My husband and I moved to this community in 2003 and we have three children. One attends Hommocks, one attends MHS and one is a recent MHS graduate. I received a B.A. from Tufts University with a major in Child Development and Community Health, and a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Yeshiva University.
I have extensive district experience. In the Mamaroneck schools, I’m currently the Co-Chair of the Student Support Committee (formerly the Special Education PTA known as SEPTA), a member of the District Equity Team and have held numerous other PTA leadership positions. Previously, I served as a Steering Committee member of the district’s Enrollment Task Force.
In the larger community, I serve on the Board of the Friends of the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Community Counseling Center and on the new L-M Connects initiative. I am also the Chair of the Camp Council of The URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy, a non-profit STEM camp, and have served Larchmont Temple in several leadership positions including the Board of Trustees and the nursery school and youth education committees. For a full list of my leadership roles, please see https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelemetsch/
Why I’m running for the BoE:
I would love the opportunity to serve the students, families and residents of Larchmont and Mamaroneck. Through the years of collaboration with many community stakeholders, I have gained a thorough knowledge of, and appreciation for, the different aspects of the MUFSD and varying needs of our community. I believe that I have the right background, experience and dedication to our school district to make a positive contribution. As an active community leader, I have demonstrated my ability to work hard, think critically, and solve problems with compassion.
I am passionate about the education and well-being of the students and families in our community. I have a deep understanding of our district and am well informed about child development, education research, pedagogy and policy. I listen carefully and consider the views of others in order to understand multiple facets of a situation. I employ a research-based method to approach challenges in order to ensure best ideas and practices are incorporated. If elected, I will use my knowledge and experience to make balanced and informed decisions with the goal of helping our students find confidence, connection, and academic success.
What is the biggest issue facing our schools, and how can you help address it?
I see some pressing challenges for the MUSFD at this time. We have a very fresh administrative team in the district. We will be welcoming a new Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction and our Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services began in January 2023. Additionally, we have newer, untenured administrative teams in all of our school buildings with only 2 tenured Assistant Principals among them. While new personnel provide a great opportunity for new ideas and perspectives, it can also risk losing institutional knowledge and the depth of understanding of the needs of our community. I believe that my 14 years of experience of volunteering in the school district will help to bridge that knowledge gap and provide historical context and continuity to the district.
Many parents are concerned about the academic progress of their children, especially in the areas of reading and writing. We are at an important crossroads in this area with emerging research and policy trends towards utilizing more phonics based and multi-sensory approaches in the teaching of literacy. While I am not an educator, I have a good understanding of the current research and opportunities for changes in how we teach reading and writing to make sure our students master these essential skills.
Additionally, a continued issue is the increase in emotional and behavioral challenges faced by our students. This impacts our classrooms and the ability of students to fully engage in learning. While these challenges existed before the pandemic, they have grown significantly for our students here and around the country. We need to continue to identify and support the needs of our students, while equipping our faculty, staff and administrators with the tools and resources to do this important work. My training as a clinical psychologist and education in child development, provides me with important insight and knowledge in this area. I am familiar with trauma informed practices and understand emerging trends in pedagogy that will inform our responses in order to maximize learning outcomes and well-being.