Bringing The Team Approach

To Education

To the Editor:

I would like to extend my thanks to the Newtown Democrats for selecting me as one of their candidates for the Board of Education. My wife and I moved our family here a few years ago from San Francisco in order to raise our daughters near our extended family. We have been so impressed with Newtown’s outstanding schools, library, parks, and all of our Newtown neighbors. I started working with the Board of Education on developing personal success plans for Newtown students as part of the Strategic Planning Committee. As a result of that successful committee, I was asked to further use my experience and expertise to help Newtown by running for a seat on the Board of Education.

As a part of Team Newtown, I believe that the team approach is critical in ensuring the needs of the town, our students, and our faculty and staff are met. The Board of Education should work closely with the other governing bodies of the town. The expertise and perspective I bring to the team as a holder of two master’s degrees, one in social work and the second in special education, will help us make good decisions for Newtown. My social work degree concentrated on administration and planning, focusing on social policies, budget processes of nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies, and program development.

A working understanding of special education needs and regulations will make the Board of Education stronger. I teach high school in another town and my everyday responsibilities include teaching students with and without disabilities. I am also a technology trainer, teaching other teachers how to use new technologies in their classrooms to improve school/family communication and lesson delivery. The Principal’s Data Analysis Team, that I co-chair, evaluates the challenges in the high school and develop goals to help the teachers and students meet those challenges. In addition to the credentials I hold as a school social worker and in comprehensive special education, K–12, I am enrolled in educational leadership courses working toward an administrative credential at Sacred Heart University.

I am looking forward to volunteering my services for our town, as a member of the Board of Education, to help continue delivering a quality K–12 education that will prepare our graduates for whatever road they choose to follow in their lives. I am eager to help solve the current challenges we are facing and working with the other boards and the public to meet these challenges head on, together.

Eric Paradis

85 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook                                August 22, 2009