Jeff Friedman, School Committee candidate
School Committee candidate
Three educators. Most of us can name at least one. Someone that took the time to guide us. To motivate us. Someone that pushed us to be something more. A tough-loving soccer coach. A compassionate counselor. A third-grade teacher that made school fun and engaging.
My desire to continue with the School Committee can best be illustrated by three educators:
Mr. Milan. He taught AP English and AP Art History in Westwood, Mass. He was brilliant. Opinionated. A gifted artist. An overwhelming presence. It was difficult not to be influenced by Mr. Milan. My classmates and I frequently found our way to his office (more like a converted closet) to geek-out about James Joyce or TS Eliot or Pink Floyd or Michelangelo or whatever TV show was popular in the mid / late 80s. He stayed hours after the final bell to talk to a bunch of kids. Like our voices mattered. He pushed me to write poetry of my own and become editor of the school literary journal (“no parenthesis”). I wrote the following on his “Legacy” page upon hearing of his passing in 2012 and every word remains true:
My friends and colleagues have always known my voice – most often to looks of “does he ever close his mouth.”
Mr. Milan helped, encouraged, pushed me to find that voice. If there is immortality in what we give to others, then mine is among many voices that will carry his legacy.
Professor Boshoff. How often can we go back to a highlighted line of text and say: “that changed my perspective?” Prof. Boshoff taught English Literature at Skidmore College. My sophomore year he facilitated an introductory literature class that featured multiple novellas, including: James Joyce’s “The Dead,” Joseph Conrad’s “The Heart of Darkness,” and Thomas Pynchon’s “The Crying of Lot 49.” “The Crying of Lot 49”was a particularly difficult read (as are all of his works). In the middle of the novella I highlighted a paragraph… and one sentence in particular:
But the reality was in this head.
Suddenly it made sense. Lots of things made sense. Prof. Boshoff described this as “metafiction” – when the 4th wall between the writer and reader is breached. To me it meant I had to be an English Major as I needed more of the introspection and creativity this concept championed. Seven highlighted words became a lifetime of literature, feeding my imagination and filling my bookshelves.
Dr. Siegel. I’ve taken creative and expository writing classes since high school. One of my college writing professors even won a National Book Award. Yet, with all these courses and great educators my writing was, at best, unruly. But Law School instilled discipline – not really law school so much as Dr Siegel. Writing to effectively and efficiently win an argument. Dr. Siegel instilled brutal precision. Removing passive voice. Strict adherence to page limits to emphasize the importance of each word (a 2-page limit meant not 1-word-over.) Avoiding archaic, almost Shakespearean phrases that typically stain legal documents. Legal writing requires simplicity, efficiency and (most importantly) accessibility. The red (and blue and black when red ran out) ink of her edits obscured almost every word I wrote. I cannot imagine the hours she spent providing feedback and guidance. Dr. Siegel held a PhD in education and a JD (both from Harvard) but she also thrived while managing dyslexia. Dr. Siegel expected excellence and lived perseverance.
My family is a continual source of strength and love. They motivate me. They challenge me. They find new ways to drive me crazy! I am (re)running to help steer North Reading Public Schools during a challenging economic environment for the sake of all our families and our community. But I am also running because of the educators that shaped me.
I want my middle-school-daughter to look back and have the same fortune. North Reading has so many great educational, technical, artistic and athletic opportunities. And so many great educators. I not only want all our students to have access to an amazing experience. Like me, I want them all to find their voice, broaden their world view and expect excellence with every word they share. They deserve no less.
Noelle Rudloff, School Committee candidate
School Committee candidate
Serving on the North Reading School Committee for the past three years has been an honor and a learning experience. I’ve gained a clearer understanding of our role as School Committee members: setting policy, overseeing budgets, and guiding the district’s priorities—while also getting to learn more about and understand the curriculum and teaching methods used in the schools.
Listening to teachers, administrators, students, and the broader community has been central to my approach. I’m especially grateful to my colleagues on the School Committee for their collaboration; even if we do not always agree, it is always respectful, and to the outstanding teachers and students who inspire us.
My passion remains the same: ensuring every student receives the support they need through strong academic programs, the arts, and frameworks like MTSS and Universal Design for Learning.
As we face serious budget challenges, I am committed to advocating for transparent communication, thoughtful decision-making, and creative solutions to protect the excellence of our schools. Tackling the budget shortfall requires strong leadership and active community involvement. We as a committee and as a community must engage with town leadership, explore options, and work to safeguard the programs and staff essential to student success. In the long run, I do not want to see programs cut, I want to see programs enhanced.
Looking forward over the next three years, I want to explore ideas for keeping more students in-district, especially those with special education needs, to better serve families and manage costs. I am very interested in addressing the growing impact of social media and technology distractions on student well-being. I would also like to continue to prioritize academic excellence alongside a strong commitment to the arts, and work to strengthen the bond between our schools and the wider North Reading community.
A thriving school system benefits every resident and is vital to a vibrant, connected town. I want to close with a thank you to my community and neighbors for your continued support.