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Liz O’Neil

by

Running forWard 11 School Board
in 2023

Running as Non-Partisan Election

Background info

I am a proud Manchester born and raised resident and proud Central High School Grad! I have been inspired by the Manchester School District teachers throughout my entire career and many of them are the reason I became a teacher myself. It would be an honor to work hard and support them and the families of the Manchester School District.

Prior political experience/offices

None! First time candidate

Current jobHigh School English Teacher at Concord High School in Concord NH

Time lived in NHAlmost my whole life! I was born and raised in Manchester and I lived in Epping for about two years after grad school and moved back to Manchester in 2021.

Education

Manchester public school grad, Central High School
B.A in Literature and Writing from Emmanuel College, Boston
M.Ed in Secondary English Education from Boston College

WebsiteLiz O'Neil for Manchester

Social NetworksFacebookInstagram

Why are you running for this office?

I’m running for School Board here in Ward 11 because I believe that the children in our community deserve to grow up in a city that invests in them. As a public school teacher myself, I know this requires well-funded public education, safe and supportive places for them to grow and learn, and a community of people ready to do the work to make this happen. I grew up here and I have experienced firsthand how valuable a Manchester public school education is. I want to be a part of this hard-working community and create the brightest future for the children of the community.

What qualifies you as the best candidate for this office?

As a public school educator, it is my job to understand the needs of students and families and create meaningful ways to ensure these needs are met. As a school board member, I would bring my expertise to the larger scale of the Manchester School District. I would advocate for the children, families, and educators of the Manchester School District. I would also work to help folks in the community interpret the complicated and jargon-y language used in education. In my current role as a teacher at Concord High, I am part of the MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) and Restorative Justice Leadership teams, we work to look at building community and culture that includes all members of the school. We also look at practices within the school through an equity lens, to ensure that students and faculty are supported. My experience in this work would translate to the changes in behavioral policies that the MSD is trying to make. I would also bring my experience teaching in unleveled classes and in developing professional development to advocate for teachers and their learning, As the district shifts to unleveled classes, teachers need support in learning how to best educate in this setting.

What are your thoughts on the Manchester School District's relationship to city government?

I think the decision for the autonomy of the school district should be left up to the voters. I support school board autonomy because it would give the Manchester community the opportunity to see clearly how much money the schools are getting and where money is being spent. The Manchester School Board is made up of thoughtful citizens who want what is best for the schools. They make their decisions based on varied data and should be trusted to make those decisions with the whole community in mind. If nothing else, there would be transparency and accountability.

What are your thoughts and plans for the number of public schools needed in Manchester (with breakdown of elementary/middle/high schools in that number?)

This is something I am still learning about. I think that the schools are in need of updating and I understand that this would require some closing and shifting. I am concerned that the closure of some elementary schools in some of our most high-need areas would negatively impact the community. As an urban area, Manchester families need walkable neighborhood schools; these schools serve as community hubs for many.

What are your thoughts/plans on improving grade-level proficiency scores?

I think there are a lot of ways to approach this issue. I’d like to learn more about what the MSD is currently doing to improve scores. However, I think it’s important to keep class sizes small; use current data to provide targeted supports for students; ensure that staff have appropriate professional development and coaching when it comes to literacy and numeracy. It is important for staff to feel a culture of support when it comes to working with coaches and support staff when bringing in these practices. I also think that creating culturally sustaining curriculum is necessary for increased learning and engagement. This means working to make sure that students feel that their cultures and communities are invested in and represented at the classroom level. For example, we can do this by encouraging school and classroom libraries to include multi-lingual books.

How would you address student equity?

Equity means making sure that each student has what they need to be successful. This does not mean students each get the same set of tools. Ensuring student equity requires many of the things I’ve discussed in other answers. It’s important that staff are adequately trained on practices that support the learning of all students. For example, Universal Design for Learning is a teaching method that considers all students when creating lessons, ensuring that all needs are met in the lesson planning stage rather than requiring teachers to adapt in the moment. This is an especially helpful tool in an unleveled classroom! I want to work to make sure that student behavior and conduct policies are equitable. The MSD continues to update and replace policies that do not effectively support all learners. I would work to create multi-tiered systems that provide the emotional and behavioral support of all students and staff.

What are your thoughts on extra-curricular offerings in Manchester public schools?

As an educator, I know that students are more likely to succeed when they have multiple connections within their school communities. Extra-curricular opportunities are vital to this; sports, theatre, STEAM camps all allow students to explore their interests, strengthen their communication skills, and build connections with peers and staff that they might not meet during the regular school day. These opportunities help create well-rounded 21st-century learners. Because these opportunities are so vital to the success of children in the community, we must ensure that all children have equitable access. Elementary school children who need bussing across town after school should have the opportunity to take a late bus so they can participate in these programs.

What are your thoughts on per-pupil expenditures/costs per student?

The cost per pupil expenditures in Manchester are some of the lowest in the state, well below the state average. I think this data is an important guide for the BOSC to help identify areas of need within the community.

What are your thoughts on attracting and retaining high-quality Manchester School District staff?

This is one of the most important goals of the Manchester School District. As the nation faces a teacher shortage, we are starting to feel the full effects in NH. Positions remain unfilled as the school year starts and building administrators are left scrambling to find ways to fill in the gaps. This hurts all of our students. We must work to attract high-quality educators and we must keep them in Manchester! In order to do this, we need to ensure that Professional Development meets the needs of all staff and that all staff are competitively paid. As an educator with professional development experience, one of my priorities would be to listen to current staff and help create professional development opportunities to help them best support the children in their classrooms.

What are your thoughts on the Manchester School District's relationship with private schools, charter schools and other school districts that have tuition agreements with Manchester?

As a public school educator, I support public money for public schools.

What are your thoughts on and plans on school safety?

I think its important to consider the facilities plan when looking at school safety. We need to know that buildings are structurally safe for students and that external access to buildings is tightly monitored. We must also consider a multifaceted approach to school safety. I’d like to learn more about the role of facilities in terms of school safety. While School Resource Officers are an important part of school safety, we need to consider whether or not all students’ basic needs are met. It is highly important that Nurse’s offices are fully staffed in each school building. We need to ensure that school communities are places where every student feels safe being themselves and truly sees themselves represented in their learning, the books they read, and the people who teach them.

What are your thoughts on and/or plans for addressing remote learning/other uses of technology in local education?

I think in order to have meaningful remote work, whether that be scheduled through VLACS or remote days due to weather, all students need to have accessible and reliable internet connection in their homes. This is also a necessity for student homework success. I think the continued use of district chrome books at home and in school buildings is necessary as well.

What are your thoughts on or plans for addressing vocational and career-focused educational initiative?

I think this is an important initiative. The Manchester School of Technology provides vital training for so many of our students. This program provides them with the opportunity to prepare for careers from industry experts. I think this program is necessary for the success of the larger Manchester community and the Manchester School District should continue to invest in it.

What are your thoughts on as well as plans for addressing issues and costs related to Special Education/IEPs?

I believe that public education is a right that all children are endowed with and that it is the city’s responsibility to provide equitable education to all students and families. This includes supporting the diverse needs of learners. The Manchester School District has clear parameters for this that should be followed. I believe that MSD should continue working with area agencies such as Manchester Mental Health to provide resources to students.