First-time School Committee candidate sees arts, social skills and financial literacy as priorities
Chris Moncada is running for School Committee. There are two seats and three candidates. You can hear from Chris and the other two candidates on Wednesday night at the Crier & Carnation Candidates Forum.
Tewksbury Carnation: Why do you want to serve on the School Committee?
Chris Moncada: I want to serve on the School Committee for two main reasons: I have a vested interest in seeing the Tewksbury Public Schools succeed, and I enjoy working to create positive educational experiences for students while showing appreciation for teachers and staff.
I have two elementary school daughters: a second grader at the Center and a fifth grader at the Ryan. They will be in the system for the next 10 years. Additionally, I have been a board member of the Center Elementary School Parent Advisory Council since the school opened, as well as an active volunteer at the Heath Brook, Trahan and Ryan schools.
TC: Give us a brief bio: Where you grew up, family, interests.
CM: I was born and raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, living and working there most of my life. I later changed careers, took a job with a Boston-based company and moved to Lowell. I met my wife, who has essentially lived in Tewksbury her whole life, shortly after moving there. We started our family and ultimately moved to Tewskbury as we had an opportunity to purchase her childhood home, which we currently live in. We also sought to live in a town rather than a city.
My daughters are involved locally in dance, tumbling, Tewksbury youth flag football and soccer. My wife and I are members of the VFW Auxiliary Post 8164. I’m a lifelong guitar player and trained guitar luthier capable of building and repairing guitars, basses and other stringed instruments.
TC: What is your education?
CM: I graduated from DePaul University in Chicago with a B.A. in Communications. I am otherwise a product of the Illinois public school system.
TC: What is your “day job,” and how do your past or current professional experiences prepare you for service on the School Committee?
CM: I am a senior claim specialist for A.I.M. Mutual Insurance in Burlington. I handle workers’ compensation claims in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Every day I am working with different groups of people who all have varying interests and needs. I operate in and apply state law. I am constantly evaluating claims and situations that require critical thinking and an eye for detail. I am entrusted with millions of dollars of my company’s money and am prudent about how it’s spent. Additionally, I have direct experience in negotiations and mediations and working towards a middle ground to resolve issues.
TC: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish in the next three years? What is your platform? (feel free to include a link to your website or Facebook page)
CM: I would like to continue to build upon the committee’s efforts to promote student achievement in and out of the classroom so that well-rounded students are leaving the system ready to take on higher education or a career. I would focus my specific efforts on achievement in the arts, social skills and financial literacy.
I will also work to create and promote more opportunities for volunteerism and community involvement at the schools. (It has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me.)
As a member of the committee, I would pledge to advocate for all students and ensure consistent and honest communication between staff, administration, the committee and the community at large. If you reach out to me with an issue or concern, I will follow up on it and respond to the best of my ability.
Please visit my campaign website: https://chris4tewksbury.org/ and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555379230860 for more information.
TC: How do you define your budget priorities if tough decisions have to be made?
CM: I am committed to providing the best educational outcomes for our students, and I prioritize the district’s goals to achieve them. I would work with my fellow committee members, the district and the town to ensure that the budget continues to be well-thought-out and viable and that considerations are made so that we can maintain and continuously improve upon the high-quality education the district provides.
TC: Describe an activity, group or committee you’ve been involved with in town and what you accomplished as part of that team.
CM: My main area of involvement has been as a parent volunteer at the Heath Brook, Trahan and Ryan schools. Since December 2022, I have been on the board of the Center Elementary School Parent Advisory Council and have focused my time and efforts on supporting the new school, building its community and ensuring all the events and enrichment activities for students and families are successful. In the fall of 2023, the CES PAC successfully raised over $55,000 to help fund enrichment activities and events for the 2023/2024 school year. It’s exciting to be able to fund all the field trips for each grade and to be able to bring in events that are both educational and fun for everyone.
TC: What are your thoughts on how contract negotiations have played out in Tewksbury? Are you in favor of making future negotiations open from the outset, or do you prefer a confidential process?
CM: I am in favor of the open process. I believe it keeps all parties accountable and more transparently informs the community.
To maintain and continuously improve the high quality of education the district provides, we need to fairly compensate the people we entrust to teach our children. But we must do so within the town’s fiscal realities. It is a lengthy, complex process, and every agreement is one step closer to a final contract. I look forward to the opportunity to be a part of the discussion.
TC: We will need to hire a new assistant superintendent. What expertise would you prioritize?
CM: The new assistant superintendent should be experienced and able to hit the ground running. They should be willing to work with all stakeholders across the community, listen to concerns, identify solutions and follow through on them. They should be ready to accept and meet the challenges the district is facing.
Full disclosure: I am on the interview committee to hire the new assistant superintendent as a parent representative.
TC: What are your priorities for our superintendent?
CM: Continue to be an excellent leader and champion of the Tewksbury Public Schools. Celebrate the successes and achievements. Show the community all the great things TPS is doing and has going on.
TC: What would you like to say to residents to encourage them to vote for you?
CM: I have demonstrated a genuine passion and interest in our schools, students and staff as a dedicated parent volunteer, and I intend on continuing my involvement no matter the result of the election. It would be an honor to be elected to the school committee and be a part of something even bigger. I believe I will be able to meet the challenges the position will bring, and I hope to be an excellent representative and advocate for all families.
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