Endorsements

To The Editor:

We are writing in support of Chris Ryan for School Committee.

Our family has known Chris since we moved to the Happy Hollow neighborhood five years ago. We strongly believe that Chris will bring a needed voice to the School Committee.

For the past 4 years Chris has served on Wayland’s Audit Committee as the School Committee’s appointee. He understands the need for responsible, efficient budgeting in order to achieve the greatest impact. He is willing to ask hard questions and will help make sure our school dollars are spent responsibly. Chris highlighted this need during a League of Women Voter’s forum when he discussed a preventable payroll error that recently cost the town thousands of dollars. Having someone with a background in finance who can help prevent future mistakes is especially crucial now. Smart, innovative budgeting is needed to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to make sure our tax dollars are spent responsibly.

Chris advocates for teachers, families and students by continually asking, “What is in the best interests of Wayland students?” He is committed to transparency and open communication, both necessary for an effective School Committee member.

Since announcing his candidacy we have been impressed with how much time he has spent researching the important school issues in our community, watching and/or attending all the school committee meetings and always continuing to advocate for our children.

Last fall, for example, Chris showed great leadership by speaking on behalf of parents who were concerned about the principal hired to start the year. He asked tough questions, advocated for the best interests of the staff and students of Happy Hollow — all the while collaborating with this school community.

Chris has proven himself an effective representative of parents in this town. His background as a certified public accountant and his quest to advocate for all families make him an ideal candidate for school committee.

Danielle and Justin Silverman
Goodman Lane, Wayland

To the Editor:

On behalf of our entire family, we wholeheartedly endorse Chris Ryan for the Wayland School Committee. We have known Chris and his family for close to 5 years. We have witnessed first-hand his devotion to his family, community, as well as his passion and commitment to education.

The Ryans, like many of us, are working parents raising 3 young boys. Like us, they juggle work schedules and kids schedules, and all the other pressures of raising a family in this day and age. They live in an area known as the Happy Hollow Neighborhood, an area that epitomizes community! On any given day, their door is wide open to the neighborhood kids- whether it’s to play, grab an after-school snack, and of course rescue that parent in the community who is stuck late at work and can’t make it on time for school pick up. Rest assured, that child will be at the Ryans' house, fed, and sent home smiling with some words of encouragement.

Chris Ryan and his family live the term “community” every single day of their lives. Chris deeply values education and believes that schools are so much of what is important in our community. His core values and beliefs are in line with ours: kindness, fairness, honesty, collaboration and inclusion. All are critical to maintaining the integrity of the Wayland schools.

Personally, as a family with two young kids going through the Wayland school system, we cannot think of anyone who is better suited for this role. We fully endorse Chris Ryan for the Wayland School Committee.

Sincerely,

Alex and Inessa Shur
34 Pineridge Road

We choose Chris Ryan as candidate for School Committee for the Town of Wayland. We have proudly known Chris and the Ryan family for over five years. When we first moved to Wayland, and started the school year at Happy Hollow, they were one of the first ones to embrace our family with open arms and welcome us to the town. This is a testament in how loving and caring Chris and his family are to the community.

We most admire Chris Ryan for his selfless volunteer work and passion for education. We have witnessed firsthand Chris’s compassion for members of the community and his desire to help make things better for every child in Wayland.

Throughout the years we have gained respect and admiration for his generosity, intelligence, and dedication to a good cause. We knew when Chris was vocal about the Happy Hollow principal issue that he would be perfect to serve on the School Committee and represent the parents and children of Wayland. He showed exemplary leadership in his quest to find out the truth.

As a business owner, and certified accountant, Chris Ryan has a great deal of experience dealing and managing budgets of large organizations. He has the skill set, temperament and knowledge to guide the School Committee in a positive direction for 2020 and beyond.

Chris Ryan and his wife Jen, both long-time Wayland residents, are very well liked and respected in the community, where they have served long hours as volunteers in schools, coaching and for four years Chris has been a vital part of the Wayland Audit Committee. The Ryan’s have three young boys all attending Happy Hollow School. This gives my family great comfort that Chris has a vested interest in the future of our school system.

With proud enthusiasm, we support Chris Ryan for School Committee for the Town of Wayland. And on Tuesday, March 31st , we are only supporting Chris Ryan.

