm excited about the opportunity to give back to Melrose as a member of the School Committee, should I be elected. My background in Social Work and student services/counseling helps guide my people-centered approach to work and solutions. I see this critical time in Melrose as an opportunity to strengthen our school system to reflect the compassion, pride and values of Melrose. I hope to earn your vote on November 4th.

See Also:

Melrose Candidate Profile: Camarie Clark For School Committee

Melrose Resident Making First Run At School Committee