Dear Sudbury Residents,
I am writing in enthusiastic support of Mandy Sim for the Sudbury School Committee. I cannot think of anyone better equipped or qualified to serve on the school board. I first met Mandy in her role as business owner, and was so impressed with her energy and vision in bringing her business “Jam Time” to our area. As a mother of young children at that time, I appreciated her thoughtfulness and creativity in developing enriching experiences for young children. I spent many hours at Jam Time when my children were little, and Mandy was always interested in customer’s input about the play space, and would ask for our feedback on changes and improvements and classes they were thinking of offering. Jam Time is the epitome of a customer service-oriented business, and its success should be a huge indicator of just how well Mandy listens and meets the needs of her audience.
Several years after meeting Mandy at Jam Time, I had the pleasure of working closely with her on the board of the Haynes Organization of Parents (HOP) during her years as co-chair, as well as co-manager with her of a team of girls involved in Sudbury Destination Imagination (DI). I learned so much about effective leadership from Mandy that I can’t think of anyone who would be a greater asset to our school board. As HOP co-chair Mandy was the liaison between the parent community and the school administration, and just as she does at Jam Time, she demonstrated her gift for listening and thoughtfully responding to feedback, and communicating to both audiences. As my co-manager during Sudbury DI, Mandy gave our team of young girls the tools to come to their own solutions and taught them that listening is the most important part in any discussion, especially difficult ones. Mandy leads by example and is always open to hearing about what is working and what could be improved. I never hesitate to bring up a difficult issue with Mandy, even if I know she is unlikely to agree with me, because I know she will listen and investigate before drawing any final conclusion. Mandy’s approach to problem solving and respect for everyone participating is why she is an excellent choice to help the school board with the challenges that it inevitably faces each year. I am so proud to support this amazing woman, business owner and friend in her run for Sudbury School Committee.
— Rory Richards, of Ford Road, Sudbury
I’m writing to give my full support to Mandy Sim, my neighbor and friend, who is running for the Sudbury School Committee. I have known Mandy since she and her family moved across the street from us in 2010 and our daughters, then in pre-school, became fast friends. Mandy has always been at the forefront volunteering her time and creativity in the schools. She has exhibited her leadership skills in the various roles she has taken on, including the Haynes Organization of Parents and her time on SERF. Early childhood education has always been a priority.
Both Mandy and her husband are small business owners. They opened their flagship location of Jam Time, an indoor enrichment and play space in Maynard for young children, and have expanded to four locations in Massachusetts. Her business sense and budgetary knowledge is fundamental to her success. Covid presented challenges to their business, but they remained determined, pivoted their business plan, and now have a waitlist of families seeking to spend time at all the locations. Mandy’s accommodating and positive attitude are admirable and inspirational.
Mandy’s interest in our schools has been evident for years. She cares passionately about our children and their education. She has made a point of attending the school committee meetings so that she is fully aware of the issues that confront our schools today. She is knowledgeable on all fronts, including budgetary issues, inclusivity and diversity. She is willing to roll up her sleeves and get to work, to ensure the best educational opportunities we can offer all our children who attend Sudbury Public Schools.
While Mandy has a strong vision for what she believes is in the best interest of our schools and ultimately our students, she is always open to others’ opinions. Her respect for and willingness to be open to others’ opinions make her a perfect team player. Mandy’s smile and attitude are infectious. She will bring her positive can-do attitude to the school committee and is dedicated to getting things done.
On a more personal note, I am always astounded by the abundance of energy that Mandy has. Not only is she a dedicated small business owner, and amazing mom to her children, she is also a wonderful friend and an incredibly talented baker. My family has been very fortunate to be the recipients of her delicious baked desserts and breads. She is a caring friend, always supportive, offering a helping hand and a consoling hug. I feel blessed to call Mandy my friend and we should all feel fortunate that we have someone as qualified as Mandy representing us on the Sudbury School Committee.
Without any hesitation, I support Mandy Sim for Sudbury School Committee and I hope you will join me in giving her your vote.
— Jacquie Cohn, Mossman Road
Please join me in supporting Silvia Nerssessian and Mandy Sim for Sudbury School Committee.
Silvia is exceptional as a leader in our community. As the current Chair of the Sudbury School Committee, she is successfully leading Sudbury Public Schools through this unprecedented time. With thoughtful collaboration, clarity in decision making, and transparent communication, Silvia has been steadfast in her commitment to enable every student to reach their potential. And she is doing so by providing an educational environment that is safe for students and staff.
Silvia’s priority, the well-being of students, is evident through her support for the development and funding of programs that support students’ educational, emotional, and social needs at all levels of learning. Examples of this are her support for expanding the offerings of in-district programs for students with special needs so they can remain in their community; support for a summer academic program designed to provide Math and Literacy assistance to students who have been impacted by the pandemic; and setting policy and creating budget capacity to offer more educational opportunities for advanced learners.
Our community benefits from Silvia’s extensive experience in the private and public sectors, her commitment to every student’s development, and her ability to lead while empowering others to succeed.
Mandy Sim has been serving our community for many years, as a parent volunteer, Co-Chair of the Haynes Organization of Parents, and Board member for Sudbury Education Resource Fund (SERF). Mandy is also a local business owner of Jam Time, an enrichment center and indoor playground for children. She expanded her business to four locations over the past ten years and led the company through the pandemic, maintaining its fiscal health, keeping the doors open, and ensuring the safety of her employees and customers.
Mandy is uniquely qualified to be the next member of the Sudbury School Committee. She brings extensive experience serving Sudbury’s schools and a clear vision of her priorities that will ensure the resilience and continued excellence of the school district. She has a proven ability to collaborate with stakeholders across many areas of interest as well as the acumen to balance organizational goals with fiscal responsibility.
You can learn more about Silvia and Mandy on their campaign websites: http://www.silvia4sudbury.org and http://www.mandysim.net. Please join me on March 29th in re-electing Silvia Nerssessian and electing Mandy Sim to the Sudbury School Committee.
Warm regards,
Lisa Gutch
Silver Hill Road