The following announcement was provided by Rachel Kay:
Over the past year, we have all experienced great challenges. Those of us caring for school-aged children have watched them struggle with isolation, academic losses and for too many students even harm to their mental health and well-being.
As I have watched Watertown Public Schools grapple with the difficult decisions they had to make this year, I have felt obligated to advocate for the needs of all our children, as well as for working families. I learned that I have a unique perspective to share, and that I will add to discussions including the critical challenge our schools now face in overcoming the educational debt our students have sustained over what was for some of them a lost year. This is why I am running for School Committee this year, with the goal of representing the families of Watertown and ensuring the focus remains on the needs of our children over the years to come.
For those who do not know me, let me tell you a little more about myself: I am a proud Lowell mom and I work for MIT as Director of Admissions Research and Data Analysis. I have a Bachelor of Science in Applied Math from Brown University, and I have been working in education for the past 25 years. I started as a math teacher, then spent several years in curriculum development. I went to graduate school looking for a way to blend my interest in education with my ability in math. I earned a PhD from Boston College in Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation. Since that time I have done educational research in the areas of educational technology and science education. My professional work has allowed me an inside view of K12 education and beyond. If elected, I intend to put my knowledge to work for Watertown students.
By my training and by my nature, I am a data person. My approach will be driven by both data and the unwavering recognition that each student has individual needs that can and should be met by our public schools.
While my professional background has prepared me for a position on the School Committee, I would argue that my personal experience is my greatest qualification. I am a single mom, working full time. I am raising a son who is exceptional in many ways, and whose educational needs have required a great deal of attention. This has made me aware of both the benefits schools can provide and the challenges that schools face in meeting each and every child’s individual situation. I also know the struggle that working parents face in advocating for and supporting their children’s education. I am committed to making it easier for families to give their input and to ensuring that every family that shares its voice is heard.
If you watched School Committee meetings over that last year, you may recognize my name from my work with a team of parents advocating to get better services for all Watertown students and the choice of more in-person time for those students whose families wanted it. Through this activism, I have learned how the School Committee and our school district operate and the range of decisions we must make. While our current decision makers are good people who have worked hard, I believe we can and must do better. I will continue to fight to get our students the services they need to make up as much as possible of what they have lost.
With your help, I hope to bring my personal and professional knowledge to the Watertown School Committee and be a voice for change, a voice for excellence in education, and a voice for our students.
I recently submitted the signatures needed to officially be on the ballot — the first candidate to do so. My next step will be listening to as many parents as I can — in a group or one on one; in person, on zoom, or on the phone. I want to hear from parents what students need to overcome the school they have missed during the pandemic and any other way our school district can better serve our students. Of course, I will also be launching a website and social media. I hope to be as easy to get a hold of as possible! Please reach out and we can set something up that is convenient for you.
I look forward to talking more with all of you about what you would like to see from the Watertown schools over the next several months. Please contact me at by phone or text at 617-744-9264 or by email at RachelEKay@gmail.com.
Best of luck!
Thank you, Paul!
I’d just like to know where you stand on 2 critical issues:
CRT – Critical Race Theory
Sex ed in K and 1st grade showing “cartoons” about genetalia, etc.
Thank you.
Your resume is wonderful.
Hi Sid. Thanks for responding! Can you reach out and I’m happy to discuss the issues you raised? I think they are too complex to put in a comments section.
I agree we need to know your position the two issues raised by Sid. I also would like to know where you stand on making mandatory basic financial education part of the curriculum so that students understand basics such as budgeting, balancing a checkbook, banking and investing. Many parents don’t have the knowledge or communicate this information to their children. Rather than introducing hate-filled courses against the police or courses that confuse children about sex, we need to get back to the basics and teach our history, functional math, reading, critical thinking, and reading and writing. I hope Ms. Kay communicates her ideas on these subjects.
As I said above…big topics for a comments section, but happy to discuss! Please reach out. And thank you!
