Doherty Brings Classroom Perspective To Danvers School Committee

DANVERS, MA – Robin Doherty is looking forward to bringing an educator's perspective to the Danvers School Committee.

The Danvers High alumna, who has taught in the Malden Public Schools for the past 15 years, said she was surprised when she started to get more involved in her hometown district when her niece started school in Danvers seven years ago that there was really no one on the School Committee with an education background.

"For me, that was concerning," she told Patch. "I thought we needed for all the stakeholders to have a say and needed someone who had been in the classroom who has seen it and has worked with kids on a different level."

Doherty, who filled every role from co-teacher in a special education class to honors English teacher at Malden High, had quite the busy week when it came to education. This past weekend, she received her doctorate degree from American International College, and on Tuesday night she outpaced the field in the race for two open spots on the Danvers School Committee.

Doherty led the way with 31.6 percent of the vote with fellow School Committee newcomer Alice Campbell second at 21.7 percent in the four-person race for the two seats.

"With two incumbents not running this seemed like a perfect time," Doherty said of her decision to vie to bring that education background to the School Committee. "I know a lot of people from the classroom on a lot of other school committees and it really surprised me there was not one in Danvers."

Doherty said she appreciates the challenges that the School Committee and the district administration faced during the year of the coronavirus crisis and is hoping to help find ways to help students make up for classroom time lost.

"Now that the kids have been back full-time we have to look at what they have really missed educationally and socially and close any gaps," she said. "We have to determine what our remedy is for that."

Doherty said she was happily surprised at the strong turnover for the local election — with 5,674 ballots cast in person or by mail — and is "honored" to serve back in her hometown.

"I am thankful the community put their trust in me as a School Committee member," she said. "I'm really excited."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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