Elechi Kadete
2015 Candidate for Cambridge School Committee
Home address:
10 Laurel St.
Cambridge, MA 02139
Contact information:
Tel: 617-504-1679
website:
e-mail: ekadete@brandeis.edu
Facebook:
Twitter:
Send contributions to:
The Committee to Elect Elechi Kadete
10 Laurel St.
Cambridge MA, 02139
Focused On Our Future
Background:
My name is Elechi Kadete. I was born in Tanzania, East Africa. I have lived in Cambridge, MA since I was 4 years old. I received my elementary and high school education at the then Joseph Maynard School, the Maria Baldwin School, and Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. In 2012, I graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in business and minor politics.
Cambridge's outstanding public school system and programs offers students of all races, economic backgrounds, and learning aptitudes incredible opportunities. Many parents and students wisely take advantage of the resources Cambridge has to offer. At the same time many parents and students remain unaware. Let us all work together to make everyone aware of these opportunities in order to help each student achieve his and her academic potential.
What makes me DIFFERENT?
I am the only candidate running for school committee who is a recent graduate of the Cambridge public school system. I went to a four-year university, graduated, and presently working in Cambridge.
In addition I have seen firsthand the results of the Cambridge public school system. I have friends who went on to college then to acquire a higher education degree. On the other hand, I have many talented friends who were unable to attend college, acquire an education, hold a steady job, and now many of them struggle. For a city with incredible resources such as Cambridge this is unacceptable.
What would I do differently?
- Implement Khan Academy (Free, world-class educational tool/platform)
- Promote and make better use of the Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA)
- Algebra 1 by the sixth grade
- Attract and retain more teachers of color
Top Priorities
- Improvement of special needs programs
- An excellent, high-quality education for all students
- Closing the Achievement Gap
- The World Language K-5 Language Immersion Programs
- Algebraic Thinking
Special Needs Education
To provide the support and resources students with special needs require, we must offer families passion commitment via specialized teachers and experts in the field.
Early Education Programs
We have seen that universal junior kindergarten is not accessible to all our children. I strongly believe the Cambridge Public School System has the resources to open junior kindergarten to all our children. Early education is important because it teaches
- How to share
- Behave in an educational and social setting
- Provides confidence and head start going into kindergarten
We must engage our early learners to recognize their potential and set the foundation for a successful path through the Cambridge public school system.
Engaging Families
Communication between the families of the students and the teachers needs to be improved. We must clarify the role which the school administration plays to inform the educational community of Cambridge.
- Support parents in helping their children at home
- Frequently communicate with parents
- Make all families feel welcome into our schools
- Find ways to encourage more parent participation.
The World Language K-5 Language Immersion Programs
The World Languages and K-5 Language Immersion Programs are vital as we prepare our future workforce for an increasingly competitive world. In the past, international powers found that learning English was necessary for success. Our children will be expected to be fluent in foreign languages as the world globalizes further.
Greater Support and Professional Development for Teachers
Professional development for teachers is significant because it allows teachers to grow and further their careers, and at the same time it allows them to turn around and continue to offer an excellent education for our students. What can we do for our teachers?
- Provide growth opportunities and leadership for teachers, paid continuous learning opportunities.
- Offer incentives to outstanding teachers who continue to perform well and grow
- Provide for a better work/life balance for our teachers
Closing the Achievement Gap
The current generation of students has the potential to achieve the highest degree of expertise in any field they choose. Helping all of our young people access online educational platforms such as Khan Academy, which offers personalized learning in a multitude of subjects, can create a reduction in the achievement gap.
Letter submitted to Cambridge Chronicle:
Dear Cambridge Residents,
My name is Elechi Kadete and I am running for Cambridge School Committee. This is my second time running as I previously ran in 2013.
I have lived in Cambridge almost all my life. I came to Cambridge from Tanzania, East Africa when I was four years old. My entire elementary and high school education was attained in Cambridge. I attended the then Joseph Maynard School, the Mariah Baldwin School and Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. For College I attended Green Mountain College in Vermont and later transferred to Brandeis University from which I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a minor in politics in 2012.
I am running for School Committee because I believe I can make a difference as I am in touch with Cambridge youth. I feel blessed that in Cambridge, I was able to attend school with others from various walks of life. My schoolmates were the children of University Professors, doctors, High tech specialists as well as people who were on public assistance. My schoolmates were of different races and religions, but we sat in one class and we were friends and remain so. I have seen the many struggles and many successes of my schoolmates. I have seen kids who were smart and qualified to go to college unable to go because they could not get the necessary funding. Some have ended up on public assistance. A mind is a terrible thing to waste, yet in Cambridge, with all its resources, it happens too often.
I would like to see equal opportunity for all Cambridge students as the city spends a large amount of money on each student. Cambridge should be the Top scoring Public School System in the state of Massachusetts but it is not. Cambridge is home to world renowned Universities like Harvard and MIT; we should also have world renowned public schools.
I ask for your Number One vote, so that I can get on the Cambridge School Committee and help make a difference for the children of Cambridge.
Thanks for reading,
Elechi Kadete
CCTV candidate video (2015)