Endorsements
PERSONAL ENDORSEMENTS
Peter DeFazio, Former Congressman
Nancy Golden, former Springfield Superintendent
Jonathan Light, Springfield School Board Director
Stacey York, PhD, University STEM Workforce Development
Ingrid Nordstrom, Professor of Writing and Literature, LCC
Amy Trezona, founder of Whole Heart Meditation
Paula Thonney, Mathematics Instructor, Lane Community College
Anne McGrail Instructor, Humanities, Lane Community College
Melissa Bloomquist, Registrar, Springfield Public Schools & OSEA Chapter 4 Secretary
“Amber is an involved, hardworking, and dedicated parent who will work to improve our schools for all students.”
-Jonathan Light, longtime Springfield Board Member
Testimonials
Amber Langworthy is one of the best examples of what we can achieve with public education. Amber’s vision for public K-12 education demonstrates her commitment to our young people.
She understands the role that K-12 teaching and learning environments play in our kids’ ability to meet the challenges of our time. She knows SPS and their mission to educate Every Student, Every Day. Amber appreciates the importance of positive working conditions for educators at all levels to support our kids—teachers, classified support, principals and district leadership. She recognizes that thriving students need exposure and support across all subjects of learning for a well-rounded education and a well-rounded citizenry.
Engagement for our kids means electives and extracurricular activities and the support for them. Amber is committed to this and to hearing all voices—students and their families. She will be a careful and judicious steward of our resources, balancing the needs and requirements of our students to make the best decisions to support them even in tight fiscal times. She will also bring creative and ethical responses to the challenges that are inevitable in a diverse and inclusive society, listening to new approaches and supporting all students in a fair-minded manner.
Amber is also aware of the complexity of students’ life in our 24/7 information economy, where our kids’ attention is being marketed and sold for profit and not always in the students’ best interests. She will support age-appropriate critical awareness in our kids so that they can understand the advantages of information technology while exercising caution and restraint in their online experiences. Amber’s enthusiasm for in-person school attendance and the irreplaceable social learning that happens there make her an ideal candidate for Springfield Public School Board.
Anne McGrail
Instructor, Humanities,
Lane Community College
Committed.
Curious.
Engaged.
Belief.
Advocate.
Amber embodies values and characteristics critical for the K-12 education system.
Through her roles, Amber has committed herself to learn first-hand about the challenges in the classroom – whether it was a lack of resources, curricula that did not engage students, or policies that are meant for the greater good, but have unanticipated negative consequences. After she observed the challenges, she did what great public leaders do. She got curious and engaged the teachers, principals and families to learn the nuances and histories of the problems. She learned about past strategies that succeeded and failed. And she reflected on what a 21st century education for Springfield means. Through her belief in the potential of Springfield students and public schools, she began advocating for improvements identified by the teachers, families and schools. Examples include a decrease in classroom screen time for our earliest learners; increases in physical education programming; and strengthening, or re-introducing in many schools, science as a subject taught at the elementary level.
Amber understands that Springfield is united in the belief that a strong education will uplift the entire community. Whether students go directly into the workforce, transition to vocational schools, community colleges, 4-year institutions or the armed services – the long-term outcomes of students and their families are impacted by the Springfield K-12 educational system.
If voters want someone who will listen to them, the educators and the leaders in the school system, then vote for Amber.
Stacey York, PhD
University STEM Workforce Development
I endorse Amber because she is listening to students, educators, & community members. This type of bridge building is exactly the approach we need in a school board member.
Educating our children is a complex and multilayered community endeavor. Amber Langworthy brings a wide lens and research-based perspective to the challenges our school system faces. Our students and teachers are humans and members of our community. Amber thinks deeply about the ramifications of the approaches we use to teach, motivate our students, and improve graduation rates.
I endorse Amber because she is listening to students, educators, and community members. This type of bridge building is exactly the approach we need in a school board member.
She is also researching and educating herself deeply on educational approaches and issues. We can't default to what we have always done as the way forward, but change for the sake of change is simply disruptive. We need thoughtful leaders to think through the issues, and help guide us forward. Amber has the energy and heart to move this work forward and I support her to be a member of the Springfield School board.
-Paula Thonney,
Mathematics Instructor,
Lane Community College