Candidate Profile: Kayla Biagioni-Smith For School Committee

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury will have five contested races in the April 2 municipal election, including a three-candidate race for two open seats on the School Committee.

That seats are currently held by Shannon Demos and John Stadtman, who are not running for re-election.

Tewksbury Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Kayla Biagioni-Smith is one of the three candidates running for School Committee, facing Richard Russo Jr. and Christine Chesbrough.

Biagioni-Smith is a senior risk consultant for the life insurance company John Hancock.

Are you running for office in Tewksbury? Contact Christopher Huffaker at chris.huffaker@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Tewksbury Patch.

Previously on Patch: 17 Candidates Filed For Tewksbury's 2022 Town Election: See Who's Running

Kayla Biagioni-Smith

Age (as of Election Day)

39

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

Tewksbury School Committee

Family

Husband, Peter - Tewksbury Fire Fighter
Daughters, Emma (11) and Nora (9)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Graduated from Medford High School in 2001. Currently attending University of Southern New Hampshire for a degree in Business Administration. Scheduled graduation is June 2022.
I hold licenses and certifications as a Certified Project Professional, Certified Project Officer, Certified Project Master, and Certified Project Director.

Occupation

I’ve worked for John Hancock, a Top 10 life insurance company, for 16 years in various positions including customer service, legal consultations, and operations management.

Currently, I am a Senior Risk Consultant, where I focus on ensuring the business has proper operational mitigating controls in place to prevent financial loss, fraudulent activity, or significant impact to customer and corporate stakeholders. To add context, John Hancock currently has $184.6 billion assets under management.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

• Currently appointed to the North Street and Trahan Reuse Committee as the resident at large
• Heath Brook & Trahan Parent Advisory Council, Co-chair 2017-current
• Ryan Elementary School Parent Advisory Council, Co-chair 2021-current

Campaign website

www.Kayla4Tewksbury.org

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for School Committee because I believe that I bring to the table a new perspective that represents a broad range of opinions from a diverse group of stakeholders throughout our community. I am the right person for right now. As your representative, I promise to ask questions and deliver answers to help our community understand who the school committee members are and what our job entails.

As a military spouse, I have grown to thrive under challenging and unpredictable situations. I have a passion to do what’s best for our community and I’m committed to ensuring the very best for our students and staff.

With over 16 years professional experience in the insurance industry in positions that span customer service, legal aid, management, and most recently risk analysis, I bring a unique skill set to the committee. I am adept at analyzing processes, risks, and the control environment and using critical-thinking skills to achieve the most rewarding and equitable outcome - something I pledge to do with each challenge I face on the School Committee.

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

Though I think there are a few, I believe a seamless and exciting transition to the new Center School is going to be a critical milestone for our district in the 2022-2023 school year for various stakeholders.

As students and staff transition to the new school, both will need support in various ways. As a School Committee member, I will be there to assess these needs and make certain this experience is as exciting and rewarding as it can be for all.

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

I represent an understated part of our school community with students in the lower & upper elementary schools (Trahan and Ryan). I will have a student transitioning into the new Center School during the 2022-2023 school year and think that I can share key knowledge from those families during this pivotal time. As the only candidate with young children, I believe I can help to bring a new perspective to the committee.

Additionally, as a military family, we represent a unique demographic of diverse individuals which may be one of our strongest assets. We know how to advocate for our needs, work together and leverage support, and accomplish our goals in challenging times and through difficult transitions. Personally, I have grown to thrive under challenging and unpredictable situations and use that in my favor when taking on new responsibilities, as I would with the School Committee role when elected.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

I do not think that the current board has failed the community. By stepping up and running for an elected position, members of our School Committee, as well as other boards and committees for that matter, are saying they care and want to help. To me, that sets them apart. Though their decisions may not always be the most popular, the role is challenging and demanding. I respect anyone who sits in those chairs in an effort to do great things for our community, speak up, and make a difference.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Hiring a new district Superintendent will be a critical task the current board members, as well as the two new members in April, will face. The hiring of a Superintendent is one of the key responsibilities of School Committee members. This task is one I take very seriously, and I pledge to ensure our district seeks out and considers the highest-quality candidates. Tewksbury Schools deserve the absolute best, and I pledge to provide a transparent approach to the selection process.

Working together with our unions to ensure our students are receiving the very best, from the very best is a priority. Working together is key. It is my hope to build stronger relationships that allow the School Committee and unions to collaborate, to bridge gaps, and unite our community, because as we’ve seen in the past, we are always ‘tougher together’.

Increased transparency and communication is another one of my top priorities. A goal of mine will be to help our community understand the roles and responsibilities of an elected school committee member. With that, bring clear and transparent communication that bridges gaps between families, teachers, administration, and the community as whole.

Certainly not last, but also important is learning, enrichment and unity. I will encourage a unified and collaborative approach for our district to review and implement policies to improve learning and enrichment deliverables. This is especially important as we transition out of this pandemic and assess the needs of our students and staff. Having suitable support in our schools to address the social and emotional needs of all will be crucial as we shift to the new normal.

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

Being a Parent Advisory Council co-chair has provided me with a unique opportunity to not only be in the schools more, but to learn how they operate and see how decisions are made. We are able to work closely with the building principals, teachers, and staff, but also with the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent. I have assisted and aided the schools in numerous social and community events, including extremely successful fundraisers to bring rewarding enrichment programs to the students. In a typical year, we fundraise over $45,000 to give back to our students and our community. I have worked to build relationships with fellow parent leaders throughout our district to ensure all students have the best and most memorable experiences, regardless of which building they’re walking into each day. I am known for being open, approachable, and willing to take on any task to ensure we provide the best education and experience to our students.

Professionally, while employed with John Hancock, I have received numerous awards and been recognized for my leadership skills and nominated as a “Star of Excellence” for being an individual who acts as a role model, works collaboratively, questions and innovates, and owns the future through accountability for customer-centricity and leadership. I have been selected to work on a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion board to assist in the hiring of additional BIPOC, women, and veterans in the next few years to align with company inclusivity initiatives.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

One of the most important pieces of advice shared with me is to never stop learning. Whether learning about yourself and your own internal growth or a topic that is meaningful and impactful and challenges your mind - don't stop learning. Another is to remember to take care of and make time for yourself. When I make time for me, by going for a walk, working out, joining a friend for a cup of tea, or listening to a podcast I am able to make better decisions and focus on whatever task is in front of me.

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

I come from a military and first-responder family with siblings, in-laws, and a spouse who currently serve our country and community. I was taught from a young age the importance of family, community, and giving back and that is how I chose to live my life.

I would like voters to know that I promise to have the very best intentions for our students, staff, and community, to be fair, honest and approachable and always work transparently.

I promise to help educate you as I learn, because I believe it's in our best interest to build our community bench strength and understand the effort that goes into the decisions be made.

I promise to work to build relationships among our administration, elected officials, and staff across all our schools and if elected I will work hard to make a difference in our community.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.