Dear Editor:
As an educator for 13 years and a parent of two children who attend the Wallace School, I am urging you to support Maureen Sullivan, Ruth McAllister and Theresa Minutillo, the Kids First slate in the school board election on Tuesday, April 21. This team of candidates impressed me so much that I, a former public school teacher, signed on to be their campaign manager. These three strong women will not only be accountable to all of the children and taxpayers in the district, they also understand that to deliver great schools for our children, they need to support the teachers and not let political interests get in the way.
Maureen is a passionate advocate for education, and she has seen first-hand the wonderful work of Hoboken teachers at Wallace and Connors, which her two children have attended. She has partnered with teachers as an active volunteer at Wallace, president of the Connors PTO and a member of the School Leadership Committees at both.
Ruth McAllister grew up in a family of teachers and now volunteers in her son Jesse’s classroom at Wallace, while serving on the board of the Kaplan Preschool. She knows that teaching is a tough job but also a special calling and that teachers deserve the support of a board of education and superintendent that understand their desire to reach every child in every school despite facing great obstacles every day.
Theresa Minutillo, who was elected to the board in 2006, works to put resources where they belong – in the classroom, benefiting the kids. She founded Senior Prep Day as a volunteer at Hoboken High in 2004. The district later made this employment-readiness program an official part of the school year.
I strongly believe the focus of the district should be on boosting academic excellence and providing a range of educational opportunities so all students can reach their full potential. I am proud to support a slate of candidates who will never forget that there are real teachers and students, in real classrooms, who cannot fully do their work without a hardworking, independent, and responsive school board. Maureen, Ruthy and Theresa will put kids – not special interests and not their political careers – first.
Liz Mulholland