LETTER: Why I’m Voting for Karen Hirsh for BOE

Letter to the editor submitted from Katie Yu

This election season I am excited to cast my vote for Karen Hirsh for the Board of Education.

Even amongst a field of well-qualified candidates, Karen is a standout.

As a passionate believer in the importance of a strong public school education system, Karen’s involvement in the community via PTA Council, the Greenwich Alliance, Greenwich YWCA, and numerous other organizations is beyond compare.

She has been involved at every level and is a fearless advocate for our schools and our town.  Her exhaustive list of roles include Glenville School PTA President, PTA Council President as well as a number of contributions on various other Boards in town. All of these roles have imbued her with valuable information and experience that will serve our town well.

She has been an outspoken advocate for almost every cause that has touched education in our town in the past 10 years – the building of New Lebanon school, the need to update our school’s infrastructure, personalized learning, and special education reform, to name a few.

But what makes Karen really special is her dedication and understanding of how education can be optimized. At a recent voter forum, she astutely pointed out several statistics and ways to address the achievement gap including the importance for every student to have a strong connection with at least one educator in their building. Karen understands the very personal side to why we all volunteer and do our part – to bring forth the best possible education and outcomes for our children, to their ultimate long-term success.

This, in a nutshell, embodies the type of person who should serve on the Board of Education.  The driving force of the Board of Education should be our kids, and Karen uses this as her guiding light.

We all have a role in helping our kids aspire to be as successful as they can be.  Anyone that has helped in a volunteer role, whether big or small, knows that the work we do individually and collectively can make a real difference in their lives.

On November 5, I urge you to cast your vote for the person who will serve our town, our families, and most importantly its students.  Karen is uniquely qualified to serve as a voice of reason and balance, and as a strong advocate for our kids.

Respectfully submitted,
Katie Yu