Amirault Seeking School Committee Seat

Dear Fellow Medford Citizens,

My name is John Amirault, and I am a first-time candidate for the Medford School Committee; I respectfully ask for one of your six votes for School Committee on November 3rd, 2015. I am a public school teacher and coach at Arlington High School and a lifelong resident of Medford. I am running for election to the School Committee to bring a fresh perspective to the Medford public schools that will create opportunities for our students to excel, build a vibrant future for our community, and restore our schools to the high quality they deserve.

I know that I have both the personal and professional credentials needed to make a real impact on the Medford School Committee. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Boston College, and I have a Master’s degree in Education from Boston University. I am currently a teacher and coach at Arlington High School, and if elected, would be the only teacher on the School Committee; an educator’s perspective is something I view as necessary for any well-functioning School Committee. Additionally, while in college, I served as a substitute teacher in the Medford public schools for three years, having had the opportunity to work in every school in Medford and at every grade level. Finally, for the past six summers, I have worked for the Medford Recreation Department as a park instructor.

I believe that the Medford public school system can be improved, and I believe that I have the aptitude and willingness to help improve it. In 2013, the Boston Globe ranked the Medford school system 124th out of 147 school systems in the greater Boston area, well behind comparable communities like Stoneham, Melrose, Arlington, Woburn, and Winchester. I believe that we can work together to remedy this situation.

As a member of the Medford School Committee, I would take the following actions to improve our community’s schools:

-Hold regular “office hours” at various locations throughout the city during which parents, teachers, students, and citizens can speak with me directly; I will also be available to speak with you via phone call, text message, email, and Facebook

-Work to reallocate the money in the $50 million dollar school budget to provide our students and teachers with new textbooks, more athletic opportunities, improved extracurricular activities, better professional development, and the latest technology and training

-Work collaboratively with the members of the School Committee and City Council, the Mayor, teachers, administrators, Medford residents, and other local organizations to ensure that Medford students receive the best education possible

-Look into implementing a free or reduced-cost public preschool program like surrounding cities have

-Work to add options such as plumbing and telecommunications at the Vocational High School in order to keep up with competitor schools like Minuteman

-Utilize my associations at local colleges such as Tufts, Boston College, and Boston University in order to take advantage of the valuable resources that these schools can offer to the students, teachers, and citizens of Medford

While these may seem to be rather lofty goals, I am confident that I have the background, foresight, and energy to see them through. I will work tirelessly on behalf of the children of Medford in order to ensure that each student receives a fair, equitable, and excellent education. If elected, I will always treat my position on the School Committee as a privilege rather than as a right. School Committee members are representatives of the people of Medford, and as such, my number one priority is to listen to what you- the parents, students, teachers, and citizens- of our great community have to say about improving the schools of Medford.

During the course of my campaign, I will be crisscrossing the city going door-to-door to speak with as many people as possible. I look forward to meeting you, discussing my campaign with you, and listening to the invaluable insights and opinions that you have.

I encourage you to visit my website at www.johnformedford.com and to get in touch with me via email at jjamirault16@gmail.com or by phone at 781-258-1614. You can also visit my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/johnformedford. Please do not hesitate to call, text, or email me to ask questions, voice concerns, or just chat. I look forward to hearing from you and working with you as we collaborate to build a better future for our children, and I respectfully ask for one of your six votes for Medford School Committee on November 3rd, 2015.

Thank you,

John Amirault
781-258-1614
jjamirault16@gmail.com
www.johnformedford.com
www.facebook.com/johnformedford