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Date: 9/15/2021
SPRINGFIELD – With less than three months until the annual town elections, three residents have submitted nomination papers for two open, two-year School Committee At Large seats, while five residents have submitted nomination papers for four open, two-year School Committee District seats on the Springfield School Committee.
Cary Curley, Denise Marie Hurst and Latonia Naylor are the candidates for the at large positions. Christopher Collins, Ayanna C. Crawford, Joesiah I. Gonzalez, Barbara J. Gresham and Peter Murphy are the candidates running for the district positions.
Reminder Publishing reached out to each candidate, asking for a self-written introduction to present to the town. As we move closer to the election, Reminder Publishing will be conducting a question-and-answer interview with each candidate to discuss specific town issues and their viewpoints on each issue.
Responses printed by Reminder Publishing on behalf of the candidates represent the candidates own thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Reminder Publishing does not endorse any candidate nor their beliefs.
Cary Curley
I am the mother of five daughters and stepdaughters; the youngest is a student at The Renaissance School. I am also the proud wife of a Springfield police officer who has served our city for over two decades. As a resident, parent, and former student in Springfield, I have a vested interest in helping to make sure our students succeed. I have dedicated most of my professional life to public service, and I would be honored if the voters select me to continue serving my community as a member of the School Committee.
I am an attorney and have previously worked as a prosecutor, a law clerk to the superior court justices, and as an associate city solicitor in the City of Springfield Law Department. I also recently earned an MBA and worked as an editor at The Wall Street Journal.
My top priority is school safety. Staff, students, and their families face concerns about Covid amid the return to in-person learning. We also need to ensure that students are learning in environmentally safe buildings. These issues need to be prioritized when budget decisions are made.
Security in our school buildings is also necessary to ensure the safety of our students and school staff. I support the continued presence in schools of highly trained and specialized Quebec units; they are there to support a safe learning environment. I am in favor of the continued use of cameras to ensure the safety of students and staff and I support real-time access to cameras in school during dangerous situations such as the report of an active shooter on school property. While no one wants to think about a worst-case scenario, it’s necessary to prepare for all situations. A safe and secure learning environment is essential to the success of our students.
Ayanna C. Crawford
Educational Consultant and Motivational speaker for nonprofits and colleges in the Pioneer Valley. Ms. Ayanna C. Crawford (Springfield) is the proud mother of two children. She also is the owner/ President of AC consulting and Media Services specializing in workshops in communications skills; press releases; social media management and marketing with nonprofits and community-based centers in the New England area.
She also has a love for public relations and media work. She currently works as the chief of staff for Rep. Orlando Ramos of the 9th Hampden District of Springfield, Ma and adjunct professor at a local community college in the region.
She has been a guest lecturer at Smith College on “Best Practices for literacy development in Urban Schools'' in the education department at Smith College. She is a graduate of Westfield State University with a BA in psychology and an M.Ed. from Springfield College as well as an Alumni of AmeriCorps program, which is a service program that places students in urban schools to help with closing the achievement gap.
She created a signature program for girls in Western Mass. called “It’s your turn take the Mic '' – which is a summer enrichment program, after school and school-aged program for girls ages 5-18 years old in the Greater Springfield area. She is also the founder of Women in the Business Club of Western Mass area.
As an educator of over 20 years and a community leader for families and youth in Wards 2 & 8 I know firsthand how working collaboratively with community and schools will be so vitally important as we tackle COVID-19 learning curve and build a brighter future for all children in all grades in Springfield as your new School Committee woman representing District 4 Wards 2 & 8
Joesiah I. Gonzalez
Growing up in Springfield, my mother taught me the importance of hard work, community and education. It’s because of her that I’ve dedicated my life to young people and families in poverty. I’m running for Springfield School Committee because our kids deserve a high quality education, safe school buildings and neighborhoods and a comprehensive curriculum that includes arts, civics, STEM and financial literacy.
I plan on investing in our school buildings, as it is long overdue. We need to ensure that our children are safe inside and outside of school and on their way to and from school. As someone who oversees summer and afterschool programs, I know their value for students’ education. I’ll fight for a curriculum that centers civics, the arts, STEM and financial literacy.
