Letter to the Editor of the Dedham Times on March 24, 2023 from former Dedham School Committee Member Joe Heisler

Dear Voters

Whoever said you can’t trust anyone under 30? Obviously, they never met Stephen Acosta, the young man running in this year’s Town elections for a seat on the Dedham School Committee. Stephen graduated Dedham Public Schools – Avery, Middle, then Dedham High School in 2016 and since then has never looked back. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida in 2019, and then a Master’s degree in Public Administration in 2022, but he never forgot where he came from. He came home to Dedham and is currently putting his education and skills to good use working at the State House as the Communications Director for a State Senator. But he wants to do more and has been a willing volunteer in several Town projects and services, most recently as a member of the Superintendent Search Committee, which earlier this year helped to hire a widely-hailed, new Dedham School Superintendent. More importantly, Stephen is the perfect role model for what we all hope the next generations’ commitment and service to the Town of Dedham will be. He is giving millennials a good name, and hopefully they are watching.  He is thoughtful, kind, energetic and enthusiastic about the future of Dedham. If you have not had an opportunity to meet him, please do so and see for yourself – he is an inspiration, especially to old ‘baby boomers’ like me. I once served on the Dedham School Committee and am confident he will make an excellent member of the School Committee, if given a chance. So I hope you will join me in giving him one of your two votes at the April 8 Town Election; you won’t regret it. 

Joe Heisler

27 Meadow Street

East Dedham