Experienced Leadership in Challenging Times, Maintaining Excellence and Embracing Change
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I have decided to suspend my campaign for reelection to the Needham School Committee. This is a very recent and difficult decision. A candidate has emerged who is well positioned to bring a fresh voice and new perspectives to the table, who will add strength to the School Committee, and who will ensure the continuing excellence of the Needham Public Schools in these especially challenging times.
My participation on the School Committee for the last 18 years has been rooted in what best serves the students and staff of the Needham Public Schools. This has meant adapting with the times and needs and available resources. It has meant operating without a personal agenda, while bringing curiosity and thoughtfulness and heart to our work, and always advocating for the welfare and benefit of students. I
believe Andrea Longo Carter and Alisa Skatrud and Sri Baqri will ably continue this work, which has meant so much to me.
As I leave this race, I would ask for your votes for Andrea Longo Carter, Alisa Skatrud and Sri Baqri. Andrea and Alisa are seasoned and highly effective members of the Committee. Sri Baqri brings an open and balanced view, along with demonstrated interest in education for Needham students in her roles on the Mitchell PTC, the REAL Coalition, the Portrait of a Needham Graduate Committee, the Needham Resiliency Network, as the parent of two young children and as a scientist. She leads with the necessary curiosity, without preconceived ideas or personal agenda, and she listens carefully.
I am so grateful for your support and friendship over the years. I look forward to continuing to serve Needham as a Town Meeting member, and in a variety of ways in the future.
Sincerely,
Connie S. Barr
About Me
I married and moved to Needham in 1984. I helped raise my husband’s three children and we had two children together. All five matriculated through the Needham Public Schools and are now successful in their professions. We have 13 grandchildren, 9 of whom are in college and older, and four young grandchildren ages 1-8. My 8 and 5 year old grandchildren are in school in a nearby town, and one is on an IEP, related to literacy needs. I practice primary care Internal Medicine at Dedham Medical Associates, where I have been for many years. I enjoy volunteering in the community, and ballroom dancing.
Putting My Experience
to Work for Needham
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
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Board Needham History Museum 10 years
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Needham Community Council Board 14 years, including as President (and continue as volunteer at the Council)
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Town Meeting member 17 years (running for re-election this year)
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Recipient of the Book of Golden Deeds award from the Needham Exchange Club
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Recipient of the Patrick Forde Good Person Award
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Member of the Board of Directors of Riverside Community Care for six years
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
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Forty years in Internal Medicine as a Primary Care Physician at Dedham Medical Associates (1984 to present)
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Four years as Medical Director of Dedham Medical Associates
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Chair of Medical Directors Committee Multigroup Health Plan/Harvard Community Health Plan
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Member of Pharmacy, Immunization and Quality Committees of HPHC
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Member of the Board of Directors of Harvard Pilgrim Health Plan for 14 years (2000 to 2014)
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Member of the Board of Directors Riverside Community Care for six years
MY EXPERIENCE IN NEEDHAM'S SCHOOLS
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Redistricted early in my children’s schooling
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Newman PTC
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Participation in several override campaigns, capital and operational
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Pollard School Council three years
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Co-president NHS PTC seven years
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Citizens for Needham Schools
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Board of Needham Education Foundation
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Volunteer Child Assault Prevention Program 20 years
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Needham School Committee 18 years
NEEDHAM SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER EXPERIENCE
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Chair & Vice-chair three times, including during Covid 19 pandemic
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Policy Committee
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School Committee Negotiations team for union negotiations with the NEA units team four cycles
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REAL Coalition representative
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Community Preservation Committee liaison from School Committee
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Portrait of Needham Graduate strategic planning
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School Wellness Advisory Committee (currently evaluating cell phone policy)
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Member of Joint Committee on Health during Covid 19 pandemic
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2025 Recipient (along with Michael Greis) of the School Committee Lifetime Achievement Award from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees
My Priorities
"Budget: adequate revenue & planning to support Town departments & services, including the schools, public safety, roads, services & other infrastructure"
League of Women Voters
Town Meeting Voters Guide
"Capital projects
especially renovation
or rebuild of
Pollard & Mitchell"
League of Women Voters
Town Meeting Voters Guide
“ I would like to see continued fiscal strength and stewardship, completion of school building projects, additional affordable housing, vibrant Town center, maintenance of green space, successful climate initiatives."
League of Women Voters
Town Meeting Voters Guide
Get Involved
Announcements
Sunday, March 23:
On March 12, on behalf of the Needham Literacy Coalition, (no last name provided) submitted questions to each of us as candidates for the Needham School Committee. Each of the undersigned candidates is fully committed to supporting the implementation of a new elementary literacy curriculum that supports all students.
We will not be responding to the questionnaire because we believe it represents a conflict of interest due to the Literacy Coalition’s public endorsement of one of the candidates, a founding member of this organization.
Sri Baqri
Connie Barr
Andrea Longo Carter
Scott Marder
Alisa Skatrud
Volunteer Opportunities
Events
League of Women Voters Candidates Night
Monday, March 24, 7:00-9:00pm
Broadmeadow School, 120 Broad Meadow Road
Hybrid Candidate Q+A Forum to hear from candidates in contested races.
Needham Town Election
Tuesday, April 8
Learn more about early voting and polling locations at Needhamma.gov