Margaret Albright

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Margaret Albright

Prior offices

Newton Public Schools school board Ward 2

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Report an officeholder change

Education

Graduate

Northeastern University

Personal

Profession

Consultant

Contact

Personal website

Margaret Albright is the Ward 2 representative on the Newton Public Schools school board in Massachusetts. First elected in 2013, Albright won a new term in the by-district general election on November 7, 2017.

Albright participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 school board candidate survey. Click here to read her responses.

Before she was elected to the board, Albright unsuccessfully ran for a seat in 2011.

Biography

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Albright resides in Newton, Massachusetts. She earned a bachelor's degree in music before earning an M.B.A. from Northeastern University. She has worked in several different fields, including arts management, technology, public broadcasting, and nonprofit consulting. Along with serving on the Education Committee of the Newton League of Women Voters, she co-founded NewtonSTEM to promote STEM education in the school district.

Elections

2017

See also: Newton Public Schools elections (2017)

Eight seats on the Newton Public Schools School Committee were up for general election on November 7, 2017. All nine seats on the board were up for election. The ninth seat on the board was held by the mayor of Newton, but was not covered by Ballotpedia as the city fell outside of municipal elections coverage.

In the race for the open Ward 1 seat, Bridget Ray-Canada defeated Kathleen Marchi. In Ward 2, incumbent Margaret Albright won re-election, defeating former candidate Cyrus Vaghar, whom she had previously defeated in 2015. Anping Shen won the race for the open Ward 3 seat, defeating Eileen Sandberg. Incumbents Diana Fisher Gomberg, Steven Siegel, and Ruth Goldman ran unopposed for the Ward 4, 5, and 6 seats, respectively, and newcomer Kathleen Shields ran unopposed for the open Ward 7 seat. The race for the open Ward 8 seat was won by Matthew Miller. He defeated Gail Spector in the general election.

Results

Newton Public Schools, Ward 2 General Election, 2-year term, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Margaret Albright Incumbent	83.71%	12,103
Cyrus Vaghar	16.12%	2,331
Write-in votes	0.17%	24
Total Votes		14,458
Source: City of Newton, "11/07/17 Local Election Official Results," accessed December 8, 2017

Funding

See also: Campaign finance in the Newton Public Schools election

Albright began the race with an existing account balance of $2,084.54 from her previous campaign. She reported $350.00 in contributions and $93.77 in expenditures to Newton Elections Office, which left her campaign with $2,340.77 on hand in the election.

Endorsements

Albright was endorsed by Wicked Local Newton.

2015

See also: Newton Public Schools elections (2015)

The Newton School Committee consists of nine members, eight of whom are elected to two-year terms. The ninth member and chair of the board is the Mayor of Newton. The other eight members of the board are elected at large, although each member represents a different ward in the school district. The general election was held on November 3, 2015. All eight seats were on the ballot in 2015.

All incumbents sought re-election; only two saw challengers on the ballot. Ward 2 incumbent Margaret L. Albright defeated Cyrus Vaghar, while Ward 5 incumbent Steven Siegel won re-election against Susan Huffman.

The following incumbents won re-election unopposed: Ellen P. Gibson in Ward 1, Angela Pitter-Wright in Ward 3, Diana Fisher Gomberg in Ward 4, Ruth E. Goldman in Ward 6, Matt Hills in Ward 7, and Margie Ross Decter in Ward 8.

Results

Newton School Committee, Ward 2, General Election, 2015
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Margaret L. Albright Incumbent	78.7%	5,836
Cyrus Vaghar	21.2%	1,573
Write-in votes	0.12%	9
Total Votes		7,418
Source: Newton Election Commission, "November 3, 2015 Official Results," accessed December 17, 2015

Funding

The Newton Election Commission does not publish and freely disclose school board candidate campaign finance reports. If you have any information regarding the campaign finance disclosures in this race, please contact the school board elections team at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify any official endorsements for Albright in the election.

2013

See also: Newton Public Schools elections (2013)

Albright defeated fellow newcomer Andrea R. Steenstrup for the vacant Ward 2 seat in the general election on November 5, 2013.

Results

Newton Public Schools, Ward 2 General Election, 2-year term, 2013
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Margaret L. Albright	52.6%	5,107
	Nonpartisan	Andrea R. Steenstrup	47.2%	4,585
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0.2%	19
Total Votes				9,711
Source: Newton, Massachusetts, "Official Results - November 5, 2013," accessed December 18, 2013

Funding

Albright reported $3,919.15 in contributions along with an existing balance of $242.50 and $1,370.70 in expenditures along with $763.84 in outstanding liabilities to the Newton Election Commission, which left her campaign with $2,027.11 on hand in the election.

Endorsements

Albright was endorsed by the Newton TAB.

