Heather Sullivan
WESTFIELD – Heather Sullivan is a candidate for the School Committee on Nov. 7. She previously served for two terms (eight years) during the early 2000’s. Since that time, Sullivan served as a reading interventionist in Highland elementary school for five years, and worked with 4th grade summer school and the English language learners (ELL) program. Sullivan said when her youngest graduated and went to college, she knew she wanted to go back on the School Committee.
“When I was working in the school, I realized the huge disconnect, which goes both ways,” Sullivan said. She said it was eye opening to see the decisions made by the School Committee put out into the classrooms. Being passionate about improving the schools, she believes that having someone on the School Committee who has implemented the programs could only help.
“My goal is to bring the insight and experience I’ve had of being in the system and working in the schools to the School Committee,” Sullivan said.
Originally from West Springfield, Sullivan moved to Westfield after earning her bachelor’s in sociology. Since then she has also taken four master’s level courses in reading. A single mother, she has three children who successfully went through Westfield Public Schools.
Sullivan said the biggest challenge for the district is always going to be financing, of which the biggest piece of the pie is personnel. She said she doesn’t want people to think there is fat in the budget, but said, “I do think there are things we can save money on, switch things around, and do better with the things we have.” She admits that she needs to really study the budgets now, and see what the district is doing.
She said Westfield has a great group of teachers, and she would like everybody to feel like they’re doing a good job, are appreciated and valued. She believes this will trickle down to the children in the classrooms.
Sullivan is also a believer in the impact a teacher can have on a child. While at Highland, she had a kindergartener in her reading group who showed up three weeks late for first grade. She later learned that he had been removed from his family by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Sullivan filed for an emergency living place and Domenic, who is now in 4th grade, came to live with her and her son and daughter who were still at home. Domenic’s parents, who have been battling to overcome opiate addiction, eventually lost custody, and she is now his legal guardian.
“It’s important to realize what kids are coming to school with, and the impact we can have on them. There’s a lot to be said about how much a teacher can affect a child’s life,” Sullivan said.
“I think the current administration is great. We’re always striving to do better. I’d like to bring my experience to the School Committee; another lens which may be helpful for the staff and students,” Sullivan said.
