VOTE 4 PAT WRY
GET TO KNOW
WHAT IS
IMPORTANT
TO ME
WHAT SKILLS DO I POSSESS THAT WOULD MAKE ME AN EFFECTIVE MEMBER
OF THE SHSD SCHOOL BOARD?
As an English Language Arts, Public Speaking, Drama, Social Studies, and Creative Arts teacher, I have served children and schools for over 40 years. I’ve taught in urban and suburban districts in every grade, save kindergarten. The classroom is my home and education is my passion, not simply my vocation.
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My experience as a teacher makes me committed to high expectations for achievement for all children and has imbued me with solid beliefs about students’ ability to learn and the ability of Somerset Hills School District (SHSD) to serve all children at high levels. My myriad experiences as an educator also enable me to understand that I must be accountability-driven, need to establish a collaborative relationship with the community, and be ready to serve as a united partner with the Superintendent, all of which I already do on a daily basis in the course of my professional responsibilities.
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Teachers and administrators cannot do it alone and student learning is not the sole responsibility of educators. The success of the SHSD district depends on support from parents and community members and for the past three years, I have done my part to secure it.
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS?
The Board sets the vision for student learning and articulates the beliefs about students and learning that serve as the foundation for the district goals and direction for school improvement. To that end, I participated in crafting last year’s 3-5 Strategic Plan for the SHSD. The plan created reflected the vision, beliefs, and goals, of the community and will positively impact student learning for years to come.
Further, establishing a structure to support student achievement is the Board's core function. In the past three years, we have worked toward this by making policy-level decisions that positively affect our district schools’ culture of learning. For example, a new district-wide math curriculum has helped students to bridge learning gaps and has addressed COVID learning loss. This curriculum was implemented as part of a merit goal for the superintendent, the Board’s only employee. Additionally, because we allocate resources and establish budget priorities designed to maximize student achievement, we supported funding for summer classes to enable students who were behind their peers, to catch up to them.
WHAT MEASURES, IF ANY, DO YOU FEEL ARE NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR SCHOOLS?
The SHSD has done much to ensure the mechanics for physical safety from outside threats (ID and visitor management systems, police presence, upgraded facilities, CCTV, and lock-down procedures). It has also strengthened its commitment to providing a safe, supportive, respectful, and caring environment, where students are secure from both physical harm and emotional toxicities (bullying, sarcasm, and prejudice).
True school safety must embrace: A welcoming environment with programs that support social–emotional learning Positive behavioral intervention and bullying prevention programs Early intervention for at-risk students Access to mental health services
The district needs to help students develop social-emotional competencies as well as a moral compass. As a board member, I have advocated for and fully support the attainment of all these competencies.
