To the Editor:

This letter offers our endorsement of Laura Roche for Board of Education. Our family has known the Roche family for almost 12 years. As neighbors, our children have grown up together and enjoyed many family milestones. Laura is an outstanding mother, friend, and advocate for our children’s education. For those of you who don’t know Laura, she has not always been a public voice for parents with education concerns. She has quietly worked in the Newtown schools for almost a decade helping out in the classroom, serving on the PTA board, and volunteering wherever she is needed.

Laura took on the role, somewhat reluctantly at first, of spokesperson for over a hundred parents who had similar concerns over the schedule issues at Reed and the loss of core instructional time. Laura put herself out there in front of the administration and other parents knowing that she might not always be popular, but believing that the message needed to be heard and getting involved would make a difference. It did. We believe she has effected positive change and is poised to continue fighting for consistency, rigor, accountability, and achievement in the Newtown school system. We strongly and proudly support Laura in her bid for Newtown Board of Education representative.

Tara and John Kortze

52 Cobblers Mill Road, Sandy Hook                       October 24, 2011