To the Editor:

Serving on a board of education is an immensely important position. Although it is often a thankless job, those who serve in such a role work hard to balance the financial needs of a community while meeting the educational needs of the district’s students.

It is no secret that the landscape of education has vastly changed over the last 10 years, devolving from highly regarded project-based learning to a disproportionate emphasis placed on testing and data collection. Having board of education members who understand such educational changes and challenges is more important than ever.

As a community, we are extremely fortunate to have Tim Horan as a candidate for the Guilderland Board of Education. Mr. Horan will be an outstanding addition to the school board; his professionalism, intelligence, and teaching experience, both past and present, will assist the board in making the best-informed decisions for all stakeholders.

Mr. Horan's knowledge of pedagogy, accompanied by three decades of history and firsthand experiences with our district, will be an incredible asset in solving district issues and improving district policies for both students and staff.

Those of us who know and work with Mr. Horan are excited and proud that he has decided to run for the Guilderland School Board. Heading into retirement after 30 years of dedicated service to the education of children in Guilderland, Mr. Horan will continue his efforts by working diligently with the district to develop programs that will be sure to have a positive impact on our school community.

Improving district communication and fiscal accountability, as well as addressing drug issues and smaller class sizes are priorities that Mr. Horan will immediately explore. As a member of the Guilderland School Board, he will bring experience as a parent, community member, educator, and student advocate.

These attributes make him uniquely qualified to be an outstanding resource for all stakeholders as a Guilderland Board of Education member. Please show your support on May 16 by voting for Tim Horan.

Erin McNamara, president

Guilderland Teachers’ Association

Editor's note: See related story.