2011

See also: Past elections in Newton Public Schools

Newton Public Schools, Ward 2 General Election, 2-year term, 2011
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Nonpartisan	Jonathan Yeo Incumbent	64.5%	5,488
	Nonpartisan	Margaret L. Albright	35.4%	3,016
	Nonpartisan	Write-in votes	0%	4
Total Votes				8,508
Source: Newton, Massachusetts, "City of Newton November 8, 2011 Municipal Election Official Results," accessed November 19, 2013

Campaign themes

2017

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's school board candidate survey

Margaret Albright participated in Ballotpedia's 2017 survey of school board candidates. In response to the question "What do you hope to achieve if elected to the school board?" the candidate stated on September 22, 2017:

“

Full day kindergarten. Later start time for high school students. Address the opportunity gap with better coordination between school day and after school programs. Begin the next phase of our long-range facilities plan to remodel or replace ageing schools. Ensure we have the space/capacity to deal with a growing student population. Have longer-range financial plans that adapt to the reality of shrinking federal and state funding.

”

Ranking the issues

The candidate was asked to rank the following issues based on how they should be prioritized by the school board, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. Each ranking could only be used once.

Education policy
Click here to learn more about education policy in Massachusetts.
Education on the ballot

Issue importance ranking
Candidate's ranking	Issue
1	Closing the achievement gap
2	Balancing or maintaining the district's budget
3	Expanding arts education
4	Improving education for special needs students
5	Improving relations with teachers
6	Improving post-secondary readiness
7	Expanding school choice options

“	There is more than an achievement gap, there is an opportunity gap for many students. We need to address the school day and beyond.	”
—Margaret Albright (September 22, 2017)

Positions on the issues

The candidate was asked to answer eight questions from Ballotpedia regarding significant issues in education and the school district. The questions are highlighted in blue and followed by the candidate's responses. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions. The candidate was also provided space to elaborate on their answers to the multiple choice questions.

Should new charter schools be approved in your district? (Not all school boards are empowered to approve charter schools. In those cases, the candidate was directed to answer the question as if the school board were able to do so.)
No. Under Massachusetts law a charter school could not be permitted in our district so this question is not relevant.
Which statement best describes the ideal relationship between the state government and the school board? The state should always defer to school board decisions, defer to school board decisions in most cases, be involved in the district routinely or only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement.
The state should only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. Our relationship with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is defined by the 1993 Education Reform law.
Are standardized tests an accurate metric of student achievement?
No. Standardized tests in my view ensure that schools are teaching the standards required and are providing students with the instruction needed to meet their needs. They are to help the adults adjust their instruction to reach all students. I believe in high expectations for all students - and all means all.
How should the district handle underperforming teachers? Terminate their contract before any damage is done to students, offer additional training options, put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve or set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district?
Put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve.
Should teachers receive merit pay?
No. I don't envision this as merit pay, but it would be great to have a teacher compensation system that is less rigid and allows for teacher leaders and teacher mentors to be compensated outside the standard steps and increases.
Should the state give money to private schools through a voucher system or scholarship program?
No.
How should expulsion be used in the district?
Massachusetts has very restrictive laws regarding expulsion. We can only expel for weapons, assaulting a teacher or selling drugs and even then the school district is required to offer an alternative educational experience.
What's the most important factor for success in the classroom: student-teacher ratio, the curriculum, teachers, parent involvement or school administration?
Teachers. Research is clear that principal leadership and is key to a successful school and that principal leadership and high quality teaching are essential for student success.

Candidate website

Albright highlighted the following issues on her campaign website:

