The papers to file to run again for my seat on the Amherst and Regional School Committees are completed and stacked neatly on the corner of my desk. The deadline to turn them in is 5 PM today.
I have been outspoken and activist on what I feel needs to be improved in the Amherst schools: educational accountability, transparency and community involvement and fiscal responsibility.
During the last three years we have been successful at bringing real change to a stagnated system. Some of these changes, such as eliminating mandatory study halls and closing Marks Meadow to maintain small class sizes, intervention support, and music and art in elementary school, had the potential to improve my children’s education. Most would make no difference for them. My children went to preschool, they were not in the school that required redistricting for economic equity, they have not struggled on MCAS tests, and I am quite capable of ensuring that they take 8th grade algebra and exceed the minimum high school graduation requirements for math and science.
There is a tremendous amount of hostility toward me in the community, which makes it unlikely that I could have any real impact as a member of the School Committee in the future. If I said I thought we should have healthier food in the cafeteria, then there would be public accusations that my brother is an organic farmer, that this change in food was just for my kids, and that this change was all about me. It has never been about me. My career is as a college professor, not a school committee member (and certainly not a politician). For me it has always been about what is best for all the children: Not what feels good, but what yields good educational results.
Some events of the last week have made it clear to me, and to my husband, that whether I would win or lose, running for School Committee would make it untenable for my children to stay in the Amherst public schools. It is not about the superintendent selection; it is about mean personal public attacks, including attacks from school personnel. Since my motivation for serving was to better education for my children, along with all the children of Amherst, this sets up a difficult conundrum.
So in the end, the papers will remain on the corner of my desk, not to be filed at Town Hall. I wish the best for the Amherst and Regional Public Schools; it has been an honor, if not a pleasure, to serve.
***************************************
Here's the Gazette story on my announcement: http://www.gazettenet.com/2011/02/09/catherine-sanderson-reverses-announcement-wont-seek-reelection-0
And here is the Masslive story on my announcement (which includes a link to my press release announcing this decision): http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/maria_geryk_still_undecided_co.html.
43 comments:
Catherine, thank you for all of your hard work on the school committee and on behalf of the schools and children of Amherst. You will be greatly missed by me and many others.
Best wishes.
Thank you for your time, passion, creativity, integrity, and seemingly endless energy. If my time speaking with parents yesterday is any indication your representation will be missed by many. I understand and support your decision. You have paid dearly for your endless support of objective change on behalf of all families. I wish only the best for you and your family in the years to come.
Thank you for your hard work. I totally understand your decision and wish you well.
I disagree with several of your ideas for how to improve the schools, and truth be told, I wouldn't have voted for you this time, but I have no doubt that, in pushing for various changes, you have been following what is, in your honest opinion, the best route to making the system better for all kids, not only your own. I respect how open you've been and how clearly you've stated your opinions. I am an avid reader of your blog. I don't have respect for those making personal attacks against you (or against others who are likewise working honestly to do what they think is best for the schools). Good luck out there!
It's sad when parents with the financial means to do so pull their kids out of the public schools. I don't judge your decision by any means, but I find it depressing.
Catherine, I respect the time and effort you have put in to a sometimes thankless job, the transparency you have brought to the process through this blog, and the rigorous analysis you have required the School Committee to consider. No doubt we are farther down the right road than we were when you first joined the School Committee.
You certainly have not deserved the personal attacks some have made against you -- attacks which distract the community from focusing on education.
Thanks for your service.
Your blog has been a great resource and I like the earlier post, have been an avid reader about it. Thanks for reaching out to the community in that way and taking the time to respond to almost all posts, including the not very pleasant ones. It saddens me that you and your family have had to sustain so many personal attacks in exchange for your public service. It is unfortunate that such an educated, involved and accepting comunity can be so negative in the face of any criticisms, calls for more accountability, and suggestions on how things could maybe be done better. Thank you for your service.
As people who follow these things know, and as Catherine and Bart certainly know, my wife and I are friends with Catherine and her family. Our kids are friends. So, I'm sure a segment of the readers of this blog will simply dismiss my comments for that reason (I guess that beats another attack on "tone").
