Candidate Profile: Kathy Kreatz, Medford School Committee

Medford MA

03 September, 2021

8:04 AM

Description

MEDFORD, MA — Kathy Kreatz is one of 14 candidates running for School Committee in the Sept. 14 preliminary election, which will whittle down the field of candidates ahead of the municipal election in November. There will also be a preliminary election for the mayor's race. Medford Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks. Kreatz is a current School Committee member. She lives on Fulton Street with her husband Patrick, son Noah and their pets. Kreatz ran her own business as a licensed family daycare provider and is currently in her 15th year at the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System. Are you running for office in Medford? Contact Alex Newman at [email protected] for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Medford Patch. Age (as of Election Day) 53 Position Sought School Committee Party Affiliation Democrat Family My husband Patrick, my son Noah, my pets, and I reside on Fulton Street. Combined, both families have lived in Medford for well over a half-century. I have seven siblings; four sisters and three brothers. My husband has ten siblings; seven brothers, and four sisters. The Miles and Kreatz families attended Medford Public Schools: Miles' going to the Wait Elementary School, Hobbs Jr. High, and graduating from Medford High School. The Kreatz's went to the Davenport School, Roberts Jr. High, and graduating from both Medford High School and Medford Vocational High School. My son Noah graduated from Medford Vocational Technical High School. The Kreatz family has been serving the City of Medford Fire Department for over a half-century. My Father-in-Law John J. Kreatz Jr. retired from the Medford Fire Department after 38 years of service and passed away in 1998. Also, three of my brothers-in-law have retired from the Medford Fire Department. Currently serving on the Medford Fire Department are two nephews. After I graduated from high school, I studied business administration at Suffolk University and graduated with a Bachelor's degree. My husband graduated from MVTHS and served in the US Marine Corps. My son Noah is currently attending Northeastern University. We are a proud Mustang family. Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No Education After I graduated from Medford High School, I studied business administration at Suffolk University and graduated with a Bachelor's degree. Occupation I have been employed and have over 35 years of working experience in many facets of organizations. I have also been an entrepreneur having started my own business as a licensed family daycare provider to provide quality affordable childcare. In 2006, I accepted a position with the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System (MTRS). This year I celebrated my 15th anniversary at the MTRS. Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office Medford School Committee Campaign website Here is a link to my Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/kreat... Why are you seeking elective office? Education has been a large component of my life. When re-elected, I will continue to support the whole child and ensure all students have a strong foundation to support them in life and an opportunity to reach their potential. The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it. I believe the social and emotional needs of the students are paramount. By reengaging the students back to in-person learning, it will ensure that they feel safe and will have all of the resources to achieve academic success. When re-elected I will collaborate with parents, administrators, and the Superintendent to ensure there is a safe transition from Hybrid and Remote to In-person learning. What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? I will always stand up for what I believe in. How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently? Some of the remarkable accomplishments the school committee achieved during the pandemic were: We went from in-person school to a fully remote distance learning plan. The Superintendent sent out weekly translated communications to the community and families. We used COVID-19 funding to upgrade teacher technology and provide each student with a Chromebook. We were one of the first districts to open schools for in-person learning for the most vulnerable students. We approved a staggered hybrid plan with a gradual transition to return to school safely. We offered weekly COVID-19 testing for both students and staff. Thanks to the city's partnership with Tufts University. There is always something to improve on. We should continue to collaborate with families, teachers, the community, and the administration. Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. I am strong advocate for the Medford Vocational Technical High School. What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? Currently, I'm a member of many subcommittees and I Chair the Buildings and Grounds Subcommittee. Also, I am the Chairperson of the Engineering Advisory Committee at Medford Vocational Technical High School. After the merger of Medford High School and Medford Vocational High School (MHS/MVTHS), I advocated for the vocational students to make sure students from both the MHS and MVTHS programs had a seat on the stage at graduation. In the summer of 2018, I worked together with parents, students, principals, and the yearbook advisor to highlight coverage for the vocational students by getting additional pictures added and insert pages mailed to the homes of the senior class of 2018. I met with parents and PTO members at each school to address some of their concerns with the property and grounds at each school. This included broken playground structures, the need for replacement playground mulch, landscaping updates, and repainting hopscotches. In collaboration with the Director of Building and Grounds, the issues were addressed before the start of school. During all of my terms on the school committee, I had an opportunity to visit all of the Medford Public Schools. Additionally, I attended several citywide events and activities in support of all of our schools. The best advice ever shared with me was: Always be thankful for what you have. Just do the best you can. What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? It has been a truly special experience serving the Medford Community in improving our education system.