Our local newspaper, The Stow Independent, prints Letters to the Editor in every edition. Around election time, many of those letters are opinions on candidates. Below is the full text of letters people have written in support of my candidacy:
April 25th Edition:
Dear Editor:
It is without a moment's hesitation that I strongly encourage every resident of Stow to vote for Elaine Sanfilippo for School Committee. I met Elaine 20 years ago when we were both freshman at WPI. Despite having different personal interests, I could tell we had been brought together for a reason, and we hit it off pretty quickly. We're both overachievers who pour our heart and soul into any given task, and consistently strive for outstanding quality outcomes. We both share a passion for music, and have a knack for memorizing the lyrics to an impressive array of songs! We've endured love/hate relationships with mathematical modeling software, differential equations and the "new" computer programming language, C++, used in our engineering classes.
After college we became roommates because neither of us could afford our own apartment on an entry-level salary (even working in engineering). I watched Elaine manage her personal budget down to the penny so she could stretch her dollar as far as possible. We ate a lot of Ramen noodles, acquired hand-me-down furniture and used coupons wherever possible, in the interest of chipping away more efficiently at student loans and putting something away for retirement. She did all this while at the same time managing multi-million dollar budgets at work. I have no doubt Elaine will use this same type of fiscal discipline as a School Committee member. To put it plainly: she's really smart, great with numbers, and has the integrity to keep to her principles even in high-pressure situations.
Over the years we have been classmates, roommates, volunteer/philanthropic partners, and colleagues, but most importantly friends. I would trust Elaine to guide my own children's education (I have two elementary school aged boys), and I encourage you all to do the same. Her intelligence, energy, work ethic and discipline will serve Stow well.
Sincerely,
Melissa Topp
341 Maple Street
Warwick, RI
Dear fellow Stow Residents,
It's been a long time since we have seen such a qualified candidate run for School Committee to represent Stow. Elaine Sanfilippo has an MBA from MIT and experience in finance, project management, marketing and multi-million dollar budgets. She received her Biomedical Engineering undergrad from WPI and has first-hand STEM experience. She has demonstrated leadership serving on a non-profit board for animal rescue and business experience starting an e-commerce company.
Elaine loves Stow and cares deeply about preparing our students for the future while remaining fiscally stable. Our school district needs a representative like Elaine, who will increase communication & involvement to create a true partnership with the community. Elaine grew up in a family of public school teachers and local civil servants so she is budget-conscious and civic-minded to help NRSD create a strong vision for the future and execute today's educational priorities.
Elaine is also a dedicated mom to 2 beautiful children, ages 1 and 3. Her 3 year old attends preschool at Center so she has firsthand experience of the joy a strong education brings.
Please vote on May 15 for Elaine Sanfilippo. You can visit her website and take a survey about your priorities for our schools at: https://www.elainefromstow.com.
Thank you!
Claudia Dragun
Dear Editor:
It is without a moment's hesitation that I strongly encourage every resident of Stow to vote for Elaine Sanfilippo for School Committee. I met Elaine 20 years ago when we were both freshman at WPI. Despite having different personal interests, I could tell we had been brought together for a reason, and we hit it off pretty quickly. We're both overachievers who pour our heart and soul into any given task, and consistently strive for outstanding quality outcomes. We both share a passion for music, and have a knack for memorizing the lyrics to an impressive array of songs! We've endured love/hate relationships with mathematical modeling software, differential equations and the "new" computer programming language, C++, used in our engineering classes.
After college we became roommates because neither of us could afford our own apartment on an entry-level salary (even working in engineering). I watched Elaine manage her personal budget down to the penny so she could stretch her dollar as far as possible. We ate a lot of Ramen noodles, acquired hand-me-down furniture and used coupons wherever possible, in the interest of chipping away more efficiently at student loans and putting something away for retirement. She did all this while at the same time managing multi-million dollar budgets at work. I have no doubt Elaine will use this same type of fiscal discipline as a School Committee member. To put it plainly: she's really smart, great with numbers, and has the integrity to keep to her principles even in high-pressure situations.
Over the years we have been classmates, roommates, volunteer/philanthropic partners, and colleagues, but most importantly friends. I would trust Elaine to guide my own children's education (I have two elementary school aged boys), and I encourage you all to do the same. Her intelligence, energy, work ethic and discipline will serve Stow well.
Sincerely,
Melissa Topp
341 Maple Street
Warwick, RI
Dear fellow Stow Residents,
It's been a long time since we have seen such a qualified candidate run for School Committee to represent Stow. Elaine Sanfilippo has an MBA from MIT and experience in finance, project management, marketing and multi-million dollar budgets. She received her Biomedical Engineering undergrad from WPI and has first-hand STEM experience. She has demonstrated leadership serving on a non-profit board for animal rescue and business experience starting an e-commerce company.
Elaine loves Stow and cares deeply about preparing our students for the future while remaining fiscally stable. Our school district needs a representative like Elaine, who will increase communication & involvement to create a true partnership with the community. Elaine grew up in a family of public school teachers and local civil servants so she is budget-conscious and civic-minded to help NRSD create a strong vision for the future and execute today's educational priorities.
Elaine is also a dedicated mom to 2 beautiful children, ages 1 and 3. Her 3 year old attends preschool at Center so she has firsthand experience of the joy a strong education brings.
Please vote on May 15 for Elaine Sanfilippo. You can visit her website and take a survey about your priorities for our schools at: https://www.elainefromstow.com.
Thank you!
