Meet School Committee Candidate John Intoppa

How many years have you lived in Medford? 
I was born and raised in Medford, so I have been here for all 24 years of my life. I went through the Medford Public Schools, and have continued to live here because of my love and connections to this city. 

Please describe your professional background and education. 
I graduated from the Medford High Complex in 2019 and went on to study Industrial Design at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. While at MassArt, I held various student leadership roles, including serving as the Student Trustee of the College, President of the Student Government Association, and a Resident Advisor. After graduating, I was a fellow with Station1: Socially Directed Science & Technology, and then went on to return to MassArt in two contracted roles: Program Coordinator of Student Engagement & On-Call Support, Housing & Residence Life. This was actually when I was brought onto the School Committee, so it was a very hectic time. After that year of contract work, I ended up getting the job as a full-time benefited/union employee with the College as one of the Program Coordinators of Student Engagement. I’ve worked in that role now for a year, advising the MassArt Activities Council, working with our military populations (veterans, active duty, and dependents), family & friends orientation programming, civic engagement, and more. Helping build and work behind the scenes on the community within the students, their families, and the College as a whole. Supporting students and my colleagues at every turn. 

What, if any, city positions (appointed or elected) have you held, and for how long?
I have been serving the city as a member of the School Committee since March 2024. Besides that, although it was not the city, I was elected to the Board of Trustees, which was a state-appointed position right after my first run for School Committee in 2019. 

What volunteer roles have you participated in that you feel have made a difference in Medford?
I had a brief stint on the Board of Directors for the West Medford Open Studios. I loved collaborating with my fellow board members to make such an amazing event in Medford happen. I learned so much about permitting and running large-scale events, and the advice of my colleagues who had served for longer than I had. The work they did to put that event on every year is so admirable, and I was honored to have even a small slice of assistance on that. Throughout my time, I also learned a lot of great life skills volunteering for organizations such as Spotlight Productions. 

Why should residents vote for you? 
As a practicing artist & designer, I bring a unique, non-linear perspective on problem-solving and procedures. Considering human factors techniques (that's the theory of why people do the things they do/interact with systems) to make sure that all policies, decisions, and actions are made to fit within the systems we have in place. Also, knowing when to completely disrupt those systems, revisit them, and make sure they are serving our students, faculty, and staff equitably. I’ve had a term full of plenty of highs and lows, and I would love to continue the work of showing up for and serving our community to the best of my ability. I find interest in not only hearing people’s viewpoints, but also what led them to make those conclusions. Why they feel the way they do and how we can work together to better the lives of our Medford Public Schools community. 

Tell us ...

Why are you running or running again for School Committee, what changes do you believe you can facilitate? 
To put it simply, I don’t think my work is done. In my first year, I spent most of my time catching up - I had to make up for lost time since I started later than my other first-year  colleagues, and the rest of it has been testing the waters and figuring out where my strengths on the committee play out in an applied sense. It’s one thing to think about how you’ll succeed in a position, and it’s another to do it and figure it out in the moment. One change I believe I can help facilitate is how we tackle voter engagement. Over the last few years, I have worked on getting college students out and ready to vote. When I ran at 18, getting my peers registered and set up for absentee or in-person voting was one of my biggest accomplishments, in my opinion. I believe that I am the person for the job because of my experience meeting students 1:1 to figure out ways to get them mobilized and motivated to make their voice heard. I want to send our students out into the world, play that role for others, and set examples for their peers. 

What do you see as the top issue with the School District? 
One top issue is definitely morale. I’ve had meetings with professionals in the district and students alike who feel this sense of tension and lack of spirit. This doesn’t mean just morale around Mustang Pride, but the sense of motivation to continue to show up to work, to continue putting their best foot forward in classes, and more. I don’t think that is something we can change overnight, but we need to better identify where this is coming from. 

With potentially deep cuts in federal funding and a local budget stretched thin –what are your budgeting priorities and how do you propose to make them happen?
One of my priorities is ensuring the co-curricular experience continues. I mentioned earlier that morale is at a low, and that is how we ensure student success continues. It’s what I work in at my “day job,” I work in the Student Engagement Office, which is housed in the Division of Student Success and Enrollment Management. I’ve been reminded that oftentimes these things are the first to go, because yes, we do need to prioritize curriculum and instruction - but if we want to see student success, we need to recognize just how important all these programs are. It’s what got me through school and is oftentimes the escape for our students to ensure they feel a sense of belonging. Especially for those who may not test well or struggle with academia as a whole. 

What role should the community play in supporting the education of children? 
Show up. Buy a brownie from the bake sale, go to their theater production, attend sports games, and do what you can to be there for them. Show them what they are doing matters, because it does. That’s been my number one goal. When I was a student, I took notice of that. It’s how I knew what the School Committee was at such a young age, because I asked my folks who these people were showing up to these events. It helped me feel like I was doing something purposeful and meaningful, no matter what it was. It pushed me to push myself and led me to who I am today. It also helps financially; our students rely on fundraisers for new equipment or experience costs. 

What book is currently on your nightstand? (just for fun) 
I’m reading a few books currently. The two that have my fullest attention are "Reimagining Design: Unlocking Strategic Innovation" by Kevin G Bethune and "User Friendly: How the Hidden Rules of Design Are Changing the Way We Live, Work, and Play" by Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant.