Election 2021: Joshua Hamre For Enfield Board Of Education – Patch.com

ENFIELD, CT Democrat Joshua Hamre, 49, is running for the Board of Education in Enfield.

Occupation: Services Coordinator For Homeless Veterans

Experience: Enfield Culture and Arts Commission

Family in government: None that I know of

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

The single most pressing issue facing Enfield is the acceptance of what was once unacceptable. I intend to continue speaking for those that are not comfortable speaking, and to follow the example of leaders I admire who got into good trouble, necessary trouble (thank you, John Lewis), when they stood for what was right. And to paraphrase Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and I choose not to be neutral in situations of injustice because I will not choose the side of oppression.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

There are a total of ten candidates running for the Board of Education, and nine of those running will get a seat at the table. Between myself and the other four Democrat candidates, we share the view that the Board of Education is a governing body that is in place to ensure the public schools are adhering to policies and procedures that allow each student the opportunity to achieve their best selves. Between Tina, Amanda, Scott, Jerry, and myself, there is no daylight between us. We share that vision.

The Republican candidates quite simply don't believe that. Not all, perhaps, but if one or two believe that it is acceptable for a student to be unable to learn to the best of their ability because the student is unable to express themselves in the way that they choose, then it doesn't matter if they all believe in oppression or not. I will say that again, but a little differently this time: If one republican candidate for the Board of Education believes it is acceptable to oppress one demographic for the sake of another, and the other republican candidates do not distance themselves or speak out against that oppression, they are implicitly accepting of it. Those efforts to oppress a part of our student population will become part of the policies if we allow it to. I will not allow it, and nor will my Democratic colleagues. That is one critical difference between the ten candidates.

Accomplishments:

Having been involved in the education processes of our three children across the educational spectrum (public, parochial, and magnet), I've seen what is possible and where potential may exist.

In addition, over the last 15 years of working within the military support community, I've learned the myriad ways that procedures, policies and protocol can and should be implemented, and as well as the importance of the chain of command in these processes.

Other issues:

Teachers and the entire support staff should be able to find stability in the vocation they have chosen, because continuity and familiarity is critical to obtaining goals for the students and staff alike.

The administration has been doing an outstanding job despite strong headwinds during the pandemic.

Music, and theater and everything that goes into these pursuits and productions deserve more support and an elevated place in the schools and community.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I am a candidate for the Board of Education because I raised my hand when there was a need to help. I encourage anyone reading this to become involved in the civic process through programs like Parent Leadership Academy.

I encourage parents to be involved to the fullest extent possible in the development of their children.

I implore parents to be accepting of the little ones in their lives, to be open to them, and so that they may be open to their parents. Have the uncomfortable conversations at home so that they are comfortable when those conversations happen elsewhere.

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Election 2021: Joshua Hamre For Enfield Board Of Education - Patch.com