First of all, I want to thank Catherine not only for the amazing amount of work she's done, but for the way she's handled herself. She's been attacked relentlessly, often anonymously. And yet, it's very hard to find anything Catherine has done that was inappropriate. To some, asking questions and demanding answers, as a parent, taxpayer, and even SC member, is rude in and of itself.
To me and to many in the community, Catherine has been an ideal parent, neighbor, and SC member. We're supposed to ask questions and demand answers. That's what engaged community members do.
Catherine has done an amazing amount of work with the single goal of making our schools as good or really as Excellent as they can be. She faced structural and financial hurdles, but she also faced people in town, from teachers and staff to folks unaffiliated with our schools, who cursed and damned anyone who dared speak of, let alone implement, positive change or really any change at all.
Catherine's decision is about how the forces of the status quo defeated reform. A type of political alliance between the so-called Amherst Center folks and many ARPS teachers and staff got together to smear Catherine, Steve, Rob, and any parent who dared ask tough questions or propose reforms.
So, here we are. Amherst and the hill towns now have what they want. They have the superintendent they want and they'll have a school committee that's more cheerleader than guardian of the schools. My question is, who will you blame when MCAS scores continue to decline, budgets grow beyond the town's ability to pay, charter school costs continue their recent steep climb, and many top flight students leave the district for Northampton, Hadley, and private schools?
It's awful that the reason you are not running is somehow one of fear. I think closing Marks Meadow and rescuing the poor people of this town, by redistricting, were absolutely uncalled for, but then again the poor person, the population most hurt by these moves have no voice in Amherst and after witnessing all this for so many years I can comfortably come to the conclusion that we never will...
I wish you could see our light.
Thank you Catherine for all the time and energy you have placed on the School Board Committee. Many people who do not know you have demonized you and questioned your intentions, but as someone who has had the honor of working for and with you, I can attest to your devotion, intelligence and integrity. I emphasize integrity, because you are one of the few people I know that truly own this quality. I am sad to say that Amherst School Committee, and the community as a whole, have lost a member with the courage and vision to improve our public schools. -Isabel Margolin
Bravo. My wife fears nothing. I'm proud of what you have done and also grateful that your service is coming to an end. It will be a long time before anyone makes the kind of impact that you have made on public education in this community. In 2003 after losing a long trial I returned to my desk to find the following Theodore Roosevelt quote had been left on my chair by my friend and fellow trial lawyer, Matt Shea: 'The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena - whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood...who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions - and spends himself in a worthy cause - who at best if he wins knows the thrills of high achievement - and if he fails at least fails while daring greatly - so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.'" Again, bravo, Catherine, "it's all right now, baby." Bart Hollander
Down in the arena are the do-ers.
Off on the side are the hecklers.
Hilltowners and Rick Hood: let's see what you're made of. Expecting great things from you now that the way is cleared for that big vision you keep telling us is just around the corner....
I am grateful to you for all of your hard work and service to this community. I didn't agree with every choice that you made, but, in the long run, that didn't matter to me. What was important to me was you were trying to look at our schools as you thought they were, not simply as you wished they were.
This entire episode is quite disturbing to me, and it has brought me around 180 degrees in my attitude about voting for School Committee members. In the past, SC members who had a critique of the schools were usually minorities. And I was part of the electorate who listened to them politely and then moved on to what I cared about.
All that has changed for me. From now on, I intend to vote for anyone who has a critique of the schools (or as Richard Spurgin puts it, "a predetermined agenda"), because the primary force that governs our schools these days is complacency, or as Richard Hood put it Sunday, the attitude that "if we ignore it, it will go away."
I was flabbergasted when Kip Fonsch asserted Sunday that the override vote was a vote in support of Maria. That was the furthest thing from my mind when I voted YES last time. My pro-override vote last time was conditioned on my assurance that we had SC members looking out for taxpayers, watching the public purse, testing reality against the usually unrebutted claim that the schools needed more money. I thought they did, but I was confident that the additional money would be spent wisely.
I am convinced that the debate on Catherine is not about governing style, but is rather a debate about this complacency, a complacency that supports property values and promotes override votes. I think the schools in order to ask us to pay more and more have to do better than this: they have to be moving the ball up the field. I don't see that happening now.
