Wayland 2021 Candidate Profile: Kathie Steinberg, School Board

WAYLAND, MA — Three people are running for Wayland School Committee in 2021, including two incumbents and one newcomer hoping to grab a seat.

In 2021, Kathie Steinberg is seeking her third term on the committee. Ellen Grieco is also running to keep her seat, and former teacher Jessica Polizzotti running in her first race.

Patch sent all three candidates in the Wayland School Committee race a candidate questionnaire. Here's how Steinberg answered.

Kathie Steinberg

Age (as of Election Day): 66
Position Sought: Wayland School Committee
Party Affiliation: Independent
Family: Bill (spouse), Sara (40), Katie (36), Rachel (32)
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? Bill Steinberg, Wayland Finance Committee, member
Education: BA Amherst College; MBA and MHSA Arizona State University
Occupation: Life, Disability and Health Insurance Underwriter and Claims Manager. UNUM and New England Life (1977-1985). Consultant to medical practices and health organizations. Boston Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, Genetic Testing Center and Arizona health systems. (1985-2000) Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort. Wayland to Waveland Steering Committee (2005-2015)
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Wayland School Committee (since 2015); Wayland Historical District Commission (since 2012); Wayland PTO (WMS PTO President, VP & Treasurer, various committee positions 2000-2007)
Campaign website: Re-Elect Kathie Steinberg to Wayland School Committee

Why are you seeking elective office?

Our town's greatest asset is its schools and I want to ensure that our schools continue to offer a top tier education for our students. Voted as the 2021 number one community in which to raise a family, Wayland's schools are rated A+. I am invested in continuing this tradition of excellence by supporting and advocating for our academic programs, extracurricular activities, educational practices and the outstanding teachers and staff.

The single most pressing issue facing our district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing the Wayland School District is how to address the impact of the pandemic on the academic, social and emotional development of our students. My experience navigating the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic will help inform my decisions about how to best move forward.

As a school committee member, I want to make the most of the opportunity to build upon the experience from this past year and develop better methods to integrate best instructional practices, technological tools and innovative approaches that best support and engage our student learners.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have the experience and understanding to transition from the crisis of the pandemic and address its impact on our students. I understand how to work with the town to effectively advocate for our schools to ensure that our children's academic, social and emotional needs are being met.
As chair of the Finance Subcommittee these past two years I have a full understanding of the operating and capital budgets. In this role, I know how to effectively advocate for the best academic and educational resources and ensure that the classrooms and buildings provide the best learning environment for our teachers, staff and students. As the needs of our families and students continue to grow and expand we must constantly evaluate how resources are best allocated.

I bring the perspective of a parent whose three daughters have been through the system with different needs and diverse experiences. Not only did they receive an excellent education, but two of my daughters began their teaching careers in Wayland I appreciate the amazing talents of our dedicated teachers as educators and as mentors who foster the professional development of their colleagues as well.

Having the experience of parenting children through the elementary, middle school and high school years is an important aspect of being able to understand the many issues that the School Committee faces as we work through the financial, academic, social and emotional issues that impact our students and our staff at the different educational levels.

In the course of my two terms on the committee I have also had the pleasure as a grandparent of investing in the continued success of the district as my two grandchildren began their primary education at Claypit Hill School. I understand what is needed to provide an excellent Wayland education to the next generation of students.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

This past year has been unprecedented. I heard it said many times that we were building the plane while flying it. Decisions needed to be made expeditiously without the advantage of extensive analysis, review and deliberation. Information was often incomplete, outdated, contradictory, or not fully developed. Circumstances were constantly evolving.

In the face of these challenges, everyone worked together to make the best decisions possible.

The schools did an extraordinary job of managing the additional financial burden of the pandemic through reprioritizing, redefining and reallocating resources. Approximately $2MM of unanticipated and unbudgeted COVID related expenses were funded within the school’s fiscal year appropriation and through federal and state grants. One of the most critical and most appreciated ingredients of Wayland’s success during the pandemic was everyone’s flexibility and willingness to work well beyond their contractual requirement and job description to safely deliver Wayland's top tier educational services.

One of the more difficult learning challenges was engaging our elementary students, especially the primary grades, during their remote days. We experienced difficulties hiring staff and coordinating classroom instruction to provide more synchronistic opportunities for those students learning at home, especially during the hybrid model.

In hindsight, I would have secured additional resources much earlier to allow for more frequent synchronistic experiences. This would have provided much needed support to families and provided more engaging remote learning experiences for our students.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

This year we selected a new Superintendent to lead our district. My experience and understanding of the many challenges and opportunities before us puts me in a unique position to ensure a smooth transition for Dr. Omar Easy. My experience on the Finance Subcommittee will also allow me to assist in a smooth transition for our new Business Manager, another key position in our district.

The extensive Superintendent search process enabled the Committee to reflect on the district's future direction and leadership qualities needed to lead us into the 21st century. Through the community focus groups, we heard from the various constituencies in town about their vision for Wayland's continued success; what is working in the district; where we need to do better, and the community support for Wayland's continued commitment to the academic, social and emotional needs of its learners. The feedback received from this experience has been a valuable asset as we plan for Wayland's future.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

It has been a privilege to serve on the Wayland School Committee these past six years and the most intense and time-consuming experience to serve this past year. I have embraced it all. My experience navigating the challenges of the pandemic will help inform my decisions about how to best move forward in the coming year. in addition, the Committee has worked extremely well together in dealing with these difficult issues and is prepared to deal with the ongoing changes and challenges as we head into the new school year.

While serving on the Committee, I have been on the Finance Subcommittee for the past five years, chairing it these past two year. I have a deep understanding of the school finances and experience working with the Town to advocate for a fiscally responsible budget. I know how to advocate for the school's capital projects including the WHS Athletic Improvement Plan, Roof and Door Replacements at the three elementary schools, and a number of facility improvements and updates to the building systems. I have the experience of working with other town boards and committees for the permitting, financing and scheduling of these projects.

I have an understanding of how to best support our dedicated teachers and staff. I am part of the bargaining team that has successfully negotiated the last two collective bargaining agreements as well as the Agreement that addresses the impact of the pandemic on the work environment. In that capacity, I am part of the team that meets weekly with the teachers and staff to resolve issues and concerns that arise around the safety of our school facilities.

I serve as the liaison to the Wayland Public School Foundation and advocate for the resources to support new and innovative programs and materials to lead us into the 21st century. I participate in the district's monthly conversations about racial issues that provide a forum to discuss, acknowledge, educate and address the issues around diversity and equity in our school community.

During my last two terms, I have demonstrated my investment in and commitment to the continued success of Wayland's schools.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” —Maya Angelou

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I would like to thank the Wayland community for its tireless support of our schools. I am incredibly proud of our town and its ability to come together to face the challenges of this pandemic. It has been an extremely difficult year for families, students, teachers and staff as we created and delivered three new educational models, provided safe learning spaces during COVID, responded to constantly changing guidelines and redefined our daily routines and social practices. The community has been thoughtful, cooperative and always eager to dow what was necessary to put the needs of our children first.