I agree with teaching our kids history, which would mean updating our history books with the good/bad and the ugly(currently much of which has been left out). This way we all learn and can move forward. This again though is not controlled by SC but state/WPS though possibly some policy around financial learning could help move things along. I’m all for teaching basic health and reproduction in our public schools. I would love for an OWL class to be taught(opt in) as these classes are invaluable to young adults. Though just one opinion as are the rest of our statements:>
A very thoughtful letter from what appears to be a highly competent candidate. I look forward to hearing more from Rachel Kay.
Thank you, Elodia!
I would also like to know where you stand on the 2 issues raised by Sid. These kids have lost enough school time. I would like to see the focus back on math, reading, writing, and science.
Enough interest, this might warrant a gathering to discuss (remote or in-person). Please reach out!
When did the focus of school pivot from these four things?? Clearly this is a generational perspective and out of touch with the needs of students living through these times.
I believe there maybe some misunderstanding with respect to specific curriculum questions toward School Committee candidates. The School Committee doesn’t set most of curriculum in WPS, this is set by the state and School Districts themselves. The SC does however have some say around policy. Please note this when asking SC candidates questions around specific curriculum questions, as they don’t set most of what is taught in the schools , MA and WPS, does most of this.
Excellent points, Kate. Thanks for clarifying!
in response to “a concerned citizen” I thank & think very often of Mr. Parshley, my West Jr. High teacher who taught us all that & more. Also Mr. Pappas at the High School for book keeping/accounting. I’m a slow learner, never studied the books but can function enough in life from all the teachers teachings in the W P S system. when you can balance a checkbook & the accountant said they feel guilty charging me, when I prepared the personal/ business taxes breakdowns I feel good for growing up in the time I did thanks to the teachers & everyone who prepared us for life, maybe not the fastest but very appreciated! you want to know if it’s working today, ask a kid what their balance is on their debit card. the questions that guy is asking got no idea how that improves somebodies prep for the outside world
Wow…let’s hope the election for School Committee doesn’t get tied up in nonsense. Given a few of these comments, it sounds quite possible!
It’s important to note that, in many parts of the United States, extremists seek to influence seats on school boards and often to run themselves.
Rachel Kay is clearly not one of them. But some of these questioners sure sound like that!
Thank you so much, Paul. And like Kate said, SC doesn’t have as much to do with setting curriculum anyway. But hopefully as a collective, we can make a positive difference in the direction of the schools.
SC sets policy. What does that mean?
2 questions asked above not answered. Does this candidate support CRT or not?
She must have an opinion…yes or no?
Parents, pay attention please
What you are really asking Sid, is will she be willing to turn a blind eye to bigotry here and elsewhere, isn’t it? I hope not.
Sid, if people didn’t think critically about race, we’d have never fought a civil war to end slavery. Get your head out of the garbage pail known as Fox News.
Dude, unless they’re watching Fox News all the time most people have never even heard of crt. And the people who hear about it on Fox News are actually less informed than those who know nothing.
To the extent that critical race theory is a real thing (and it’s been a relatively obscure academic discipline for decades), it’s not something that can be given a yes or no to or have a meaningful convo about in the comments here. If your actual goal is getting a meaningful opinion, as opposed to knee-jerk silly fear-mongering, call her up and ask her.
Yeah so here we go blame one conservative news site when your brain washed by 900 liberal news stations not telling you the truth. Education has fallen in public school. Dumbing down of critical programs around math science and adding CRT. Crt is the most racist thing and you dont need foxnews just common sense. Children are not politcal pawns for anyone but marxist left. I will fight crt in our community
Crt is a real thing itsvery racist i heard from my 10yr old who told us.. they are teaching us that america is racist.. if your white your bad and guilty of racism. And dr kings family and other civil leaders of the black community are against it
Which school does your 10 year old attend?
Please read about Ma school committee online or better yet the minutes from the Sc or reach out to the chair of policy or SC chair if you want to get more understanding around what policy means. Better yet if you have questions about curriculum, then sending an email
Or phone call to the assistant Super; who normally drives curriculum) would be most efficient.
I would like to see Lilly step down. Never had the best interest of students in Watertown just an agenda.
Her agenda IS the best interests of the students. Clearly that is not yours.
Why don’t you run?
Dont attack people.. must be left