As the April 14th Needham Town Election approaches, CNS recently sent a questionnaire to all three School Committee candidates to learn more about each candidate and their philosophies and experience. CNS does NOT endorse candidates for School Committee, but we wanted to give all the candidates an opportunity to answer questions that we have received from the community. In keeping with our mission to make school-related news and information available to the Needham community, we are sharing each candidate’s responses to the five questionnaire topics. Candidates and their responses are listed in ballot order.
Meet the Candidates
Michael J. Greis (candidate for re-election) – www.michaelgreis.com
Matthew J. Spengler (candidate for re-election) – mattspengler.com
Lauren Michelle Soper – www.laurensoper.com
Question 1 – Why are you running for School Committee?
Michael Greis: I am running for the School Committee because I passionately believe that public education is the foundation of our democracy. That idea, expressed in language appropriate to the day, is enshrined in Chapter 5, Section II of the Massachusetts Constitution. I am also deeply committed to the present and future success of Needham as a community for all. I hope my contributions have encouraged friends and neighbors to participate as well. I enjoy the work and am enthusiastic about what we have accomplished and will accomplish together in the next three years.
Matthew Spengler: I’m running for reelection because I care deeply about the strength of Needham’s schools and the role they play in our community. During my time on the committee, I’ve worked to approach every decision thoughtfully and independently, always asking the same question: does this improve opportunities and outcomes for students?
We’re at an important inflection point. The district is facing significant decisions about facilities, funding, and how to sustain the level of excellence that defines Needham Public Schools. I want to continue helping the community navigate those decisions in a way that is both educationally sound and fiscally responsible.
My 30+ years in public education—as a teacher, high school principal, nonprofit executive director, and now superintendent—give me a broad perspective on how to balance competing priorities. I believe that experience, combined with my record on the committee, positions me to help Needham move forward thoughtfully and responsibly.
Lauren Soper: I want to work alongside our current School leadership team to take Needham Public Schools from great to exceptional.
I will lead with empathy so the voices of our town are included in the decisions that we make. That means listening carefully, documenting feedback, and working transparently toward solutions.
I also want to help us see each other differently. When problems arise, the goal is not to blame teachers, students, parents, or school leaders. The goal is to sit on the same side of the table, look clearly at the challenge, and work together to solve it.
As a mother of five children who will be in Needham Public Schools for the next 15 years, I will stay closely connected to the lived experience of the students and families the School Committee governs.
The outcomes of our schools become part of the legacy of our town. As both an alumna and a parent of future alumni, I am all in on helping Needham achieve something extraordinary.
Question 2 – How have you supported Needham Public Schools in the past? Please give specific examples.
Michael Greis: Hiring Dan Gutekanst. I wanted someone to commit to Needham for the long term, grow as a leader and become a great Superintendent. I could not have predicted that he would become recognized as one of the best Superintendents in MA, but he has.
Leveraged my financial expertise to support the Administration in developing sustainable and transparent budgets that meet the needs of the schools and the broader community. We created a more collaborative relationship with the Finance Committee.
Championed the transition to a collaborative approach to collective bargaining. Focused on developing mutual understanding and trust, the result has been a series of fair and sustainable contracts. Every member of the NPS staff contributes to our students’ achievements – they are the foundation of our success.
As Chair, I led the effort to finally bring full-day K to Needham.
My involvement in our major construction projects – Newman, the High School, High Rock, Sunita Williams, and Emery Grover.
Matthew Spengler: It has been an honor to serve on the Needham School Committee for the past nine years. Our role is not just to set expectations, but to ensure our policies lead to fair, effective outcomes for all students.
Throughout my tenure, I’ve been willing to ask difficult questions and, when necessary, vote differently if I believe more analysis is needed—especially when there may be equity implications.
The high school attendance policy is a good example. Recent data showed some groups of students are continuing to lose course credit at higher rates. While unintentional, that requires us to examine whether the policy is working as intended.
We are committed to equity and closing opportunity gaps. When policies may widen those gaps, good governance means revisiting them. High expectations matter—but policies should support student success, not create unintended barriers.
Lauren Soper: I enjoy supporting our schools in a number of ways. I believe strong schools are built not only through policy, but through presence, partnership, and investment.
I show up for students at games, performances, and community events to encourage confidence and connection. You can find me at Memorial Day soccer tournaments, Sunday football at Memorial Field, and performances at Newman.
I also spend time inside our schools as a library volunteer, special events volunteer, mystery reader, and chaperone. I have worked alongside teachers, the PTC, and other parents to help bring enriching activities into the classroom and support the student experience in practical ways.
I support our schools financially as well, both through donations and fundraising. I believe in contributing not only my voice, but also my time, energy, and resources.
Question 3 -What is the most important issue currently facing Needham Public Schools?
Michael Greis: Securing community support for rebuilding Pollard. Our 2020 Facilities Master Plan update and the education plans developed by our principals led to our decision that a rebuilt Pollard serving grades 6-8 would best meet our students’ educational needs, preserve a unique 6th grade experience and be the most cost-effective solution for our community. At a critical time in their youth, the re-imagined Pollard experience will ensure our students’ successful transition to high school and adulthood.
Matthew Spengler: One of the School Committee’s most important responsibilities is making decisions that shape the district not just for the next year, but for the next generation. Right now, that includes several interconnected priorities.
