Ehrenberg Will Put Students First

This article is posted on behalf of Lauren Bernard, co-president, Brookline Parents Organization:

COVID-19 has changed a great many things in our lives. One of the most pervasive sentiments the pandemic leaves with us is that stakes feel much, much higher. The stakes feel very high indeed for our students. After more than a year of little to no in-person school, Brookline students have suffered social, emotional and learning losses. For many students, these losses are significant and traumatic, and their rehabilitation depends on the right kinds of interventions from skilled professionals, operating within an effective and thoughtful recovery plan, developed by an experienced and compassionate education policy professional.

Dr. Steven Ehrenberg, candidate for School Committee, is precisely the right person for this task at precisely the right time. An education policy and development expert, Steven’s considerable (15+ years) experience working in education with traumatized populations has uniquely prepared him to address the post-pandemic psychological and learning needs of Brookline students. Steven has successfully developed and implemented education programs in countries plagued by trauma (e.g., Rwanda and Myanmar) by finding common ground, building consensus and always putting students first.

Steven is committed to rebuilding a more equitable, inclusive, and resilient district after this year of losses. A father to two daughters at the Lawrence School, he sees first-hand the impact of the pandemic on his children’s learning and well-being. In order for all Brookline students to thrive, Steven believes we must:

• Ensure that pandemic relief funds are used to address the social, emotional, and learning losses sustained over this past year.
• Restore a curriculum that promotes joy in learning and reintegrates science and social studies minutes into elementary daily schedules.
• Improve racial justice and equity by supporting students of color to succeed, and recruiting and retaining educators and leaders of color.
• Ensure that special education is fully resourced and staffed so that all students feel supported as they learn.
• Rebuild a culture of trust and good faith in our education community.
• Expand our commitment to green schools and outdoor education that teaches our children to be good stewards of the environment
• Establish a transparent, accountable, and participatory budget process that reflects not only the priorities of the district but also those of each school community.

Please join me in voting for Steven Ehrenberg for School Committee on May 4th!

Lauren Bernard
Co-President, Brookline Parents Organization
Member, PSB Advisory Panel 2
Town Meeting Member, Precinct 8