Candidate – Tammy Wong-Bigelow

tammyforschoolcommittee@gmail.com

508/740-2347

I Immigrated to Framingham from Hong Kong at the age of 6 and spent a year in ESL (now ELL). Because of this, and my world travels, I understand global education differences first hand. I see the pros and cons of our education system versus that of some other countries.

I am a life-long learner trying to instill the same in my children. I earned my Bachelors in English and Psychology and my Certificate in Asian American Studies at UMass Amherst in 2004. During this time I studied abroad in Oxford and traveled around Europe. Then, I earned my Master\’s in Education, Teaching and Curriculum and my ELA Teaching Certification for 5-12 in 2005. I continue my education earning more credits and certificates, notably a certification in Technology Integration Projects.

Training is imperative to help life-long learners grow. I was a Western Mass Writing Project teaching consultant presenting a Best Practices workshop on teaching poetry. I also presented for the College Board\’s Accuplacer National Conference on Integrating Technology in the Classroom for College and Career Readiness.

Trained in experiential/project-based learning and in ways of integrating technology into the curriculum, I taught various ELA and Humanities Classes in Springfield, Framingham, Randolph, Northshore Community College, and College Bound Dorchester. These experiences showed me the difference in equity and accessibility of my students. I would look for resources to support them in their hierarchy of needs with food, support, connections, and more. I also realized that not all teachers share the same workload, even if they share the same number of students, because of papers, projects, and focus on testing.

In 2016, I stepped out of the classroom and into education consulting – writing curriculum, specializing in blended and project-based learning, working on instructor training, doing research and analysis, and helpdesk troubleshooting. During COVID, I created a Remote Learning Guide, Best Practices for Remote Learning, and updated materials to reflect remote learning.

From a young age, I knew that if I want to see change, I must speak up and take action. In my adult life, this belief led to passionate conversations on teaching to standards and not to tests, partnering with Panera to bring breakfast for my opportunity youth students in Dorchester, and creating a Halloween map for fellow Waltham neighbors willing to set up pre-bagged treats on tables outside during COVID in all neighborhoods in Waltham and sharing the information with other parents. Recently, I shared my vision for the Waltham Dual Language School, where my oldest son started kindergarten in the 2022-2023 school year, to the School Committee.

I moved to Waltham in 2007 and have been an active Waltham resident, Waltham mom, Infancy to Independence board member, and PTO member at the Waltham Dual Language School. My passion is to create equal opportunity and equity of access for all students and parents, to allocate manageable class loads for all teachers, and to give students a holistic, high quality education that is project-based, experiential, with early second language acquisition, and a focus on mental well-being, which will set them up for success in the world. That is what I want for Waltham because that is what I want for my multicultural/multiracial sons.

What do you love most about Waltham?

I love the community. When my husband was diagnosed with two types of brain tumors, he was hospitalized for weeks on separate surgeries to have them removed then had subsequent radiation and chemotherapy treatments. During that time, a dear friend set up a meal train for my family. The word spread around Waltham, and people I have never met came to my house bringing food for my family and books and games for my sons (then 4, 2, and 7 weeks). People were also very generous in donating Grubhub and DoorDash gift cards so we could order food as well. This community gave when we needed it most. It got us through a year and half of our lives turned upside down. Now it is my turn to give back the best way I know how, using my expertise in education to help shape the future of Waltham\’s youth. I appreciate the Waltham community more than I can express.

What would you change if you could?

If I could, I would have a school built for the Waltham Dual Language Program that would fit 4 classes of K-8 at the Fitch School site. The Dual Language program is wonderful for the students lucky enough to get into the current 20 slots. They learn to be multilingual right from Kindergarten as well as appreciate cultures outside their own. If the program were allowed its own stand alone school with the resources that other elementary schools have like a playground and the Challenge Program, they can expand and allow for more students in Waltham to benefit from the Waltham Dual Language School.

What is one burning issue you plan to address if elected?

There are many issues I would like to address. But the one that is most important is making sure our students have the highest quality of education that is project-based for all grades, includes Spanish starting from Kindergarten as a special like they have in surrounding towns, and is appropriately funded to attract highly qualified teachers and for equitable resource distribution.