First, we need to ensure our facilities support modern teaching and learning. The Pollard Middle School project is a clear example—students deserve learning environments that support collaboration, flexibility, and well-being.
Second, we must continue to examine whether our policies are working for all students. When data shows unintended impacts, it’s our responsibility to ask questions and make adjustments.
Finally, we need to maintain the strong academic programs that define Needham Public Schools while also being responsible stewards of taxpayer resources.
Balancing these priorities—facilities, equity, and financial responsibility—is the central challenge in front of us.
Lauren Soper: Needham’s schools are among the best in the state and country, and we are fortunate to have that strong foundation. We also have areas of opportunity, and I believe one of the greatest is setting clearer standards for our school constituents.
Standards create freedom within guardrails. They help teachers and students understand the floor, the ceiling, and the range of choices available to succeed. We need to define those standards transparently and monitor progress over time.
One place to start is technology. We live in a world where low-value screen use is everywhere, and young children may be experiencing more school-based screen time than families realize. I suggest an audit of technology use by purpose, then set clear expectations for when screens support learning and when they replace active engagement. Reducing screen use during habits like snack, transitions, or free choice would be a strong first step. Clearer standards lift outcomes for all students.
Question 4 – How will you advocate for the Pollard project and the November override vote?
Michael Greis: I have extensive experience advocating for school override projects. We will build on the success we have had working with the Permanent Public Building Committee in bringing in school construction projects on time and under budget. It is essential to demonstrate that the benefits of the new Pollard School extend to the entire Needham community and will serve us for many years. I will leverage the relationships I have built through my long and varied community service to reach multiple constituencies and generate support.
Matthew Spengler: Projects like Pollard represent significant investments, and it’s entirely appropriate for residents to ask thoughtful questions about cost, design, and long-term impact.
At the same time, Pollard is more than 60 years old and was built for a very different model of education. Our middle school students deserve facilities that reflect how students learn today—collaborative, flexible, and supportive of a wide range of needs.
The School Committee’s role is to clearly define the educational vision, work closely with town leadership and the Finance Committee, and ensure that the proposal presented to the community is both educationally sound and financially responsible.
Ultimately, the decision rests with the community. My role is to make sure residents have clear, transparent information so they can make an informed choice. I’m committed to engaging in open, ongoing conversations with the community about both the opportunities and the trade-offs involved.
Lauren Soper: I recommend deeper connection strategies, as people want to be involved earlier, more directly, and in ways that feel personal and real. In January 2025, more than 12,000 residents voted in a special election to overturn a Town Meeting vote. In April 2025, turnout rose to about 7,300 voters, up from roughly 4,800 the year before, a ~50% increase. People are showing up to have their voices heard.
That matters for Pollard. Only a small share of residents is deeply engaged right now. We need a communication strategy built for today’s Needham: identify micro-communities like neighborhoods, sports groups, and parent networks; assign trusted liaisons; define engagement benchmarks; align talking points; and prepare clear answers to the hardest questions, including what happens if the vote fails. We need leaders trained to listen with empathy. People do not respond to logic when they voice emotional concerns. If we want trust in November, the work starts now.
Question 5 – What (if anything) would you like to see the School Committee do differently?
Michael Greis: I would like us to expand our communication with the community in new and different ways. The Superintendent speaks eloquently and effectively to the school community. The School Committee needs to be as effective communicating with the Town as a whole. In addition to the Superintendent’s communications, the School Committee must make better use of Town’s media outlets and the district’s media and technology resources to increase transparency and facilitate two-way communication.
Matthew Spengler: Needham’s schools are strong because the community is deeply invested in them, and the School Committee has a responsibility to honor that trust through thoughtful decision-making and clear communication.
One area for continued improvement is proactive communication and engagement—especially around complex decisions like capital projects and override votes. As a former board member of Citizens for Needham Schools, I’ve seen the importance of CNS’s mission in connecting families, schools, and the community to foster the exchange of information and ideas in support of high-quality education.
I know how important it is for residents to feel informed early and clearly. The committee has an opportunity to continually improve how we can communicate earlier in the process, present information in more accessible and digestible ways, and clearly explain the trade-offs behind our decisions.
Lauren Soper: I believe our School Committee does a great job today, and with some small shifts, will be optimized to solve problems more effectively. Today, too much meeting time is spent listening to presentations, followed by a short period for clarifying questions. When important or provocative questions arise, it can be difficult to track how they are answered and what happens next.
I would like to see presentation materials reviewed in advance so meeting time can focus on what the data means, where the greatest needs are, and how to solve problems transparently together.
I would also support a one-page action summary accompanying the meeting minutes after each meeting: Key Learnings, Decisions Made, and Next Steps, with timelines and clear owners. That would improve accountability and public understanding.
Lastly, I would like to see a strategic backlog of feedback from students, parents, teachers, and residents maintained, so ideas and concerns are tracked, revisited, and advanced openly.
There are small shifts we can make that I believe would lead to extraordinary results for our town.
Interested in learning more about the candidates? The public is also invited to the League of Women Voters’ Candidates Night on Monday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Broadmeadow School and via Zoom (more information and the link to register for the Zoom link can be found on the LWV’s website.)