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Office: Board of Education, City of Nashua NH

Neil E. Claffey

Background:

I have taught in Nashua since 1989, and my family has lived here since 2002. My two adult sons attended public schools here from elementary through high school, and my wife and I have been proud to call Nashua our home.

  • M.Ed., Harvard University

  • B.A. in Economics, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Career:

    • Nashua High School, Nashua High School North, Nashua High School South Social Studies Teacher, August 1989 – June 2021

      • Head Teacher, Social Studies Department, Nashua High School South, 2010-2013

      • Educational Opportunity Program teacher for at-risk sophomores

    • Asst. Coach, Nashua High South Girls’ Tennis, 2 years

    • Nashua South Basketball Scorebook Keeper, 20+ years

    • Adjunct Professor, Nashua Community College, 2011-2013

    • Current employee, TJ’s Deli, driver

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Awards and Volunteering

Teaching Awards:

  • Nashua Education Foundation Teacher of the Year Award, 2015

  • Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Nashua Most Outstanding Teacher Award, 2014-2015

  • No Bell Award for Outstanding Teacher, 2006

 

Volunteer Commitments while Teaching:

  • Granite State Challenge co-advisor, several years (one state championship)

  • Economics Team advisor, several teams that competed in the Harvard-based national economics challenge (2 national championships)

  • Cultural Awareness Club advisor, 3 years

Community Volunteering:

  • Nashua Junior Biddy Basketball, Asst. Coach

  • Nashua Cal Ripkin League, Asst. Coach

Why I am running:

I hope to move from the classroom to the boardroom in order to bring that perspective to the BoE, serving as a voice for the needs of today’s school community and for Nashuans more broadly. I decided to run as a result of the political divisiveness that arose during the height of the pandemic last winter. I am alarmed by the presence of outside hate groups at board meetings and by those use public comment periods to insult board members and disrupt the meetings. I would pursue reasonable, responsible debate and decision-making.

 

I’m interested in hiring/supporting a superintendent who is committed to Nashua, can address inequities across the schools, and is fair. I want to see efficient completion of the middle schools projects; budgeting that puts funds where they are most needed; and collectively bargained contracts that help attract and retain excellent teachers and support our custodians and food service employees. I would also seek a new high school attendance policy as I believe the current policy does a disservice to students and teachers alike.

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