All the best to Professor Sanderson. I believe her argument about the schools will continue to resonate long after she's gone.
Richard Morse
I was 1000% right about ~them~ all along.
Catherine, in many many ways you fought a fight I tried to (at a much higher level, naturally). I was one person. Completely without support. I was powerless. An ant. Alone. In the end, it cost me my job with the schools. Whistle blowers get taken out. Now you've been taken out. As much as I hate to say it, it helps me to feel better about what happened to me. It's so selfish, but it's true.
You are spectacular and simply amazing. A rare and important human being.
But, their darkness has won again.
It truly is midnight, Amherst.
It truly is.
Many blessings of happiness and joy and fulfillment to you and the entire Sanderson family.
What a terrible day this is, for ALL of us...
12:18 -- an anonymous post by Catherine's husband, though signed at the end? Wonder how many other times she posted her anonymously.... What a dysfunctional family. Glad to see her gone from the public arena. She could dish it out but couldn't take it. A few negative blog posts and she went crying away. Not a good role model for children.
I am so, so, so sad that you decided not to run, Catherine. I am also deeply troubled by whatever happened to you and your children that motivated your decision. Your experience raises an incredibly important question of safety for all members of our schools and communities. If we, as a community, cannot create the space for all voices, participate in passionate civic dialogue, disagree, and speak out without putting ourselves and those we love in emotional or physical jeopardy, we truly cannot call ourselves citizens of a democracy. Your experience, the experience that Pat O. and her children have had in the schools (which she spoke about in the Masslive article) is unacceptable and must be addressed by every single one of us. What kind of a community have we created?
Some think it's a silly issue, but I do believe that tone matters, because I think it signals one's willingness to consider other ideas.
And it's as important to hold critics of Catherine Sanderson to a high standard of civility as it is necessary for her to adhere to one. Though I would not have voted for her again, I think that Catherine tried harder to be civil than her critics did. Her latest swipe at teachers was uncharacteristically unfair, and very disappointing, but this is probably a hard day for her.
It's unfortunate that her supporters describe those who disagree with her in such broad strokes and with such overwrought language. There are plenty of calm onlookers who disagree with Catherine and are still managing to behave themselves.
Thank you Catherine for your tireless service on the SC. I'm sad to hear that you are not running. I hope you never feel discouraged about your time on the SC because you made many positive changes. If you do ever feel discouraged, think of that cute little girl pictured in the Amh Bulletin article about the new preschool program - the program that was made possible by your epic struggle to reconfigure our elem schools. Rock on!
Oh, please.
Give me a break.
So, she isn't running.
Big deal.
This little episode in our tiny little lives pales in comparison to real problems in the world.
Midnight in Amherst, indeed. You have obviously not had any real problems in your life if Sanderson's decision not to run again for school committee brings midnight.
Go out and experience life and you'll get a dose of reality.
Ask people who are experiencing real hardship how this compares to their plight.
Middle class suburbia in America grieves in despair over the decision of a school committee mom to take her kids and go to private school.
Wake up!
"A few negative blog posts"???
Where have you been?
"I was 1000% right about ~them~ all along."
Of course, you were, just like all of your friends. None of you are ever wrong.
When she bashes people it's ok, but when someone gives her back a taste of that medicine, it's not ok.
Got it.
Catherine,
You have had an impact, and you will be missed. Thank you for all the good that you achieved.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Thank you for everything you have done for our children. No one fought harder than you to give voice to parent concerns and to improve education for all children in this town. I am immensely grateful to you for your valiant fight on our behalf. I have appreciated your transparency and communication to keep parents and the community informed about the state of our schools. This level of communication did not exist before and is sure to die with your departure.
You have faced abuse that has been unwarranted and despicable, and yet you demonstrated unparalleled strength, honesty and integrity. These are qualities I want my children to have, these are the qualities of a role model. I am ashamed and embarrassed for the mean spirited people who have constantly and personally attacked you and your family.
Today is indeed a sad day for our schools and community, however, I support your decision completely; this town does not deserve you.
