Stacy Gray For Board Of Education

I hope all of you reading find yourself safe and unscathed by Sandy!  I, for one, am glad that it’s over and grateful it wasn’t worse here!

It is 1 week until Election Day!!!!!!!  I have heard that the journey is the reward- sometimes more is gained in the road to the goal than the goal itself.  I can attest to that with all of the support I have gotten over the past 2 months.  I can not put into words the gratitude I have for the support, backing, campaigning, spreading the word, and encouragement I have gotten from friends, acquaintances and strangers alike!~ It is so encouraging when one person can precipitate a movement for improvement.  I never thought I’d be that person.  This journey hasn’t been easy….it’s tough to take on a political machine.  If I was alone I don’t think I could have continued.  If I knew how political this process was going to be (I am not a political kind of girl) I may not have ventured into this.  But, because so many people have supported me, I am confident I will succeed.  This isn’t about popularity or politics.  It is about sharing a vision and goal to make our schools better!  I have the tools to do it, the drive to accomplish it, and a plan to see it through. Love me or not, no one can argue against my passion for education and how I have always advocated for my own children and many others!

All that is left is your vote!  So now more than ever we need to get the word out….daily!!!!!  I am sure people are ready for this for Election time to be over; no one more so than me :)  I have spoken to people who wanted to be supportive and promised their vote but are afraid to put up a sign out of fear a family member or friend could lose a job.  I have friends threatened and bashed at political clubs and via phone.  And, of course, there was last week!  I would have never guessed a non-paying school board seat would have so much political backlash or power!  Many nights I have laid in bed thinking what am I getting myself into????  Then I remember all of the times I sat at IEP meetings for my special needs son.  For years I have fought for him to be mainstreamed which is where he would learn best from not only his teachers but his peers.  Year after year I made manipulatives, photo copied and searched for resources at my own school.  Each and every time I’ve thought, “what do the parents of differently abled children do that aren’t teachers?”  Who ensures that these children get what they need?  Who makes sure these parents know their rights?   Then my older son needed my support this past spring.  He is gifted and due to a lack of consistent policy, was mistakenly passed by for National Junior Honor Society- a goal he set for himself, worked hard for all year and earned.  Rather than the administrators in charge admit they made a mistake, they tried to dismiss the whole ordeal with various reasons that I proved to be incorrect.  It took almost 3 months before I could present to the board and PROVE a mistake was made!  All along I knew IT SHOULDN’T BE LIKE THIS!!!!!!  We should be including more children in clubs and groups that will foster academic and social growth.  If I wasn’t so stubborn neither of my children would be where they are in school- a mainstreamed 4th grader with Fragile X Syndrome (similar to Autism) learning, growing and happy.  And an 8th grader contributing to the community and his school through NJHS and being challenged academically!  This is why I am doing this!  Parents should be able to trust and feel that the district is always working FOR their children and NOT against them!  I can promise you, that is my #1 goal. I also think about the people who have reached out to me and offered their help because they also want to see a positive change.  It is amazing when you knock on a door and shake someone’s hand and explain your desire to contribute to the betterment of our district and they say, “You have my vote!”  Humbling and inspiring!!  It is something I will never forget and really let’s you appreciate how wonderful and vested this community is in all of our children.   I know there are current board members that share the vision but maybe need the guidance to find where we are short and how to get us to our goal.

This is an exciting time!!!!!  A woman comes along, doesn’t have the political nod to run, but does it anyway!  A community now paying attention and demanding change!  Let’s get this done Deptford!!!  More determined and steadfast as ever!  One week from today~Vote Stacy Gray :) Thank you for the amazing journey!

Up this week, more door knocking, campaigning and putting up signs!!!

Sidenote-in case you were wondering about the lawsuit- it is now being handled by my attorney- very reputable and experienced.  I have all of the documentation of what happened and he has assured me there are no worries.  It is not a concern or deterrent, it is baseless and no longer worth mentioning.  It was a curveball but par for the course of what’s been going on behind the scenes.  The attorney representing Mr. Wilson is the BOE President in washington Twp., Stephen Altamuro.  Feel free to Google his name or better yet, check out YouTube.

So…onward and upward! The voters have the power again in Deptford :)