Election 2025: Board of Education Candidate Kate Brambilla [Q&A]

New Canaan resident Kate Brambilla, a Democrat, is seeking election to the Board of Education. The Dems hold three of nine seats on the school board. Five seats are up for election: two currently held by Democrats, three by Republicans. There are three Democrats and three Republicans running for Board of Ed.

Here’s our exchange with Brambilla. 

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New Canaanite: Please give us some background on you, including your history in New Canaan and your involvement with community organizations and/or local government/New Canaan Public Schools.

Kate Brambilla: I grew up in Montclair, NJ, and in 2004, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Vermont with a double major in philosophy and English and a minor in French. I spent 10 years at Christie’s working on what we called “Private & Iconic Collections” (Star Trek memorabilia, Marlon Brando’s estate, James Brown’s estate, Dennis Hopper’s estate). 

While living in New York, I volunteered for years as a court appointed special advocate in the Brooklyn Family Courts where I worked on getting youth in foster care on a path to safety and stability. I acted as an advocate for the children in the complex family courts and as a liaison between judges, attorneys, schools, social services, and parents. 

I believe my experience as a go-between with various parties, including the children themselves, makes me uniquely qualified to serve on the Board of Education, where parents, educators, and legislators all have a voice on the future of our schools.

Like many residents, 2020 brought me, my husband, Charles Antin, and our daughter, now a public school fourth-grader, to New Canaan. 

Driving through town, I spotted a bumper sticker for “Staying Put in New Canaan.” After having spent years working with youth, I was touched to see an organization focusing on older members of the community. Volunteering allowed me to get to know our town in a unique way. Driving members to doctors’ appointments taught me all the best short cuts. When I visited with homebound members, I learned about New Canaan’s rich history from architecture to Zumbach’s. When the opening for a full-time position as head of Member Services opened up, I leapt at the opportunity. I have seen the dedication of my members to this town and how all ages have equal interest in the success of our schools, as it relates back to all of our property values. As a result, I am poised to represent the wide range of residents in our town.

In addition to my work at Staying Put, I am co-chair of Community Service for the PTC at East Elementary (we hope to see composting at East, soon), I serve on the DTC, and am a member at First Presbyterian.

What are your thoughts about the way curriculum is developed for New Canaan Public Schools and what changes, if any, would you make to the process?

I believe Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi and his cabinet, the principals, and teachers are all deeply knowledgeable in their fields. Their years of cumulative experience are to be taken seriously – we see far when we stand on the shoulders of giants, the saying goes. We trust our children with these educators daily. I am confident that they have our students’ best interests in mind. When it comes to topics like curriculum, you let the experts be your guide. That does not mean we as a Board can’t ask serious, probing questions and offer feedback. Strong leadership, in fact, welcomes questions and feedback. One of the reasons that New Canaan has such a lauded school system is that the BOE seeks out and hires the best, allows them to do their work, but always keeps in mind the diverse opinions of our population.

I’d also add that there is no one with kids at East on the BOE currently, and I think that is a real problem. It seems a grave misstep not to have representation on the BOE from the largest of our elementary schools!

To what extent, if at all, will your party’s national agenda affect your decision-making at the local level?

I’d like to keep our focus local—what is good for our kids, and our community on the whole. 

What are your thoughts on the proposed North School? In your view, what are the upsides to that project? What are the red flags, if any?

The North proposal isn’t only about the school itself, it addresses meaningful investments to all three existing elementary schools and Saxe Middle School. It addresses the idea that, while Saxe Intermediary is an exceptional response to a spatial issue, returning our 5th graders to the elementary schools is worth serious consideration.

Look at it this way: If you were going in for some major surgery and one doctor gave you her informed plan would you just go with that, or would you dig into the facts, do further research, get a second opinion? I think most would say the latter, and indeed any good doctor would want you to second guess her opinion. It’s essential to gather all the information, talk to the stakeholders, listen to the community and go from there. 

What is one change or new initiative that you would like to see through as a Board of Ed member, if there is one?

This one is pretty simple. I would like to see elected members on the Board of Education show up. I’d like us to be on time, be prepared and be engaged with the process. We deserve to have all nine members attend all meetings; for the sake of our kids, Dr. Luizzi, and the entire town. It’s OK to expect more. 

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.

I got up on my first try ever on a surf board, at the age of 42!