If your children have been subject to comments by staff and teachers, I would hope the principals of those schools will investigate this issue immediately and take corrective steps. I would hope the people also apologise to your chidren.
Anonymous 1:08 PM: "Now you've been taken out." Really? There was no coup d'état. She was not impeached. It was her choice not to run. You probably would have had the same reaction if she had ran and lost. Then she would have just failed. Don't make her out to be some martyr.
Good luck, Catherine! On to bigger and better things.
Best to you and your family Catherine! Ali
Whoa! Navneet!!
I voted for CS in the last election. I've never personally attacked her or her family. I did disagree with some of her positions and some of her ways of presenting them. So now I don't deserve her (along with the whole town)? It's these kinds of blanket condemnations by supporters of CS that have contributed to the vile us vs them atmosphere.
I'm not saying Amy Wasserman was a big help, but I'm not sure your "doesn't deserve you" comment helps either.
Anonymous 1:08 PM
Get a grip, please. It's not the apocalypse. It's one volunteer elected town official who decided not to run for reelection after taking an unpopular stand and facing inevitable criticism.
If she didn't want to her the criticism, she didn't need to create a blog and open it up to public comments.
It's naive to think that taking a wildly unpopular stand like she did against Maria Geryk, keeping the fight up on her blog and then opening up her blog to comments wouldn't be met with criticism, even with rude comments.
Unfortunately, Catherine couldn't stand the heat. She could dish it out but she couldn't take it. She'll be better off back in the hallowed halls of academia where she doesn't have to compromise or play very nice with people that don't agree with her.
Catherine,
WELL DONE! :-)
It is already proven that you have what it takes to inspire the brightest college students, and to form and lead a determined and powerful movement in this town. It's clear to me that, if it were your interest, you have what it takes to build a great company: Energy, passion, absolute commitment to principle, and zero tolerance for excuses or ungrounded assertions.
The SC has shown itself to be a very different system, one that punishes the very traits that would make one a successful leader in those other realms.
One cannot be a change agent in such a system. The system has to want to change. This system wants to put on blinders and decompose in its own platitudes.
Thank you for outlining the work that remains to be done. I hope it gets addressed. I am proud to have supported you, and to see your tenacity and class, in the face of such coarse challenge, mediocrity and hypocrisy.
I salute you. We salute you. For every person who has posted today in support there are so many more who feel as we do, and will go on feeling this way and acting upon it until the system is righted or dismantled.
Feeling great relief for you and your family. Godspeed!
Amherst is strangely insular, suspicious of strangers and new ideas- the Twilight Zone. Leverett, Shutsbury and Pelham seem even more extreme. This is revealed to me most clearly when we seek new leadership, such as the recent Superintendent search or the Middle School principal search. In both these cases, there seemed to be a large majority that felt we could only hire someone from within, as only someone from within could understand our particular and unique needs and only someone from within could have the trust of teachers and lead them. I say this with certainty because folks fought for these inside candidates before they even knew who the other candidates might be. I am afraid of where this kind of thought will lead us. I know in biological systems that isolated populations, through inbreeding, become deformed, diseased and ultimately disappear because they were unable to adapt. New ideas and experiences, like new gene variants, are critical for innovation and vitality.
While many in our community clearly disliked Catherine and anonymous attacks were especially frequent and shameful, I believe that Catherine’s time on the school committee was valuable. Her time on the committee and her blog clearly brought out the worst in many in our community. Allowing anonymous comment on her blog was a mistake, I believe, and offered a venue for people to spew their vitriol and meanness anonymously. How those folks can live with themselves continues to mystify me and I often wonder how many of our town’s so-called ‘respected’ citizens posted anonymously. All so sordid…And yet, Catherine unfailingly responded to these despicable posts with reason and considerable respect. I also wonder how many who so fervently criticize Catherine actually attended or watched School Committee meetings.
I thank Catherine for spearheading many important changes, two that I think were most important (1) closing Marks Meadow so that all the kids would not have to lose services due to ever present budget constraints and (2) redistricting for equity, it was shameful that our community seemed content for so long to have one school with such a disproportionate level of poverty.
