Community Connection: Meet Robin Doherty
“Education is a true partnership between school and family. ”
As many communities prepare for elections this Spring, you may be wondering who and what is on your local ballot. Voting in local elections is critical, particularly to ensure adequate representation of community demographics, yet according to the National Civic League, “only 15 to 27 percent of eligible voters cast a ballot in their local election”. This results in an unrepresentative and small group of residents deciding how local governments distribute services and spend their budget (New York Times).
Next up in our Community Connection blog series is Robin Doherty! Robin is an educator and local elected official, and we know you’re going to love learning more from her.
Community Connection will share perspectives from people who are involved in inclusion work, across diverse careers and community volunteer roles, as well as through personal experiences. We hope that through reading about experiences and ideas from people in your community, you feel inspired to continue on your own journey towards building a more inclusive world.
Please share a little about yourself.
I am a lifelong resident of Danvers, MA and graduate of the Danvers Public Schools. I received my undergraduate degree and graduate degree from Salem State College and my doctoral degree with a concentration in teaching and learning from American International College. I have family in the Danvers Public Schools K-10th grade. In my spare time, I am an avid reader and like to spend summers on Lake Winnepauskee.
What is your current profession and what influenced you to do the work that you do?
I have been an educator for the last 16 years. For the first 15, I taught high school English at Malden High School. There, I taught honors, college prep, and inclusion (a mix of special education and general education students) classes. Currently, I am the Coordinator of Instruction and Curriculum, 7-12, for Pentucket Regional School District. In my new position, I coach and mentor teachers, develop curriculum, and vertically and horizontally align skills and content at the secondary level.
Why were you inspired to run for your local School Committee, and how did you go about organizing your campaign?
Education has always been a passion of mine. I knew in elementary school that I wanted to be a teacher. Prior to running for School Committee, I was a community representative for Smith School for three years. I was finishing my doctoral degree and with more time available, I wanted to become more involved in my community and wanted to bring my expertise and passion in education to the Danvers community. I started my campaign by creating a team that consisted of family members and close friends. We held weekly campaign meetings, I reached out to pillars of the Danvers community, and contacted the superintendent and current School Committee members to introduce myself and explain why I was running. Additionally, I canvassed the neighborhoods, introduced myself, and solicited feedback from potential voters.
What does the School Committee do, and why should parents understand and be engaged with their local School Committee (or equivalent)?
The School Committee is responsible for the district’s policy, the district’s budget, and the hiring and evaluation of the superintendent. The district’s budget connects to the district's policies, which connects to the school culture, which in turn, determines education for all students. Education is a true partnership between school and family.
What is the School Committee's role in ensuring that education is inclusive for all children in the community?
The School Committee collaborates with administration to ensure the goals of the district's strategic plan are met and implemented with fidelity. One of the goals is a safe learning environment, which creates a welcoming and inclusive environment for Danvers’ increasingly diverse community. Some ways this is created are through ongoing equity professional development for educators, culturally responsive teaching, and social emotional learning.
How can parents advocate to the School Committee for greater inclusion in their communities?
School Committee meetings are held once a month at Danvers High School. The beginning of the meeting is reserved for public comments so anyone is allowed to attend and speak if they wish to share any concerns, ideas, and/or feedback.
What is one tip for parents who want to learn more about their local elections and School Committee, but don't know where to begin?
Ask–never be afraid to ask. Come to School Committee Meetings or watch them on DCAT, reach out to your town meeting members, reach out to the School Committee members, follow the Town of Danvers social media pages. Unfortunately, the town always has a very low local election turnout, which is where the most effective change on a personal level can take place; therefore, I encourage residents to be more proactive in voting locally.
A big thank you to Robin for sharing her story and ideas! Be sure to follow Robin on Instagram and Twitter.
Are you interested in sharing your inclusion experience? Email us!