Sincere Regards,
Greg Deranian & Adrianne Deranian

As Wayland residents and Weston Public School educators, we are casting our vote for Chris Ryan for School Committee. We have known Chris and the entire Ryan family for years. We have had countless conversations with Chris and his wife, Jen, who is also an educator, about the various challenges we face with public education. His experience as an owner of an accounting firm and a member of the Wayland’s Audit Committee coupled with his dedication to the schools make Chris the perfect fit. Additionally, with three young children currently enrolled in the Wayland Elementary Schools, Chris’ visions for WPS are long term. We know he will work tirelessly for our schools and our community. So if you support Chris’ quest in finding out what’s truly best for our students in Wayland, then please give him your vote for School Committee on March 31. We look forward to seeing you at the polls!

Katie & Mike Brown
23 Concord Rd.

I am writing to express my support for Chris Ryan for School Committee. Chris’s commitment to Wayland and to public education, as well as his professional experience as a CPA, make him an excellent candidate for this position. Chris and his wife have lived in Wayland for 13 years.

As a dad with three boys in elementary school, Chris knows firsthand how important it is to partner with the school system to support his children as they grow as learners and as individuals. I strongly believe that he would make the same commitment to ALL of our children should he be elected and will always strive to do what is in our students’ best interests. As a CPA, owner of a local accounting firm, and a member of the town audit committee, Chris understands how to get the most out of the funds and resources we have available. Given this background and experience, I feel that he will be fiscally conservative, while also trying to get the most benefit for our students and staff. Finally, as the husband of a long-time educator, Chris knows how important it is for teachers to feel heard and supported. He understands the challenges facing public education, but also sees the rewards when teachers are valued and supported and students are encouraged to be their best. I have known Chris and his family for many years and feel that he would be a wonderful asset to this committee, both personally and professionally. He has the professional experience necessary to make responsible financial decisions for our schools and the dedication necessary to make decisions that will best serve our children. I wholeheartedly support Chris and I encourage you to stand with me and vote for Chris Ryan for School Committee.

Allison and Brad Kates
Claypit Hill Road

I choose Chris Ryan as the candidate for Wayland Public School Committee. Chris, and his wife Jen Ryan, have been a resident of Wayland for the past 13 years. Both individually and as a family, they have been active and involved members of the Wayland and the Happy Hollow community. Jen is an elementary public school teacher and ELA coordinator for Sherborn public school system. Therefore, Chris has insight into the opportunities and challenges that all public school systems face, from the perspective of both an administrator and teacher. Additionally, Jen participated in the last three Happy Hollow principal searches because the future of the school is a very high priority for them. She was able to provide insight and guidance to ensure that the best fit was chosen to support our children and to build a positive learning experience in the years to come. Chris is also part of the Wayland’s audit committee as the financial infrastructure is the backbone of our school system. This experience and insight will be invaluable in his appointment on the School Committee.

As parents, the Ryans have three sons who are in the Wayland public school system and are heavily invested in creating a positive and supportive educational experience that supports the children and helps them to excel both academically and socially. They actively advocate not only for their children, but for others who have benefited from their insight, support, and experience.

I enthusiastically endorse and support Chris Ryan and feel that he is clearly the most effective and strongest candidate for School Committee. Our community and public school system will benefit, grow, and thrive under the guidance of Chris. His transparent approach and clearly demonstrated involvement and advocacy will help shape the future of our school system. There’s no one else that I’d choose to trust the educational future of my two children, who are also part of Wayland school system, than Chris Ryan.

Respectfully,

Meredith Walker
Hickory Hill Road

TO THE EDITOR

I am writing to state my support for Chris Ryan for School Committee.

Chris will bring a unique blend of experience to the School Committee. Chris is currently involved with the Town of Wayland as a Member of the Audit Committee. As a Certified Public Accountant and owner of a local accounting firm, Chris understands how to best make use of the resources Wayland has for educating our children. A key responsibility of the School Committee is to discuss and approve the school’s annual budget. Chris will bring the ability to be fiscally conservative while finding efficiencies that will maximize benefits to students and educators.

Chris (and his wife) fully understand the value and importance of education especially since Chris’s wife is a grade school teacher. This provides Chris with a unique insight to the challenges that educators and Wayland face. The Ryans have three grade school children just starting their educational experience in Wayland. Last year, when Chris and his family needed more room for their family they chose to stay and moved within Wayland.

Chris, with his business background and acumen, insight into the educational system and dedication to Wayland makes him an ideal candidate for School Committee. It is with enthusiasm that I support Chris Ryan for School Committee.

Doug McNeilly
Rice Spring Lane