NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter(s) of endorsement. We will publish endorsement letters from New Canaan residents through Oct. 24. Please send them to editor@newcanaanite.com.
***
I am writing to express my strong support for these four highly qualified candidates for the upcoming Board of Education election: Hugo Alves, Matt Campbell, Lara Kelly, and Matt Wexler.
These four candidates have demonstrated their commitment to improving our education system and have the ability to lead with integrity and dedication. They possess the qualities necessary to make informed decisions that will benefit our community and empower our students to achieve their fullest potential. They will partner with the administration and will continue the tradition of providing a best-in-class education. They are committed to supporting New Canaan students to receive the education that prepares them for their futures.
Please join me in voting for Hugo, Lara, Matt, and Matt in the upcoming Board of Education election. Together, we can ensure a bright and prosperous future for our children through a strong and effective educational system.
Sincerely,
Bob Naughton
***
I first met Amy Murphy Carroll – whom I encourage you to vote for in November – through her mother. The eighth of 10 children, Amy and her sister Sally Campbell moved Mother Midge, as she is known, to a condo in town from their native Buffalo when she was 85. They were cognizant of the need to help their mother navigate the inevitable challenges of aging – and wanted her to be close by so they could help guide it firsthand. Amy is sensitive to the needs of all of the generations in our town. Her goals include creating more daycare options for working parents, ensuring that our schools are independent and safe, and helping older adults age-in-place successfully in the town they helped to build. Amy’s myriad accomplishments and qualifications are well known – 10 years of service on the Board of Finance, a 30-year career in municipal finance, a commitment to championing excellence in our schools and public works, and leadership in helping our downtown businesses thrive. Equally important, Amy is an exceptional mother, daughter, friend, and advocate for all ages. She views our town residents as neither red nor blue, and will make sure that anyone who wants to contribute to her successful stewardship won’t be left on the sidelines.
Barb Achenbaum
Health and Human Services Commissioner
***
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter to ask the people of New Canaan to vote for Lauren Connolly Nussbaum for the Board of Education.
My family and I moved to New Canaan seven months ago. My autistic 6-year-old son needed a new school that would meet his needs. It is well known that NCPS is outstanding for both general education and special education. My top priority as a special needs parent was the culture and climate of the community, so I started doing my research.
I spoke with many mothers of local towns but I felt unsure of where my family would fit. Then I was introduced to Lauren Connolly Nussbaum. I explained to Lauren that I was looking for a hometown that would accept my son for who he is, see him, include him and, above all, just be kind to him. Lauren’s love for this town spoke volumes. She shared her own story about her daughter who also received special education support. The story of her family’s journey with her daughter was sincere and real. We had only just met and she was connecting with me on a level that no one else had. I felt like my family already had support in New Canaan. Lauren said two words that solidified my choice: “community” and “acceptance”. That conversation was all it took to make my life-changing decision.
New Canaan is our home now and we are thrilled. My son is learning and making a contribution. He is surrounded by typical peers that get excited when they see him and include him. It was the best decision we have ever made. Now I want to support this town and help continue its growth and success.
New Canaan has an opportunity to add value with Lauren on the BOE. She has a unique lens and can relate to all families with various goals. There are 4175 students in New Canaan. As an alumni of high-ranking schools, Lauren can relate to the elite students of this district and will continue to support them. Additionally, she has the mindset to speak for the rest of the students within the average range, the 500 students with special education support, and students with 504s. Lauren knows that successful schools start with BOE leaders who collaborate with the community as well as the schools administration, faculty and staff. She understands the processes of special education and has experience working with an array of NCPS administrators and teachers.
It is so important to have people like Lauren on the BOE. As an active listener and significant volunteer and leader, she will bring heart and community. The goal of any BOE is to improve each year in all areas. New Canaan stands out, not only as having the best schools, but having a strong community behind it that comes together to make things right. Lauren is a huge proponent of that theme and will bring it to the BOE.
Sincerely yours,
Lauren Tarzia
***
“Be careful what you wish for”—those were the words of warning from a retiring teacher’s comments to the Board of Education on June 5th. These words were in response to a national movement to narrow school curriculum towards “traditional education” – one where only core subject areas are taught. The argument here is that teaching anything other than core subjects “distracts” from academic success. Whatever your view is, we can all agree on this: New Canaan must focus on continued excellence in order to attract the most talented teachers necessary to prepare our kids for the future. School excellence will bolster our real estate values and keep New Canaan the vibrant town that it is today. Education afterall is the industry of New Canaan.
As a 20+ year resident with NCHS graduates, I can tell you with absolute certainty our schools are extremely good at preparing our children for success. They have done so by being able to look outside of core subject areas without compromising achievement. For as long as I’ve lived here, NCPS has prioritized the whole child – focusing not only on challenging each child to their highest potential academically but also on each child’s emotional wellness and individual value as an important part in the community. Whatever perceived “distractions” one might think is occurring is certainly not happening. On the contrary, these “non-traditional” aspects of education are wholly in alignment of our shared community values and what makes New Canaan special.
With this in mind, who are the best BOE candidates to lead our school district forward? Our leaders impact the board’s tone and reflect the values we hold as a community. We need to elect leaders who will look forward, not backwards. The ones who will seek bold and creative solutions to teaching and instruction and fully embrace innovation. Brendan Hayes, Lauren Nussbaum and Josh Kaye all have the requisite skills, experience and temperament to lead our district with excellence. They are smart problem solvers, consensus builders and have long histories advocating for children.
Brendan Hayes is an incumbent seeking a third term who brings significant institutional knowledge to a board whose majority of members will be new. He is a finance professional who understands where every dollar in the BOE budget is being spent. He is smart and the calm voice of reason during lively BOE debates.
Lauren Nussbaum is an active volunteer, coach and board member of many local organizations. She is a permanent fixture at BOE meetings as the South School PTC liaison and is highly informed of all the important issues. A special needs advocate, Lauren has by far the highest emotional intelligence of anyone I have met in my life. She has a unique ability to empathize with anyone and will advocate for all.
Josh Kaye is a young dad and seasoned litigator adept at navigating complex legal issues. His skills will be invaluable with teacher negotiations, handling insurance issues and drafting BOE policies. Josh is smart, affable and a true team player. With very young children in the district, Josh has a vested interest in New Canaan schools for more than a decade to come.
Like the retiring NCPS teacher, I wish for a BOE focused on preparing our kids in all aspects. I wish for a board prepared to do the hard work of the board on Day 1, ready to represent everyone – not just the ones they agree with. Your voice matters. Like minded voters should vote for Brendan Hayes, Lauren Connolly Nussbaum and Josh Kaye. Vote Row A November 7th.
Janet Leung Fonss