Zach Verriden- Candidate for Re-election to the Longmeadow School Committee

This information was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz blog by Zach Verriden- Candidate for Re-election to the Longmeadow School Committee. 

 

______________________________________________ 

Meet Zach Verriden, Candidate for Reelection to the Longmeadow School Committee 

My name is Zach Verriden and I am running for reelection to the Longmeadow School Committee. I am running once again because I care deeply about civil service, serving our community, and preserving the progress we have made in a post-COVID society. I am a lifelong educator who has previously served as the Chair of the Longmeadow Select Board’s Coalition for Racial Justice Task Force Chair, as a member of the Blueberry Hill Elementary School Council, a parent in the Special Education Alliance of Longmeadow (SEAL) and as a leader with the Longmeadow Anti-Racism Coalition (LARC). Additionally, I am also currently a practicing educator and principal. I am also, most importantly, a Longmeadow parent and frequent youth sports coach. I hope to continue to bring these experiences and insights to the Longmeadow School Committee in order to build on excellence with an eye toward equity and inclusion for all learners. 

I have taught in classrooms across the country and am passionate about education. I have also served as a building principal and district superintendent in other regions while navigating facility renovation and construction projects very similar to the middle school decision facing Longmeadow at this time. I am a career educator who received my master’s degree in Education Policy and Management in 2008 from Harvard University and am currently completing my Ph.D. in K-12 Education and Policy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I also hold a business certificate in Educational Entrepreneurship from Rice University. 

I am a proud father of four children and our family moved to Longmeadow, Massachusetts specifically for the educational opportunities offered to my children, but in particular for my oldest son Henry who requires a complex Individualized Education Program (IEP). As a parent, educator and neighbor, I hold the unique perspective of being on both sides of the table for children in Longmeadow. I have worked as an independent educational consultant offering innovative solutions to educators and previously served many Longmeadow families as the Senior Director of Youth & Family Programs at the Springfield JCC. 

I look forward to working in continuing to serve with a wide range of community members and colleagues on the Longmeadow School Committee and throughout the school community to realize the district’s vision of seeing all students engaged in rigorous, introspective, and culturally responsive learning with a commitment to anti-racism, equity and social justice. 

I need your vote on Tuesday, June 3rd to help Longmeadow Public Schools realize the promise of excellence with equity for all learners.

Here is a link to my Facebook campaign page.
 

Zach Verriden- Candidate for Re-election to the Longmeadow School Committee