I fear that given the way that Catherine has been treated by our ‘community’ we can say goodbye to the hope that anyone with any ideas that might conflict with the monolithic school system and those that unfailingly and unquestioningly support it would even consider running for School Committee. I predict that in a few years, the School Committee will return to the days of old- the rubber stamp. Complacency has its rewards, unfortunately, for our kids.
Thank you Catherine for your tireless advocacy for Amherst's kids. Your passion for evidence-based, data-driven decision making will be sorely missed. If your kids are being harassed, then you made (regrettably) the right decision not to run again. Tom Knight
Let the healing begin!
Can't say I agree with all of the Catherine as some sort of demi-god talk I am seeing here. Yes she worked hard and she meant well. She gave a lot to her volunteer job, but she did it with some questionable methods and frustrating attitudes.
I have to agree with an earlier post who mentioned the "us vs them" environment that I feel she had a lot to do with fostering.
I don't think the world is coming to an end over her decision. I am sure it is the right one for her. Now I expect the rest of us can probably go on just fine without her on the SC. This is certainly not the tragedy or travesty that some are portraying.
As with many change efforts, some brave soul has the fortitude and ability to speak out and to not be silenced by those who wish to preserve the status quo. Some historical figures who come to mind are Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Sojourner Truth, and Rosa Parks. All of these individuals were quite controversial and had many enemies during the time that they sought change(some still have those enemies and are still considered controversial). At the time they sought change, their ideas seemed radical and unneccesary to many, yet today we have progressed and changed as a society due to these individuals. This is often how we get change - someone comes across as radical and outrageous, but they end up moving us forward in our thinking.
While I'm not putting Catherine Sanderson in the same category as these historical figures, I do believe that there are many similarities. Catherine has been chastised, blamed, and generally devalued by many in the community. She has not backed down, however, and as a result, she has paid a very big price for her willingness to fight for what she believed would improve the Amherst schools. She got people's attention, and many changes have already happened, and I hope that more are coming.
For many years, the Amherst schools have been complacent. There has been a sense that Amherst didn't really need to be accountable and that they were "a fine school system," in the words of Tracy Kidder. I might add that Amherst schools have been a fine school system for some students, including my own children, but many students have been and are underserved by the Amherst Schools and that has been the case for a very long time.
What Catherine Sanderson has done is to have demonstrated a courageousness that few of us possess, and she has challenged the status quo. This is not done easily in our so called "liberal" town, in which it seems there is the "Amherst way" and the "wrong way." While Caterine was threatening to many, often outspoken, and I, for one, certainly did not always agree with her (especially her vote for the superintendent's job) there is no doubt that she is one of the few people who has been able to wake the school system up and help to move it forward.
So, kudos to you Catherine, and I do think that you made the right decision in not running again. You've gotten your point across, the wheels are turning in the right direction (even though they may not be turning as fast or going as far as you might have wished), I think that Amherst is beginning to embrace current trends in education and is realizing that many children slip through the cracks when there is no accountability and high expectations do not exist for all students.
As an aside, I listened to all the interviews for the superintendent's position, and Maria Geryk was the only candidate who communicated a clear vision for our schools. Maria Geryk's interview remarks were head and shoulders above any of the other candidates. She clearly is well versed on current trends in education and wants to see educators held responsible for results. Geryk answered each interview question thoughtfully and most importantly with a depth of knowledge that clearly showed she knows what the strengths and challenges are in Amherst, and she has specific plans in mind to address the challenges. She repeatedly demonstrated that she knows best practices, has read widely, and is quite aware of all of the resources out there to help her to make this happen. This depth of knowledge was clearly not present in the other candidates, at least from what they communicated in their interviews. If they can't communicate their knowledge and vision during an interview, how would they ever inspire and lead teachers and administrators?
But back to my original point, congratulations, Catherine, and best wishes in the days ahead. You have made a difference!
Ruth Wade
As with many change efforts, some brave soul has the fortitude and ability to speak out and to not be silenced by those who wish to preserve the status quo. Some historical figures who come to mind are Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Sojourner Truth, and Rosa Parks. All of these individuals were quite controversial and had many enemies during the time that they sought change(some still have those enemies and are still considered controversial). At the time they sought change, their ideas seemed radical and unneccesary to many, yet today we have progressed and changed as a society due to these individuals. This is often how we get change - someone comes across as radical and outrageous, but they end up moving us forward in our thinking.
