Andrea Campbell, Bedford School Board Candidate

Andrea Campbell

Age (as of Election Day)

46

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

School Board

Party Affiliation

School board is non-partisan. I strongly believe party affiliation should not be part of this position.

Family

2 children who attend Bedford schools; ages 13 and 9.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

M. Ed. Elementary Education; B.S. Environmental Studies

Occupation

Elementary Teacher - 16 years at Memorial Elementary School in Bedford. Current position - Student Teacher supervisor and Liaison for SNHU Graduate Clinical M. Ed. program

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

voteandreacampbell.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

If you ask anyone in town why they moved to Bedford, more often than not, the answer will be about the schools. The schools are the heartbeat of our town. Our schools attract and keep people and businesses in town. That is why maintaining a high-quality education should be a priority for our school board. This happens by retaining and attracting highly qualified educators and administrators. They are the backbone of our schools. This also happens when a school board is thoughtful, experienced, and willing to listen to the community. With my background and history of dedication to Bedford students, I will bring a new perspective to the school board.

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

One of the most pressing issues our district faces is hiring and retaining highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals. There is a nationwide teacher and para shortage, and Bedford is no different. We need to pass the teacher contract to be more competitive with neighboring districts.

Additionally, I believe that one of the more pressing issues facing our schools is the growing sense of divisiveness. Our schools and school board should not be political. The people serving on our board need to be willing to make decisions based on what is best for students, our schools, the teachers, and the families, not based on party line ideals.

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

The critical difference is experience. I am an educator with decades of experience in the field of teaching and education. I understand how public education works and why it is important to strengthen it in Bedford. I understand what teachers, students, and families need and struggle with in our schools. I can approach this position with the experience to help make measured decisions, the empathy to listen to all invested parties, and the enthusiasm needed to help our schools move forward.

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

I think it's important for our district to move forward and to have board members who support our teachers and librarians.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Collaboration and communication with the community needs to be a focus for our school board and administration we look to move forward. The school board is there to help make sure the district runs well, while the job of the superintendent is to run the schools. Having a board that is willing to come to the table willing to collaborate is important to help our district continue to move forward.

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

I am an educator and a champion of public education. I have dedicated my whole career to serving public education, 16 years in Bedford. I have a Masters of Education and dual certification in Elementary Education and General Special Education. I currently work in Higher Education at SNHU working with a graduate degree program for students who are studying to become licensed teachers. All of this experience and education in the field makes me the most qualified candidate. I know how to collaborate and work with parents, families, teachers, and administration. I know how to communicate and listen to students. We need someone on the board who is willing to listen to all invested parties to help our district move forward.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

While this was not advice shared directly with me, it was one that resonated and I shared with the hundreds of students that I taught in Bedford, and continue to share with my aspiring student teachers, from B.B. King: "The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you."

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

Our school board needs to have members on it that will support our schools in thoughtful, educated, and measured ways. Our school board needs to be willing to listen to our community, teachers, and students. I have the experience of doing just this. As a teacher, a big part of my job was collaborating with parents, other teachers and administration to help our children find success. I will approach this position with experience, empathy, and enthusiasm.