Woburn Candidate Profile: Ellen Crowley For School Committee

WOBURN, MA — With the Woburn Municipal Election scheduled for Nov. 7, Patch is profiling the candidates.

Here, we learn more about Ellen Crowley, who is running for School Committee. Crowley, an incumbent, is among seven candidates running for five open seats on the seven-person committee.

Also running are fellow incumbents Andrew Lipsett and Patricia Chisolm, and challengers James Austin, Marie Dellagrotte, Meaghan Morris and Jessie Wetzel.

The five winners will serve two-year terms. Meanwhile, Michael Mulrenan and Colleen Cormier were elected to four-year terms in 2021.

Crowley is an attorney who has been on the School Committee for 10 years.

Candidates were sent questionnaires and filled out the answers.

Name

Ellen Crowley

How old will you be as of Election Day?

46

What city or town do you live in?

Woburn

What office are you seeking?

School Committee

Education

Woburn High 1995, Merrimack College 1999 Simmons College 2001 ,New England Law 2007

Occupation

Attorney

Family

Joe Koltun, husband is a civil rights attorney; I have children and pets.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My mother is a lunch monitor at the Shamrock and a former teacher at the Shamrock for 30 years.
My father is a former teacher at the Kennedy Junior High.

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Yes. I've been on the School Committee for 10 years.

Why are you seeking this office?

• To ensure the School Committee makes child-centered decisions on policy.
• To ensure the Woburn Public Schools' strategic plan on literacy can thrive in terms of resources and staffing.
• To ensure the schools receive adequate funding to support all our learners.
• To bring attention to the mental health and social-emotional issues of our students to the community as a whole to leverage more social services in the city.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

1. The release of the results of the feasibility study. I intend to advocate for an infrastructure upon which we can generate a capital plan.
2. The growing mental health and behavioral challenges amongst our learners.I intend to continue to advocate for in-district and external resources.

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

I have 10 years experience on the committee.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Promoting the WPS literacy plan, creating an atmosphere of compassion, fairness and kindness as a model for our learners.

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

Bringing more mental health services to the city. Serving as the leader of the committee through the pandemic. Being a strong and consistent voice for municipal funding, obtaining more programmatic arts and music in the district.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

"When someone invites you to dinner, do not take the place of honor." Luke 14:7

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I truly care about this city and all the children within it. Helping kids is not just my day job, it is my true calling in life. I am privileged and grateful every day to live this life and serve my beloved hometown.