While I'm not putting Catherine Sanderson in the same category as these historical figures, I do believe that there are many similarities. Catherine has been chastised, blamed, and generally devalued by many in the community. She has not backed down, however, and as a result, she has paid a very big price for her willingness to fight for what she believed would improve the Amherst schools. She got people's attention, and many changes have already happened, and I hope that more are coming.
For many years, the Amherst schools have been complacent. There has been a sense that Amherst didn't really need to be accountable and that they were "a fine school system," in the words of Tracy Kidder. I might add that Amherst schools have been a fine school system for some students, including my own children, but many students are underserved by the Amherst Schools and that has been the case for a very long time.
What Catherine Sanderson has done is to have demonstrated a courageousness that few of us possess, and she has challenged the status quo. This is not done easily in our so called "liberal" town, in which it seems there is the "Amherst way" and the "wrong way." While Catherine was threatening to many, often outspoken, and I, for one, certainly did not always agree with her (especially her vote for the superintendent's job) there is no doubt that she is one of the few people who has been able to wake the school system up and help to move it forward.
So, kudos to you Catherine, and I do think that you made the right decision in not running again. You've gotten your point across, the wheels are turning in the right direction (even though they may not be turning as fast or going as far as you might have wished). I think that Amherst is beginning to embrace current trends in education and is realizing that many children slip through the cracks when there is no accountability and high expectations do not exist for all students.
As an aside, I listened to all the interviews for the superintendent's position, and Maria Geryk was the only candidate who communicated a clear vision for our schools. Maria Geryk's interview remarks were head and shoulders above any of the other candidates. She clearly is well versed on current trends in education and wants to see educators held responsible for results. Geryk answered each interview question thoughtfully and most importantly with a depth of knowledge that clearly showed she knows what the strengths and challenges are in Amherst, and she has specific plans in mind to address the challenges. She repeatedly demonstrated that she knows best practices, has read widely, and is quite aware of all of the resources out there to help her to make this happen. This depth of knowledge was clearly not present in the other candidates, at least from what they communicated in their interviews. If they can't communicate their vision and knowledge during an interview, how would they ever inspire and lead teachers and administrators?
But back to my original point, congratulations, Catherine, and best wishes in the days ahead. You have made a difference!
Ruth Wade
Catherine,
You have made a difference. Thank you for all your hard work these past three years.
Best wishes,
Adrienne
Catherine, being your neighbor, I am always impressed by the way you are raising your three wonderful children. You are a remarkably bright, well educated, perfect mother, with great values and someone who can look into the future. I was so thrilled to see you a member of the school committee. Unfortunately, we see with great disappointment, that our "liberal" town does not support people who are not afraid to speak their minds and try to make a change in the right direction. I am saddened to see that you are not running, but I think you are making a wise decision of not putting yourself and your family though this again. Thank you for your commitment and endless hours of work you put into improving Amherst Public schools. You already made a big dent in the system. Job well done.
Seren Derin
Catherine, you get my write-in vote. I can't imagine voting for anyone else. I hope for your family's sake that you don't get too many!
ironic title for this post. in fact, you are "running".
just like rodriguez, you are "running" away, the day before your evaluation.
and you know it, and we know you know it. yes, "we". as in crowds of us. the crowds who would have swarmed to the polls to vote you out, had you the guts to be evaluated publicly.
but you just love evaluating others publicly, don't you?
February 13, 2011 12:19 AM
The above post must be a from Amy Wasserman or Hajir. Why don't you guys start your own blog instead of being lazy and using Catherine's.
I just want to remind my blog readers that the point of this blog is to discuss education issues - not criticize me, or district employees, or other posters. I'd remind everyone - think about whether you would still post your comment if you weren't anonymous.
"Down in the arena are the do-ers...
off in the stands are the hecklers..."
But up on the scoreboard will always be the results, for all to look at, year-in, year-out. Go Hurricanes!
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