Anne Murtha CMCSS School Board

The election is upon us; have a great day!

One of my all time favorites:

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Last Leaf Chronicle question. These should be in the paper this week. This answer speaks to my qualifications as a school board representative for District 4. Thanks in advance for your consideration!

What do you bring to the position?

I bring a lifetime of educational experience spanning all levels; kindergarten through adult. My leadership and effective collaboration skills have contributed to success in the classroom, community and in my 8 year tenure on the school board.
The COVID-19 crisis requires public school educators to be effective teaching both with traditional classroom instruction and combination on-line / live virtual instruction. We now, as do all schools, face a level of inexperience among our faculty with remote instruction. I bring 6 years of experience teaching virtually and have been a trainer for Renaissance Learning teaching teachers how to use technology. Even now, I’m teaching summer school Health remotely at the high school level.
I believe I bring a unique set of qualifications to continue as your school board member. My passion to serve the students, faculty, staff and community burns as strongly now as it did when I first took on this responsibility 8 years ago.

I ask for your support and your vote on August 6th. Thank you.

Two more questions posed by the Leaf Chronicle. Enjoy the weekend :)

What are the top issues CMCSS needs to address?

As well as CMCSS is performing in comparison to other similar districts across the state, we have a number of areas that require our immediate attention. 1. Covid 19 requires urgent attention to the effectiveness of our virtual instruction, 2. Managing the enormous growth to ensure a quality education for all students, 3. Equitable distribution of resources across the CMCSS districts, to ensure we treat all students fairly and equitably. This ensures they feel safe and secure—physically and psychologically, 4. Given the ongoing challenges our nation is facing around social injustice, education on social justice is imperative.

What changes would you like to see?

1. Covid 19 requires urgent attention to the effectiveness of our virtual instruction. Additional training for faculty and support staff on best practices for teaching on-line and virtual instruction

2. Managing the enormous growth to ensure a quality education for all students. Growing our relationship with the county commission so we can increase the level of collaboration and influence.

3. Equitable and fair distribution of resources across the CMCSS districts, treating all students equitably. I take my role as the representative for the District 4 community seriously. I work to be the conscious of the CMCSS school board and ensure our students are treated equitably. My family experienced the lack of equity when my children attended CMCSS. It is much better now due to the efforts of the current CMCSS School Board and the work of Superintendent House. We have voted to eliminate extra fees for students across the district.

4. Given the ongoing challenges our nation is facing around social injustice, education on social justice is imperative. Our system has taken a first step in addressing inequity in disciplinary actions with a new code of conduct. Also additional guidance counselors have been added across the system to address the social emotional needs of our students.

In addition to these 4 priorities, I would like to see the State of Tennessee raise teacher salaries and reduce the number of education laws that impose enormous constraints on local school districts. Far too many teachers are working second jobs to make ends meet.

Here's another answer to our Leaf Chronicle reporter. Hope it helps :)

This school year will no doubt look like no other due to COVID-19, what do you believe the priorities of the school board should be?

“Our mission is to educate and empower students to reach their potential.”

This is the mission of CMCSS and that is the priority of the school board now and as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The school system will continue to be flexible and responsive to the needs of the teachers, the staff, the parents, and the students as we work to educate our children and develop their social and emotional skills.

We have a unique opportunity to use the challenges we face now to further educate our children. Resiliency, managing change, discerning fact from opinion, and working together for the betterment of everyone are important lessons we can teach our children now since they are pivotal skills that will help each individual and the society at large. We will all need to be willing to adjust to the possibility of a new normal. Nothing could be more important than respectfully working together to weather whatever challenges come our way. I think this quote by Dr. Martin Luther King should guide us; “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”

Leaf Chronicle question that will be in the paper this week.

How long have you served on the school board, and in what capacities (leadership, key roles, etc.)?

It has been my honor to serve Clarksville Montgomery County on the school board for the last 8 years. During that time I have had the opportunity to be the School Board Chair and also the Co-chair. There are 5 levels for school board members in the State of Tennessee. I have been awarded 4 of those 5 levels up to this point. In addition I was part of the hiring team for our superintendent. My recommendation for hiring Mr. House brings me great joy as I watch him add significant value to our community. Superintendent House has been invited to serve on many state and national committees. His voice and therefore the voice of CMCSS is heard beyond the walls of this community.

Preview of the questions that will be published in the Leaf Chronicle:

Please describe your background, education and experience.

As a career educator, I have had the good fortune to teach in a number of areas in the country including New York, California, Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee. Presently I am a Faculty member for DOD where I was nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2019. I earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Education and Health; a Masters in Reading; and an Education Specialist degree at Austin Peay State University. With 30 plus years of experience I have worked 20 of those years in the classroom, 10 as a physical education instructor, and I have spent the last 6 summers teaching high school students virtually.

Let's all vote. 😀

Good Morning!