“	An excellent education for every Newton student Implementing Full Day Kindergarten will ensure that Newton keeps pace with other districts in Massachusetts. Our kindergartners now have one of the shortest days among our neighboring districts giving teachers little time to teach, students little time to learn and grow, and causing enormous hardship for working families. More than 90% of districts in Massachusetts offer full day kindergarten. It’s time for Newton to join them. As a school committee member I spearheaded ensuring that full day kindergarten be part of planning beginning in the summer of 2017. I am also working with school administration to find ways to increase the capacity of our after school programs so that every elementary student who needs one has a quality after school experience. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommended later school start times for adolescents. Newton is now seriously planning a school day for our high school students that not only starts later, but dismisses by 3 PM ensuring students have time for the extracurricular and sports activities that are vital for a well rounded high school experience. The schedule s of both high schools will also be aligned to allow for cross registration in Career & Technical Ed and advanced classes. As a school committee member I will work to ensure that this process stays on track and that there is reasonable and attainable plan for implementation. Solving our long-term budget issues This year’s budget was the first in many years that necessitated staffing cuts. This is not a one-year blip. Rising costs of benefits, transportation and other expenses far outstrip the 2.5% increase in our tax levy. In addition, Newton’s enrollment continues to grow adding to budget pressures. At the same time school districts across the country are seeing cuts in federal education funding – cuts that affect both local school districts and our state department of education’s programs and grants. The challenge for our school committee is to make sure we continue to make progress like adopting full day kindergarten while also addressing the realities of the budget. I bring a deep understanding of state and federal education policy and programs, 25 years of non-profit management experience and an education that includes an MBA to this task. Embarking on the next stage of long-range planning for our buildings and facilities By the fall of 2019 three new or newly renovated elementary schools will be open. In addition, the city awaits word from the Massachusetts School Building Authority about funds to renovate the Aquinas Campus buildings for elementary and pre-school space. This represents significant progress in addressing our school facilities – long overlooked in Newton. While these projects offer a good measure of relief to our school crowding, too many schools continue to be overcrowded, in poor condition, or both. Through the student assignment working group we will be looking at how we can ease the crowding in schools on the north side where school population growth has been most rapid. We also need to look at our middle school capacity as our district continues to grow, as well as how we can provide appropriate space for our special programs. We also cannot lose sight of what the future may bring. The short-sighted sale of schools in the 1980’s has left us precious little space for the expansion now needed 30 years later. Our long range plans need to anticipate our future needs not just our current program. That means planning ahead for the vision of Newton Schools in the future, not just the Newton Schools of today. A vision and purpose for our district that emphasizes continuous improvement Genuine two-way communications with students, parents, teachers, the City Council, the Mayor’s office and the community at large are critical to moving Newton Public Schools along a path of continuous improvement. Every parent wants to see their child do well and parents should be our partners in educating students. As a school committee member I’ve championed the use of surveys to collect family, student and teacher input. I’ve encouraged the superintendent to hire a part-time communications specialist to help keep the website up-to-date and begin to use other communication channels with families including better messaging through social media. Next steps in communication include a regular school district newsletter and better use of student information systems. A vision for the future also includes revisiting our strategic plan. Newton now operates from multi-year system-wide goals. This is a great start for a plan which looks ahead and incorporates the financial and enrollment realities we face – something that was not part of the last planning process. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the committee and the superintendent and his staff is setting a long-term vision for the future.	”
—Margaret Albright (2017)

2015

Albright's campaign website listed the following themes for 2015:

“	An excellent education for every Newton student Implementing Full Day Kindergarten would ensure that Newton keeps pace with other districts in Massachusetts. Our kindergartners now have one of the shortest days among our neighboring districts giving teachers little time to teach, students little time to learn and grow, and causing enormous hardship for working families. More than 90% of districts in Massachusetts offer full day kindergarten. It's time for Newton to join them. Fees reduce student participation in programs important for their development, such as music and drama. We must work towards elimination of fees on the arts. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommended later school start times for adolescents. We must continue to study and plan for how we could make this change. We also must work with our neighboring school districts to encourage change state-wide. As more districts make plans, implementing this important goal will be easier to accomplish. A reasonable and attainable long-range plan for our buildings and facilities The first of three new of newly rebuilt schools, Angier, will open in January on time and on budget. The Zervas and Cabot projects are now in the pipeline. While these projects offer some relief to our school crowding, too many schools continue to be overcrowded and in poor condition. The purchase of the Aquinas Campus provides an opportunity to re-think our Long Range Facilities Plan. Not only must we ease the crowded schools on the north side where school population growth has been most rapid, but also plan appropriate space for our preschool and special programs. We also cannot lose sight of what the future may bring. The short-sighted sale of schools in the 1980's has left us precious little space for the expansion now needed 30 years later. Universal pre-school is often talked about by our politicians and policy-makers. Our long range plans should take those possibilities into account. A vision and purpose for our district that emphasizes continuous improvement Genuine two-way communications with students, parents, teachers, the Board of Aldermen, the Mayor’s office and the community at large are critical to moving Newton Public Schools along a path of continuous improvement. Every parent wants to see their child do well and parents should be our partners in educating students. The school committee and superintendent need to work together to craft a district improvement plan. At a time of upheaval and change in education nationwide, having a clear vision of the progress we wish Newton Schools to make will help guide our decisions. Engaging our entire community is a key priority. Curriculum review, facilities planning , student reassignment work and other issues should include parent and community representatives. We have a community with enormous talent and commitment to education. We should capitalize on that as we work together to pursue our goals.	”
—Margaret Albright (2015)

2013

Albright's campaign website listed the following campaign themes for 2013:

“	1. Provide the right instructional support for our teachers and students 2. Increase our investments in early learning 3. Cut fees on the arts and improve our support for out of school activities 4. Accelerate our investments in STEM education 5. Reinforce the progress on facilities 6. Manage our budget to maximize educational outcomes 7. Improve communications	”
—Margaret Albright (2013)

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Margaret Albright Newton Public Schools school board. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Margaret Albright - Google News

See also

• Newton Public Schools, Massachusetts
• Newton Public Schools elections (2017)
• Newton Public Schools elections (2015)
• Incumbency no guarantee of success in Nov. 3 school board elections (November 6, 2015)
• What happened in Nov.'s top board elections? (November 4, 2015)
• Newton Public Schools elections (2013)

External links

Suggest a link

• Newton Public Schools
• Office website
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook page
• Twitter account