Meet the Candidate: Andrew Mackie

Name: Andrew Mackie

Age: 49

How many years have you lived in Norton? 

15 years.

How many children do you have in the Norton public schools?

I have two daughters and they are both at the high school, a freshman and a senior. Both have attended the Norton schools since kindergarten.

What is your current involvement with the school district (PTO membership, volunteering, etc.)? 

I’ve served 3 terms on the school committee, for which I am currently the chairman, and am also a member of the building committee for the high school renovation project. My wife has been heavily involved with the PTOs as our children have progressed through the schools and she’s often “recruited” me to help with various efforts in those groups. I also served on the Mass Leadership Network of “Stand for Children” 2009-2010 and have visited the state house a number of times to advocate for public education. I've also been a volunteer judge for the regional Destination Imagination tournament for the past 8 years. I judge the "Rising Stars" age group, which is 1st and 2nd grade. They're so fun to watch!

What is your day Job?

I’m a physician assistant in critical care at UMassMemorial Medical Center in Worcester, but have just accepted a position to be a professor at a new PA program at Johnson & Wales University in Providence.

Why are you running for school committee? 

I’m running because over the 9 years I’ve been on the committee thus far we’ve made tremendous progress, yet I feel like there’s still more to do and that I have more to contribute. We’ve come a long way and there’s a real sense of excitement in the Norton Schools. Our high school is in the top 5% nationally, our middle school was recently named as one of only 13 “spotlight” schools in the commonwealth, and our sports teams keep winning league championships! Also, we’ve just hired a new superintendent who I think is going to bring a lot of energy and new ideas. Being involved with the schools has been such a great experience and I think I’ve really been able to make a difference in my community, which is a great feeling. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to spend another 3 years working with so many great people!

What makes you a better choice than your opponents? 

I’d emphasize three things. The first is experience. As a school committee member for 9 years I’ve become well versed in how the world of public education works (and at times doesn’t) and at this point have a very good sense of what’s going well and what needs improvement in our schools. The second is success. At the end of each of my terms our school system has been better off than at the beginning. While clearly no individual could be responsible for all the improvements we’ve seen, I’ve certainly played at least some part in the progress we’ve made. Last, during my tenure on the committee we’ve been good stewards of the public’s tax money. Despite having difficult budgets we’ve managed to continually improve the quality of the schools and have not required an operational override.

What is the state of the school district? Are there problems that need fixing? If so, what would you do to fix them? 

The district is in great shape. Each year we have students going on to Ivy League schools, but more importantly the quality of education has risen for the student body as a whole. Our MCAS scores continue to rise, participation in advanced placement course have grown (from 85 kids in 2008 to 205 in 2012), and last year 95% of Norton High graduates went on to post-secondary education, the highest rate ever.

Many of the problems, such as the physical condition of each school, have been or are being addressed. What we really face now is how to maintain our progress and continue to find ways to improve, and to adapt to changes in the future. One obvious area is how to best use technology in education. We need to keep in mind that just because something is shiny and new doesn’t mean its better. As we further integrate technology we need to make sure that it’s actually improving learning.

As a member of the school committee, you are one vote out of a group. How well do you work with others? What is your experience with productively working in a group? 

In the 9 years I’ve been on the committee there have certainly been times when we’ve disagreed, but what has been key is that we’ve always done so in a respectful way. I’ve also learned that sometimes I’m wrong (gasp!) and that its important to listen carefully to the thoughts of your fellow committee members, parents, faculty, and others. In the end its important to realize even if someone may disagree with you what’s most important is that we do what’s best for the kids.

What do you like to do in your free time? 

As crazy as it may sound, I’m a birdwatcher. It’s very relaxing, brings you to different places, and there are so many different species to learn about it could keep you busy for a lifetime!

Is there anything else we should know about you? 

I love the town of Norton. Since we moved here to raise our children 15 years ago we’ve come to meet so many wonderful people. It’s always so great to see people come together to make there community better or just help a neighbor in need.