Youth justice is also important to me. Every day, I work in gang intervention and secured a 1.6 million violence and prevention grant. Young people need safe spaces, including summer and year-round jobs and programing. I also support social initiatives for the youth. Social isolation due to COVID-19 has negatively impacted students. They need mental health support, wrap-around services and trauma-informed policies in the wake of the pandemic. Thank you for your consideration, I hope to receive your vote on Nov 2.
Denise Marie Hurst
For nearly 20 years, I worked as a social worker addressing child protection and mental health. My work on the front lines made me cognizant that her work was only impactful on families if there were procedures and policies, that supported and mandated sustainable change. I wanted to lift up the perspective that the “whole” child needed to be engaged and educated for optimal success and that included their families and communities, which prompted me run for School Committee. Currently, I serves as vice president of Community Impact and Partnerships at Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.
I was first elected to the Springfield School Committee In 2009. I am passionate about public education and believe it is a human right and all children should have access to an equitable and quality education. While serving on the School Committee I have been able to support policies that have assisted in implementing procedures to address bullying, increased parent and community engagement, expansion of Pre-School and innovative interventions that have helped to narrow the achievement gap, decrease the drop-out rate, and increase the graduation rate.
My work on the local level has provided me access to network and cultivate relationships throughout the commonwealth and nationally. I have served as the former vice president of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and spearheaded the creation of the Minority Caucus Division now known as Division X: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
I will continue to fight for a district that is committed to honoring diversity and practicing equity and inclusion for its students and staff. I want to ensure that as we emerge from this global pandemic and students return to school, they have the academic and emotional supports to thrive. I promises to keep the best interest of our children and their families at the forefront of every discussion and vote!
Peter Murphy
I am proud to make Springfield home. After graduating UMASS-Amherst and Quinnipiac Law School, I returned here to establish my career and build a family. In my work as a private attorney, I have traveled to every corner of Massachusetts and whenever time I return home I realize that I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
It is an honor to serve this community on the School Committee. This past year has been a hard time for many families, my own included. To best move forward, it is essential to have experienced leaders in place.
I am fortunate in that this challenging period also provided me with perhaps the proudest moment of my life- my two older children (twins, a girl and a boy) graduated from Central High School and are now enrolled at colleges of their choosing. I believe this path should be available to any Springfield student who wants to take it. My youngest son is at Zanetti. Whether he chooses a college path, voc tech, or something else, our schools will be the foundation of his future. I will work every day to make sure all our students get access to the resources and education they need to best meet the world on their terms.
In my time on the School Committee we have reduced violence in schools, raised test scores, and raised attendance rates. I am especially proud to have led efforts to create and expand full day Pre-K programs. Studies have shown this policy makes a huge positive difference for our students. Now more than ever, we need to institute programs like this that lift our students and support working families.
I believe in Springfield. I’m proud of the work we’ve done and eager to do more. I respectfully ask for your vote for School Committee.
LaTonia Naylor
My name is LaTonia Monroe Naylor and I am running for re-election to an at-large seat on the Springfield School Committee. I am a mother, wife, educator, community leader, and daughter of the great city of Springfield. From day one my work has been inspired by my children who are all Springfield Public School (SPS) students and expanded by the calling to advocate for them and their over 25,000 peers.
I am studious and strive to be present and knowledgeable so that I can vote with prudence and concern as to how my decisions impact the students and staff of SPS. My work has spoken for me through the various accomplishments I’ve made over the last four years. I have advocated for music and art in all schools (done), a celebration and uniform upgrades for our crossing guards to be safer (done), better pay for our staff (done), universal full-day preschool (done), and additional academic and encore programming in our schools (done) – to name a few of my achievements.
My attendance record for full committee and subcommittee meetings is impeccable. This has led me to join the Mass Association of School Committees where I am currently the vice-president of the Diversity Equity Inclusion Division advocating for the interest of students and schools throughout the commonwealth. I was appointed by the commissioner of education as a member of the Racial Imbalance Advisory Council. I also participate in educational partnerships throughout the state to advocate for our students at the highest level.
If you believe that education matters and that all students matter – then I am the person for this seat. To help me get there, Vote for Naylor on November 2nd.
Christopher Collins and Barbara Gresham did not respond to Reminder Publishing by press time.