Madhu Pai, Wayne Eastman & Margaret (Peggy) Freedson
I wholeheartedly endorse Madhu Pai, Wayne Eastman and Margaret (Peggy ) Freedson for the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education. Madhu, Wayne and Peggy are the “whole package” and have the commitment, and expertise necessary to oversee our district.
Both Madhu and Wayne while serving these past years on the Board have shown themselves to be uniquely suited to the wide-ranging and often complex issues placed before a Board in a district such as ours. Wayne, Board President since January 2015 during a difficult time marked by a leadership void has stewarded the selection process of our new Superintendent and helped to maintain stability as many administrative changes occurred. Madhu has shown herself after her first term to be a swift learner as well as a hard worker willing and able to delve into the intricacies of the Budget as well as maintain a pragmatic approach to problem solving with our children’s wellbeing uppermost in her mind. Both she and Wayne have been adept at building consensus yet showed themselves willing to buck the tide as they fought against the building of an expensive aquatic center while fiscal uncertainties loomed and more pressing issues within our classrooms demanded priority.
The addition of Peggy Freedson to the Board would bring an educational professional who understands the primacy of excellent teaching and what it takes to support teacher professionalism in every one of our schools. She is committed to making our district a magnet for excellent teaching, focusing on strengthening early education to better lay the foundation necessary to make progress in closing our achievement gaps and strengthening oversight to ensure that curriculum and teaching are aligned with standards as we move towards classrooms that truly support the success of all students.
I am proud to offer my support to these fine candidates and urge you to join me in voting for Madhu Pai, Wayne Eastman and Margaret (Peggy) Freedson on November 3, 2015.
Morrisa da Silva
Maplewood
