Hi Lincoln neighbors, Over the past month I’ve met so many of you to discuss what matters to you about our school community and so you can learn more about me. I was disappointed that a work trip conflicted with the PTO forum, but am thankful that I’ve been able to grow so many new relationships through this election process.
In one forum, I met a group of former educators interested in how we support our teachers. As a former teacher myself, with six years of experience as a middle school English teacher at the Gifford School in Weston, it’s a topic that’s near and dear to me. I’ve seen first-hand that for students to thrive, teachers need to be given the tools for success. The pandemic has driven widespread teacher burnout and has resulted in delayed progress among students in the United States and beyond. As a member of the school committee, I’d want data about both sides of this topic: I’d ensure the administration is systematically deepening their understanding of what our teachers need to succeed and what stands in their way, and I’d look broadly across a variety of student performance measures to understand if and how the administration may need to adjust instruction to meet the needs all of our learners. What I wouldn’t do is propose solutions in search of problems. I met another group passionate about Lincoln’s AIDE work and METCO program. At the PTO forum, there was a question about how each candidate would improve METCO. I see the program as a critical thread in the fabric of our schools and we should be proud that we so actively work to increase the diversity of our community. What I don’t know, candidly, is how to improve the program in Lincoln. Instead, I’d want to hear from the experts: the students and families in the program. I’d like to close by sharing something I said to Lincoln’s very own 8th grade class who is learning civics while developing their own opinions about what makes a good School Committee candidate: If I made a full career out of teaching, I don’t think I would consider running. And if I was always working in research and product development at a tech company, I also don’t think I’d consider running. But between the two experiences I think I have two critical ingredients: - I understand the reality of working in a school across a variety of needs - And I know how thoughtful research and strong communication can drive decisions among a group of leaders And those two experiences have one throughline: it’s through relationships, listening, and empathy that you get things done and can make things better. And that’s what I want to do. Thank you for considering me for this important role. I hope I’ve earned your vote in Monday’s election. Jake Lehrhoff 11 Linway Rd
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