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Skills, Insight, and Dedication

I am writing to publicly add my support to the many who support Zack Hayden in the upcoming Westbrook school board election.

As a Westbrook resident and educator, I know that Zack has the skills, insight, and dedication to best serve our schools and community. In his 12 years at Oxford Academy, he has led the improvement of our school’s teaching community by revamping our evaluation protocols, expanding professional development options and criteria, and recruiting high quality and committed teachers.

Much of this he has done as our dean of faculty, but in many ways his most powerful impact has been in the classroom. He is an engaging and innovative English teacher who is committed to the growth of his students as both scholars and citizens. It is commonplace to see Zack and his students helping with literacy programs, school plays, and book fairs at Daisy Ingraham or helping with Westbrook Land Trust clean-ups. Zack’s emphasis on the importance of academic excellence as well as community involvement make me confident that he will help Westbrook Public Schools to foster strong students and productive citizens if he is elected to the Board of Education.

I am a parent of two children who will enter kindergarten at Daisy Ingraham next year and would be thrilled to have Zack serving on the Board of Education, helping to guide their educational future.

Phillip Cocchiola

Westbrook

Phillip Cocchiola is head of school at the Oxford Academy.