Candidate Profile: Sara Dion, Ward 7 School Committee

SOMERVILLE, MA — Sara Dion is running for school committee in Ward 7 in the Nov. 2 municipal election. She faces a challenger in Greg Nadeau. There will also be citywide elections for mayor and councilor at-large, as well as elections for city council and school committee in certain wards.

Somerville Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles this week.

Dion has been an English learners' teacher at the McGlynn Elementary School in Medford for nine years. She lives in Somerville with her partner Will and stepdaughter Charlotte.

Are you running for office in Somerville? Contact Alex Newman at alex.newman@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Somerville Patch.

Age (as of Election Day)

33

Position Sought

Somerville School Committee, Ward 7

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Partner named Will, age 37
Stepdaughter named Charlotte, age 12

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.A. in Elementary and Special Education from Providence College, 2010
M.S. in Educational Studies from Wheelock College, 2011

Occupation

English Learners Teacher at McGlynn Elementary School in Medford, 9 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

www.saraforsomerville.org

Why are you seeking elective office?

I'm seeking this office because I will bring an educator's perspective to the School Committee. There are currently no teachers on the School Committee, and as a teacher I have the first-hand expertise of being in the classroom every day and understanding what children need.

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

The single most pressing issue is that our dedicated and hardworking paraprofessionals/teachers' aides are not being paid a living wage. Their starting salary is currently only $25,000 per year, which is not nearly a livable wage in this area. When the next contract negotiations happen in August, I will be a voice for the paraprofessionals. I will attend negotiation sessions and stand alongside them in any direct actions they may take in their fight for a living wage. I would also like to hold regular listening sessions with the Somerville Educators' Union, to speak with them as a fellow educator and understand how I can best support them in their work with their students.

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

The main difference is that I'm a teacher and he is not. He's a parent, but the parent perspective is already very well-represented on the School Committee, whereas the teacher perspective is not. I also feel that I'm more focused on issues of systemic racism, sexism, and other inequalities that must be addressed in all facets of our society, and especially in our schools.

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

I think they've done well. I feel that Mayor Curtatone has always erred on the side of caution, which has made me feel very safe as a resident. The city has also been very proactive in terms of informing residents of COVID testing and vaccination sites in the area. I'm especially impressed by the COVID Ambassador program, which aims to provide community members with the facts and encourage them to get vaccinated.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I would like to advocate for adequate staffing of counselors and social workers in our schools to support the social-emotional needs of our students. I also believe that things need to be looked at from a lens of anti-racism and diversity, equity, and inclusion. And, although the School Committee doesn't have the power to get rid of the MCAS testing system, as this is a state-level issue, I would try to push back against it in small ways, such as informing families of their opt-out rights.

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

I've been working as a teacher in the area for a decade now; I understand how schools operate, and I understand the needs of students, educators, and families because I live them every day. I work with many children from marginalized communities, and I work to understand their needs and how to best address those needs. I see firsthand the impact that School Committee decisions can have on students, educators, and families, and I will bring that perspective to the table as a School Committee member. One of my proudest accomplishments as a teacher is being Co-Advisor to the Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility (CCSR), an after-school community service club where students work together on self-directed community service projects. Students in the club have completed projects such as making pet toys to donate to animal shelters, making cards for veterans, and recycling crayons and markers.

My experience as a union organizer has instilled in me the belief that what's good for educators is good for students, because educators' working conditions are students' learning conditions. Through my involvement with the union, I have learned how to talk to people about the issues that matter, as well as the power of collective bargaining. As a School Committee member, I would honor the collective bargaining process and take part in it.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Not advice per se, but an observation about me. When I was working as a Summer Member Organizer with the Massachusetts Teachers' Association, my supervisor noted that I "approach everything from a place of compassion." I was flattered and honored by her assessment, and since then I have always tried to live by this simple principle. Everything I do ultimately comes from a place of compassion, and we need compassion in local government.

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

Nothing else I can think of; I think I've been pretty thorough here! Thank you for this opportunity!