As a school psychologist, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Liz Barron in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and more recently to collaborate with her through her independent practice, Wellness in Education.
Through our work together, I’ve come to know Liz as someone who cares deeply about public education, particularly the challenges facing students and families in underserved communities.
One thing I’ve always appreciated about Liz is her willingness to recognize and draw upon the expertise of others. She invited me to collaborate with her through Wellness in Education, recognizing the value of my experience in multilingual assessment. She didn’t have to extend that opportunity, but she did. To me, that reflects an approach to collaboration grounded in mutual respect and an understanding that no single professional has all the answers.
We’ve also had many candid conversations about the challenges within public education. As school psychologists, we see firsthand how policies, resources and institutional practices affect students and the professionals supporting them. Liz understands these challenges from her experience as both a school psychologist and a parent, and she isn’t afraid to question practices that may not be serving students well.
What I appreciate most is that Liz is willing to move beyond discussing these challenges and become involved in addressing them. Her decision to seek a seat on the Newport School Committee reflects that commitment.
Cliff Pereira, MA, CAGS
School psychologist
What’sUpNewp welcomes letters to the editor and op-eds from Newport County residents. Election-related submissions must be received by Friday, Oct. 30. Send yours to ryan@whatsupnewp.com. Submissions may be edited for length, clarity and style, and do not reflect the views of What’sUpNewp.