Claudia Dragun
April 18th edition:
Dear Fellow Stow Residents,
On May 15th, we will have an opportunity to vote for our next school committee representative. The person we choose for this position will take on the awesome responsibility of shaping the Nashoba Public Schools for the next three years and likely beyond. As an educator and mom of four Nashoba students, I will cast my vote for Elaine Sanfilippo and I hope you will consider doing the same.
I have known Elaine for more than twenty years and I strongly believe she would be an incredible asset to our school committee. Both of us grew up not far from here in Leominster, Massachusetts and, even as a very young person, she always demonstrated a tireless work ethic and a collaborative spirit. She is an excellent listener and is willing to consider and integrate all viewpoints. She knows how to be a team player and I know she would serve our community well.
You only need visit her website (www.elainefromstow.com/) to discover Elaine’s resume is quite impressive. After graduating from Leominster High School she went on to earn an engineering degree from WPI and an MBA from MIT. On one end, she has held high level corporate positions where she managed multi-million dollar budgets and on the other, opened and operated her own small businesses. But, what I find most impressive is her willingness to use this skill set to make our community stronger. Elaine is the mom of two future Nashoba students and because of this we can trust she is deeply invested in our schools. She believes in the power of education and wants to make Nashoba the best it can be.
Her platform is simple: encourage creative, innovative and competitive educational programming, include and inform the community in all educational decision-making, and ensure the long-term fiscal health of our school district.
I am convinced Elaine Sanfilippo is the candidate Stow needs for our School Committee and soon, she will need our vote. Please consider supporting her on May 15th. A vote for Elaine is a vote for the progressive future of the Nashoba Public Schools.
Sincerely, Leah Vivirito, Stow Resident
Dear Fellow Stow Residents,
On May 15th, we will have an opportunity to vote for our next school committee representative. The person we choose for this position will take on the awesome responsibility of shaping the Nashoba Public Schools for the next three years and likely beyond. As an educator and mom of four Nashoba students, I will cast my vote for Elaine Sanfilippo and I hope you will consider doing the same.
I have known Elaine for more than twenty years and I strongly believe she would be an incredible asset to our school committee. Both of us grew up not far from here in Leominster, Massachusetts and, even as a very young person, she always demonstrated a tireless work ethic and a collaborative spirit. She is an excellent listener and is willing to consider and integrate all viewpoints. She knows how to be a team player and I know she would serve our community well.
You only need visit her website (www.elainefromstow.com/) to discover Elaine’s resume is quite impressive. After graduating from Leominster High School she went on to earn an engineering degree from WPI and an MBA from MIT. On one end, she has held high level corporate positions where she managed multi-million dollar budgets and on the other, opened and operated her own small businesses. But, what I find most impressive is her willingness to use this skill set to make our community stronger. Elaine is the mom of two future Nashoba students and because of this we can trust she is deeply invested in our schools. She believes in the power of education and wants to make Nashoba the best it can be.
Her platform is simple: encourage creative, innovative and competitive educational programming, include and inform the community in all educational decision-making, and ensure the long-term fiscal health of our school district.
I am convinced Elaine Sanfilippo is the candidate Stow needs for our School Committee and soon, she will need our vote. Please consider supporting her on May 15th. A vote for Elaine is a vote for the progressive future of the Nashoba Public Schools.
Sincerely, Leah Vivirito, Stow Resident
April 11 edition:
To my Stow neighbors,
As a former School Committee member and selectman, I know well what is required of our elected representatives and the work involved in understanding how municipal government and budgets work and what we as elected members can do to improve budgets and programs.
We are lucky to have a woman stepping up to the School Committee seat. Elaine Sanfilippo brings all we need on the School Committee: an MBA from MIT, experience managing large budgets, experience on nonprofit boards and perhaps most important, parent of children who will be in the system for the next 18 years!
Our school committee pendulum has swung from all current parents to too few parents. Decisions over the past few years have appeared to have lost the focus on what's best for the students. I have been fortunate to talk to Elaine one-on-one and find that she has that balanced approach: it's not all about the kids and she understands cost is a factor. But as an experienced business woman, she knows for example that poor spending today has consequences for tomorrow: take for example poor building maintenance, a perennial district problem.
Elaine has my active support. Please check out her website www.elainefromstow.com, get to one of her coffees or reach out to her directly. You may not know her now, but I believe you will be as impressed as I am, and find she is the perfect person to represent Stow on the Nashoba School Committee. Mark your calendar May 15 is election day.
Ellen Sturgis, Canterbury Road
To my Stow neighbors,
As a former School Committee member and selectman, I know well what is required of our elected representatives and the work involved in understanding how municipal government and budgets work and what we as elected members can do to improve budgets and programs.
We are lucky to have a woman stepping up to the School Committee seat. Elaine Sanfilippo brings all we need on the School Committee: an MBA from MIT, experience managing large budgets, experience on nonprofit boards and perhaps most important, parent of children who will be in the system for the next 18 years!
Our school committee pendulum has swung from all current parents to too few parents. Decisions over the past few years have appeared to have lost the focus on what's best for the students. I have been fortunate to talk to Elaine one-on-one and find that she has that balanced approach: it's not all about the kids and she understands cost is a factor. But as an experienced business woman, she knows for example that poor spending today has consequences for tomorrow: take for example poor building maintenance, a perennial district problem.
Elaine has my active support. Please check out her website www.elainefromstow.com, get to one of her coffees or reach out to her directly. You may not know her now, but I believe you will be as impressed as I am, and find she is the perfect person to represent Stow on the Nashoba School Committee. Mark your calendar May 15 is election day.
Ellen Sturgis, Canterbury Road
