LETTER: SupportIng Lisa Kouchakdjian For Sudbury School Committee

SUDBURY, MA—The following was submitted by Jean Nam, chair, PlaySudbury. Want to get in on the conversation? Send your letters to charlene.arsenault@patch.com.

Over this past year, as I’ve gotten involved with PlaySudbury and our playground modernization project, I’ve worked a lot with the school and town elected and appointed officials. This work has given me new insight into the Sudbury School Committee and the role that the Committee plays in the wider community.

Lisa Kouchakdjian was one of the first welcoming people I met as I was trying to navigate town government to get traction for our playground project. Her outgoing nature makes her very approachable, and she is that person who always reaches out to help first. As I’ve gotten to know her this past year, I am constantly reminded that she loves Sudbury - our town, our schools and our students. She truly sees each and every student as unique and full of hope and potential. She has proven this in her work on the School Committee for the past 3 years.

Lisa is an incumbent up for re-election. Her record speaks for itself. She is a staunch advocate for all students in our district and for our tireless teachers. Lisa has advocated to challenge all of our learners to build that early love of learning. She has stood up to provide teachers with the tools to make them successful. She was there with unwavering support when we, as a town, realized that our playgrounds were leaving kids behind and needed to be updated. She has worked cross-functionally in the community by bringing the voice of the schools to Capital Funding meetings and the Fairbanks Task Force.

We are in tough times with the town budget and priorities. And our schools are at a point of change with a new Superintendent coming on board. Lisa’s consistent drive to maintain excellence in our schools will be a stabilizing factor as our district moves forward. Our School Committee needs to have a strong, consistent, and focused voice. I wholeheartedly throw my support behind Lisa to be a part of that very important voice.

Please check out her website for more of her story and join me on March 26 to vote for Lisa for Sudbury School Committee.