Date: 6/5/2019
To my fellow citizens of Longmeadow:
My name is James Ryan. I am an Eagle Scout, a public school teacher, a veteran policymaker, and I’m running for School Committee.
From my earliest days in Scouting, to my brotherhood in the Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity, to my public policy work, to earning my M.Ed., to co-founding the Springfield Honors Academy, service has been a key part of my life, and I would like to continue this work in service to our public schools.
As a public school teacher, I am on the front lines of education policy every day, and will have the perspective to ensure that Committee policies are practical and, quite simply, make sense. As a seasoned policymaker – prior to serving on my current positions on the Longmeadow Conservation Commission and Energy and Sustainability Committee, I spent several years developing policy that addressed such issues as drug abuse, homelessness, zoning, mental health, and human trafficking – I would enter office with the know-how to build trust, foster consensus, and get things done for my constituents.
If elected, I pledge to advocate for the following:
• Mental Health: as anxiety, depression, and suicide rise among students nationwide, I am committed to ensuring every Longmeadow student has access to the supports they need. Focusing on reducing adjustment counselor caseloads and the promotion of peer support groups will help, but will just be the beginning.
• Vo-Tech Education: Our modern competitive market has a severe surplus of well-paying jobs in the trades, and many modern adults have no idea how to fix simple appliances. That is why I will advocate for increased funding to promote robust tech-ed and shop programs in our schools.
• Special Education: From the earliest point in my teaching career, I have seen SPED departments continuing to do more with less. Our schools’ SPED programs need more than lip service from their School Committee, and I am already fighting to get them the resources they deserve via the passage of the PROMISE Act.
Of course, at every step of the way, I will seek out input from everyone involved in the above goals, building a coalition of stakeholders who will help guide policies and programs that will serve the best interests of our students and our schools.
Now, as for my write-in candidacy: the Scout Oath charges me with helping other people at all times – even if it means being four minutes late to the nominating signature deadline after helping a student’s mom jumpstart her car after work. While it has certainly hampered my campaign efforts, the outpouring of support from voters, elected officials, and national organizations such as Run For Something has been overwhelming. Despite the challenges, I am grateful to those who have supported me so far, and I hope that I can count you among them.
My name is James Ryan, and I would appreciate your writing in my name for a one-year term to School Committee on June 11.
James Ryan
Longmeadow
