Candidate Q&A: Gretchen Amrein Sonju

Name:

Gretchen Amrein Sonju

Party, Position Seeking:

Democrat for Board of Education

Background:

I grew up in Canton and went through the Canton Public Schools.  While attending school in Canton I took advantage of the small, close-knit and supportive community it was. During my tenure Canton was known for being a competitive school both academically and athletically. We had some of the top athletic teams in the state. Canton also had a wonderful alternative route — woodworking and auto shop, home economics and so forth.

I attended Saint Michael’s College in Winooski, Vermont.  At Saint Michael’s I studied Political Science and was a member of the Ski team and M.O.V.E., a school organization that focused on volunteerism throughout Vermont, the United States and the Global community.  

After college I traveled across the country deciding to make my first real home away from home — Missoula, Montana. In Montana I was a Para -educator at a local intermediate school; it was this experience that led me on the path to teaching.

After completing my degree in Secondary Education in Maine — I moved to New York. I lived in NYC with my family for 7 1/2 years where I taught 7-12th grade Social Studies and was the Community Service Director at a college preparatory school on the Upper West side.

When we moved to Canton I first worked at Stepping Stones Educational Center. Here I was able to be with my children while still engaging in the work I love- being with kids! My children came with me each day and I was with my dad, who owns the center. It was a great place to be while I once again went back to school. In 2009, I completed a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Saint Joseph College.

I currently sit on the Board of Education in Canton as a member of the policy and facilities committees and teach at Avon Middle School.

Family information:

I live in Canton with my husband, Andreas, two beautiful daughters: one attends Cherry Brook Primary School and the other is in the 4-year-old Pre-School at Stepping Stones Educational Center, and a dog, Samson.

My parents, also residents, divide their time between Canton and New London, Ct. — and my sister (also a graduate of the Canton Schools) is currently living in New Zealand with her husband and two children.

Occupation:

I am a teacher at Avon Middle School.

Political Experience:

I was appointed to the Board in 2009 to fill a position that had been vacated. 

This is my first experience running for a political office. 

Other Relevant Experience, Community Service:

My husband and I currently coach our daughter’s soccer team. This has been such a fun experience — getting to know children and parents that we otherwise have had little or no contact with. Canton truly has a wonderful youth sports program. 

I am also one of the new leaders of the Canton Trailblazers (a hiking program that works with the Canton Land trust to expose young children to all that nature has to offer.) We just recently hosted out first hike at the Mary Conklin property and will be gearing up for the next hike on Nov. 20. It is a unique program and children and parents alike get so much enjoyment out of the activities: snowshoeing, full moon hiking, orienteering and more.

Member of the Board of Education: I have been on the communications and negotiations committees and currently sit on the facilities and policy committees. Throughout my two years on the board I have had the opportunity to take part in many important decisions for the community. I am proud of the work we have completed and excited to forge ahead on the next set of tasks.

In the past I have also been a room parent, PTO member and a participant in other various town activities.

Why are you running for office?

Canton is a wonderfully unique community. We owe it to our children to maintain the integrity of the town and with that sustain our wonderful education system. 

Our children deserve passionate and committed individuals who are willing to work hard for them and the system.

I am that person. I am an educator and I believe in the educational system. I have the unique perspective of having seen schools work from all different lenses- public, private, teaching, administrating, and now as a member of the Board of Education. 

I strongly believe this understanding of the intricacies of the system has helped in formulating questions, making recommendations and communicating to various departments within the schools. We have a terrific board, a fabulous Superintendent and a wonderful staff in our schools. I am honored to work with them — and would love the opportunity to continue. 

We have an extraordinary school system and together we can make it even better.

What skills do you have that you could bring to the community?

I believe that together the community makes a difference — what I bring to the table is a strong commitment to education. A desire to work with others to make the Canton School System the best it can be. I work well with the current board members, and I already have a strong working knowledge of the board, its role in the community and the schools, a relationship with the central office and a vision of where we are going as a school system.

If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus?

The communications committee has done a tremendous job in the past two years — as a former member of that committee — I would like to see us continue working to make sure all members of our schools and greater community are informed.

I believe it is also our charge to look and analyze the data with administration to make sure that ALL students are being reached, challenged and making appropriate progress in their education.

Finally as a community we must make sure that we are providing our students with the tools necessary to make their next life step at the time of graduation.

Name something the school system has done well over the past four years.

These have been challenging times for towns and especially for education. As schools scramble to make deadlines, reach proficiency and excellence on tests, and comply with 21st century learning initiatives they are also struggling with the realism that money is tight- schools are receiving less money from the Federal Government, State Government and Local Government. The Canton Board of Education has done an amazing job of looking outside the confines of traditional revue generating and created new programs to help the district remain competitive. We have worked hard to maintain fiscal responsibility without jeopardizing the integrity of the schools. This is a conversation that at least in the immediate future is going to have to continue — we have to be creative.

The Canton Board of Education has also done a wonderful job at revamping our communications plan in order to make certain we are getting our information out to all members of the community, not solely the school community.  We have updated the website, participated in information gathering surveys, and changed the format of our mailings- in order to address topics the greater community should be aware and informed of.

The Canton Schools have also made huge progress in becoming greener.  We have made a commitment to lowering our energy use, to addressing failing structures and to creating a healthy and safe environment for our children.

What is something the town could have done better during the past four years?

Not answered