Following are three letters to the editor that were written in support of Tom Hopcroft's campaign for the Winchester School Committee.
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To the editor:
I am writing in support of Tom Hopcroft's candidacy for the School Committee.
I taught computing, robotics, engineering, and mathematics at Winchester High School for over a decade. During that time, Tom was exceptionally supportive of teachers — especially STEM teachers like me. In his role as President and CEO of the Mass Technology Leadership Council, Tom directly benefited my students through the MassTLC Education Foundation's efforts to build the talent pipeline in computer science through K-12 education programs.
One example is his support of Technovation Girls, a program that I mentored and that has benefited many Winchester students. I know Tom to be a careful listener and a thoughtful leader at the intersection of education and technology policy, and someone who cares about equitable access to everything public education has to offer.
The Winchester community would be well served to have him on the School Committee.
David Petty
Former Winchester High School Teacher
Cambridge MA
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Dear Editor,
I am writing to support the candidacy of Tom Hopcroft for School Committee. I have known Tom for over a decade and used to sit on the board of the Education Foundation that he now Chairs. Tom is a leader who cares deeply about education, innovation, equity and mental health.
I've seen Tom act both as an advocate for his children and as a convener and facilitator in the community, bringing different voices, like mine on mental health, into a broader tech industry through an innovative podcast he is currently working to produce.
I have first hand experience working with Tom over the past few years as a faculty member in a bootcamp that he runs for women, tech leaders of color and LGBTQ tech leaders. I have seen his thoughtful leadership in tackling issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in an industry that is not known for being diverse.
These traits and many others will serve Winchester well if Tom is elected to the School Committee.
Carol Vallone
Chair, Board of Trustees
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Greetings Editor:
I am writing as the president emerita of North Shore Community College (NSCC) on behalf of Winchester School Committee candidate Tom Hopcroft. I met Tom more than five years ago when I came before the Fiscal Affairs & Administrative Policy Committee of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. Trustee Hopcroft chaired this committee and as then sitting president of NSCC I came before him and other members to make the case for supporting the College's request to the MBTA for an extension of the public transit bus lines that ended at Liberty Tree Mall to NSCC Danvers Campus, which was located 4.2 miles from the lines end.
NSCC students were struggling to find affordable transportation to the Danvers Campus which is unserved by any public transit. This had disproportionately impacted lower income students and students of color. as white student car ownership was 10-15% greater than that of black and brown students. Without a solution, many simply would not have been able to attend or stay enrolled in our college.
Recognizing the challenge of adding a bus route, Tom suggested an innovative solution, which he then pitched to Uber, resulting in the NSCC-Uber Ride Program, a unique public-private partnership offering reduced-fare rides for students traveling between our Danvers campus and public transportation stations. Not only could students get to and from campus when they reached the end of the public transit lines, this data-driven approach also generated student demand data to help in future public transit planning. In addition, the data gleaned from ridership was very helpful in later modification to free fares for those students who were income qualified for full Pell grants. The NSCC-Uber Ride Program grew over time to include many students who otherwise would not be able to attend NSCC at our Danvers or Middleton campuses. I believe post-COVID when in-person attendance grows, this alternative transportation option will be essential in supporting all our students.
I’m sharing this story to illustrate how Tom’s “out of the box” thinking, drive for equity, and broad network, enabled him to bring public and private sector leaders together for meaningful collaboration. Given all the challenges facing public education today, Winchester will be well served with Tom on its School Committee.
Sincerely,
Patricia A. Gentile, Ed.D.,
President Emerita (retired 7/20)
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