My name is Andrene Smith. I was born in Jamaica and we moved to the Bronx when I was thirteen. We didn’t have a lot, but we were taught to value family, community, and education. I bought my home in Mamaroneck five years ago because I saw those same values reflected here. I am the proud mom of a charming, curious, and charismatic eight-year-old in a district program and I am imparting those values to him.
As a first-generation immigrant, I value the richness of a diverse community. I graduated from Truman High School, a Bronx public school, at the top of my class. I majored in African & African American Studies and Political Science at Stanford University, eventually earning an MBA from Schiller International University in Paris and a law degree from Georgetown Law.
After law school, I worked at a leading law firm and for a major insurer. Currently, I am Managing Counsel of Government Affairs for a multinational bank.
I have served on the District Enrollment Task Force and the Equity Task Force, where I have partnered with many amazing stakeholders. I am a board member of Girls Inc. Westchester and prioritize my work in youth leadership.
Why are you running for the Mamaroneck School Board?
I am running for the Mamaroneck School Board to serve my community because public education is intimately tied to the vitality of our community. Our community spans three municipalities and a range of socio-economic resources, but we are all brought together through our wonderful public schools. I am eager to advocate for an inclusive, growth-minded culture where all students belong, thrive, and have equal access to opportunities.
I am passionate about centering the needs of our special education learners so families understand the complicated special education process and feel a true partnership with our schools. I am running because this past year reinforced that diverse representation will only be achieved when more diverse people run for office. I would bring the added perspective of a lawyer who also has an MBA to board decision-making, particularly on the budget.
My work experiences at the South Centre, a Geneva-based intergovernmental organization of developing nations, and the Central Brooklyn Partnership, a financial justice organization, greatly influenced me. I learned to handle complex public issues and to value community organizing and the impact of public policy on people’s lives. I am eager to use these skills to build Trust, Opportunities, and Partnerships in Larchmont-Mamaroneck.
What is the biggest issue facing our schools, and how can you help address it?
The pandemic and systemic racism are the twin crises that our school district, and indeed our entire country, must confront as we emerge from 2020. Both laid bare the disparate outcomes for certain groups of students, but the pandemic is the biggest issue facing our schools.
The pandemic’s effects will be felt for years, if not decades. I think about how the experience will define this generation of young learners. I feel immense gratitude to teachers and school administrators for keeping our kids learning over the past year, and then safely welcoming them back full-time when possible. I would encourage the district to do all it can to support the students who did not have the same resources at home as their peers to “catch up” after the months lost to the pandemic. It must also continue the important work to address the social and emotional needs of students while assuring the health and safety of our teachers. Like adults, many children need to be appropriately re-socialized after a year of relative isolation. An emphasis should be put on team-building, collaboration, and working together in groups.
Teachers and students should have access to needed counseling and support.