Jonathan Light, 69
Incumbent, Position 3
Springfield School Board
■ Hometown: Springfield
■ Family, Married
■ Partner occupation: Retired … children, Gavin, 37 and Bria, 36
■ Employer, occupation: Retired
■ Public sector work: Teacher for 15 years
■ Private sector work experience: Business owner for 15 years
■ Elected office held: school board from 2001-’16 and 2021-present
■ Leadership style: Inclusive
■ At your best: Creative
■ At your worst: Impatient
GUEST COLUMN
I pledge to support our schools to be safe learning environments for all students.
We must create a safe and respectful learning environment for our students, their families, and staff. We must address behavior issues that disrupt our schools and detract from others’ education. I firmly believe that with a toolbox of strategies, challenging behaviors can be significantly reduced so that more learning can take place.
We must honor all students and their families, especially students with differences. Diversity in our schools offers a richness that benefits every student’s education. However, we must remember that not every child will respond similarly to a singular curriculum. We must find a curriculum that connects with every student in a way that makes learning feel relevant and meaningful. Student engagement is the key to improved behavior and academic success. We must do better!
I pledge to listen to students, families, and staff.
We must listen. We must listen to the people doing the work, we must listen to our students and families, and we must listen to our community. For too long, there has been a disconnect between the needs of students, families, staff, and the district. Teachers and support staff are proven professionals who work with our students daily. The solutions to many educational challenges can be found by listening and acting on the input from staff, students, and families. We must do better!
I pledge to help create schools where every student finds success.
Public education’s mission is to prepare each student so that they can enter the world with the skills they need to follow their dreams. This is why I support our schools offering a complete and comprehensive education that includes all the subjects and various electives from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Our elementary students do not receive adequate instructional time in science, social studies, the arts, and social-emotional learning. This is clearly at odds with the goal of public education, which is to expose students to all subjects so they can be prepared to navigate a complex world. A comprehensive and well-rounded education is the foundation on which great schools are built. We must do better!
I would be honored to have your vote.
