SOUTHWICK – Chelsea Berry is a challenger for the open seat on the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District School Committee, but she’s no stranger to Southwick.
Berry went through the Southwick school system as a student and became a substitute teacher during and after college. Now in her sixth year as a math specialist at an elementary school in Longmeadow, Berry has decided that this was a perfect opportunity to help her community in a positive way.
“I just felt like it was the right time to give back to Southwick,” said Berry. “I really am devoted to Southwick education.”
Recently finishing her masters in educational leadership at Mount Holyoke College, Berry learned a lot about educational policy and gaining knowledge about a curriculum and how to finance a budget.
“All those perspectives are really important in decision-making in the district,” said Berry.
If elected, Berry would like to focus on communication and transparency between the school committee and the community. Berry wants to make sure that staff, parents, students, and everyone in the three towns in the district are involved in the decision-making process.
Chelsea Berry is a challenger for the open seat on the Southwick school committee. (Photo from Chelsea Berry)
“I still think that we have a long way to go in that process of being transparent,” said Berry. “It’s not going to happen unless we really commit and open those lines of communication.”
Besides transparency, Berry also wants to look at the different teaching initiatives in the district and how they can be improved upon. Additionally, she wants to help keep the school’s culture positive and enhance the district’s safety within all four schools.
Having the background and experience in education, Berry believes her experience can really benefit the committee. She also works on a number of sub-committees in the Longmeadow School District that deal with curriculum decisions, collaborating, listening, and critical problem solving.
“I think that one of my strengths is being able to really look at how each decision is going to affect our students positively or negatively,” said Berry. “I’m willing to raise the bar for education.”
If given the opportunity to have a seat on the school committee, Berry knows what her main desire will be.
“My only responsibility is to the students and to the people that may vote me in,” said Berry. “I realize every small decision impacts the greater community.”
