Public Education, Democracy and the American Story

A strong, tax supported public school system is one of the foundations of our constitutional democracy. This is the “open door” to learning that gives every one access to the American Dream – no matter what one’s circumstances or social standing. We have shown the world again and again that any American, even from the humblest background, can achieve wild success – as accomplished doctors, innovative business people, visionary politicians, etc.

As a vital part of the American story, it remains a constant government priority in our local governments, state and federal levels. The Town of Dedham enjoys the unique reputation of being the “Town of Learning” - having created the first free, tax-supported public school in the United States. Horace Mann, considered to be the “Father of Modern Education” lived in Dedham and served on our School Committee. Support for public schools is our blood here in Dedham.

The Reynolds Family Mission: Education for ALL

It is the Reynolds family blood too. My late uncle Monsignor Tony Reynolds, a priest in London, was a relentlessly avid family historian, and shared with me that one of our relatives is Sir Hugh Owen (1804-1881.) Hugh was an educational pioneer who dedicated his life to making public secondary and higher education available to all in Wales. He published the revolutionary “Letter to the Welsh People” on the need for public education in Wales. Hugh then went on to found the country’s first public university (The University of Wales at Aberystwith) as well as a college for teacher training (Bangor Normal College.) Knighted shortly before his death for his efforts, Hugh dedicated his life to democratizing education so that ALL people with an appetite to learn could navigate their true potential - not just the elite and wealthy. My mission is to support and extend Hugh’s vision – working to invite every KIND of learner to succeed - no matter what kind of learning differences a child has through creative tools that offer a more learner-centric, personalized curriculum.

As an adjunct professor in media communications at Boston College, I have been directly involved in creating great learning experiences for almost twenty years. During this time, I’ve also been using media, storytelling and technology to teach children and adults in K12, museums and corporations at the several award-winning firms I’ve founded and directed (Cosmic Blender and FableVision.) Providing access to education for ALL – and serving the most challenged learners - have been a key parts of my life mission – and I look forward to bringing that passion for learning to Dedham – The Town of Learning.

Town Leadership: A Partnership for Protecting and Enhancing the Best Learning

While access to public education is a basic right in our country, we also live in an area of the country where parents have many options for learning. I support every parent’s right to seek the appropriate answer for each unique child, but the Town leadership has a critical obligation to keep our public education strong.

So, what is the role of the Selectman in this vital area? Our main role is to work in partnership with colleagues on the School Committee to manage the quality, image and the finances of our school system. Pick up a paper any day of the week and one can read a story about a school system in trouble. The towns that are making it through this period of lean financial times, are the ones where the town leadership is working together, and in turn, working in strong connection with their communities. I believe in working WITH the School Committee to keep this vital part of our town strong.

What do I specifically support?

1) I support the building of a new Avery School. Keeping our community goal of neighborhood schools, and retaining a school for the East Dedham neighborhood is crucial for our town. Working with the School Committee, the Superintendent, the School Building Rehabilitation Committee, and state officials to garner approximately 53% reimbursement for this state-sanctioned replacement building will be a critical action item for our Selectmen in the near future. We are already reaping the multiple community benefits of our beautiful new Dedham Middle School, which is one of the outcomes of the long-term School Infrastructure Planning Committee. This group took a strategic long view of the school building needs and intelligently laid out a plan we can afford as long as we coordinate carefully with other critical infrastructure needs over the next several decades.

2) I applaud our striving for continual improvement – and urge new, more generous ways to assess student success. Particularly at the very visible high school level, I note our low drop out rate (1.8%, or less than 2 children per year as opposed to an increasing state average of almost 4%), our significantly improving 10th grade MCAS scores which show Dedham’s results to be ahead of many of our competitive neighboring towns, and our 85% of graduates who go on to pursue higher education. I see the evidence that the School Committee and Administration are working together closely to continue to raise our standards and performance at all levels of our system.

But I also support even more creative ways to reach ALL learners, especially those with learning differences – and be more generous about what constitutes “success” in learning. Memorizing and spitting back information on testing aren’t the skills need to adapt in the rapidly changing workforce of the 21st century, which instead require critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, collaboration, contextual learning and mastering information technology. Leveraging the resources best practices identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills should be a key component to enhance what and how we educate our young people.

3) I pledge to work openly, honestly, and in a spirit of true teamwork, with the School Department to manage our Town’s resources in a way that maximizes my goal of “intelligent prioritization” of our numerous projects that require financial commitments. Clearly, when we face tough economic times, the school department – with the largest group of town employees – has a The Board of Selectmen’s role is vital to be open, candid and supportive as we negotiate solutions. Even the toughest challenges are best solved in this way.

Dedham’s historic legacy of support for public education is a critical touchstone as we move forward in these difficult financial times. My hope is that, together, we show the rest of the nation how the town that first embraced the value of publicly-supported learning can continue to support public education and all of our children – no matter what general economic woes we face.

There are certain values worth every creative and collaborative effort – and this is one of them. Our children are depending on us to make the right choices today – to make their future more secure decades from now. That’s the kind of long-term strategic planning that our kids will be thanking us for well into the future.