Politics & Government

Candidate Profiles: Republicans For Board Of Education

Survey responses from those running for office

We sent out a series of questions to the candidates running for office this election, and these were the responses we received. The responses from the Democratic slate for the Board of Education went on the site today at noon. The responses from the two parties' candidates for City Council will post on Tuesday, while the Green Party and unaffiliated candidate responses will go up on Wednesday.

 

Jason L. Catala
Age: 37
Address: 476 Ocean Ave
Hometown: New London
Employment: 11 years as an elementary school teacher. I hold an 092 Administrators Certificate, an 013 Elementary Education certificate as well as a coaching certificate.
Education: BA in history and social science, MS in elementary education, from Eastern Connecticut State University, Sixth Year in Educational Leadership from Sacred Heart University.
Incumbent: Yes Spent 6 years on the NL BOE from 1997-2003 and two years on the NL city Council from 2003-2005, returned to the NL BOE In 2009- present.Presently I am secretary of the NL BOE.
Previous elected experience: 8 years on the New London Board of Education and 2 years as a New London city councilor
Civic experience: President of Centro de la Comunidad for the past two years. I have spent five years on Centro's board of directors.
Top issue: Test scores in New London must improve. The board with the superintendent must promote programs that work along with promoting good teaching. The board must set achievable goals and a time line in which the goals will be met.

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Second isssue: the Board of Education needs to meet twice a month. This is important because there needs to be some accountability. Currently the board meets for three hours once a month. The board needs to work very closely with the superintendent to promote a district where teachers are appreciated and are lead by leaders who lead by example and respect.

Third issue: Curriculum has come a long way. The board must continue to work and implement curriculum that addresses the districts needs. We need to fine tune our curriculum to make sure it addresses the serious need for improvement at all levels.

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Heidi Cooper
Age: 34
Address: 17 Georgiana St
Hometown: Frederick, Md
Employment: Ordained minister at Lifehouse Church in Groton
Education: Bachelors Degree in Theology

Incumbent: No
Previous elected experience: None

Civic experience: Full-time inner city youth pastor Brockton, MA, senior pastor of Lifehouse Church 
Top issue: Raising test scores. Our whole school system needs to change.  We need to work together to come up with a plan and accountability for our schools to raise our tests scores in order make New London as viable place to raise children.

Second issue: Parent involvement in the school system. I believe a large part of academic success rests on parents being concerned about and directly involved in their child's education.  We need to get parents more involved. We can’t even think about raising tests scores unless we partner with the parents.

Third issue: Spending funds wisely to best serve our students and teachers.

 

Sharon Wyatt Giesing

Age: 62

Address: 798 Ocean Ave.

Hometown: Cambridge, Mass.

Employment: Homemaker and event coordinator

Education: 12+ years

Incumbent: No

Previous election experience: Campaign manager

Civic experience: City of New London Citizens Advisory Council; chairman 3 years, Eastern Connecticut March of Dimes; executive board of directors 8 years, Family Services Association of Southern New London County; board of directors 4 years, Southeastern Connecticut YWCA; board of directors 4 years, RSVP of Southern Connecticut; advisory board 6 years, United Way; allocation committee and nember elect for funding, City of New London Planning and Zoning Commission; zoning commissioner 5 years, Lawrence and Memorial Auxiliary; fundraising, American Cancer Society; fundraising 10 years, New World Festival 500 Steering Committee; volunteer coordinator (1992), Coast Guard Pre-Bicentennial; co-finance chairman (1989), Coast Guard Bicentennial; finance chairman (1990), MCDC; event coordinator 10 years, Sailfest; co-chairman (1986) and volunteer coordinator 9 years, Taste of Southeastern Connecticut Classic Cup 3 years, Special Olympics 3 years

Top issue: Education, education, education. Good schools drive communities. Poorly performing schools drive communities away.

Second issue: Working to ensure that the funding is properly allocated to bring school supplies such as textbooks back into the classroom.

Third issue: Refocusing our efforts on strengthening the core curriculum in the elementary schools of New London. Every child should have a solid educational foundation to ensure their academic success

 

Barbara Major

Age: 58
Address: 38 School Street

Hometown: New London
Employment: registrar of voters, 16 years
Education: New London High School
Incumbent: Yes
Previous elected experience: Elected to Board of Education, 2009
Civic experience: past president PTO harbor school, New London Little League secretary, Booster Club at New London High School, Handicapped Commission, volunteer in school system 34 years,
Top issue: Improving relationship with parents and taxpayers.

Second issue: Combining services such as payroll and finance with the city and supplying the students and teachers with books and supplies for their classrooms.

Third issue: Better relationship with agencies that use our facilities

 

Corina Vendetto

Age: 40

Address: 29 Chapel Drive

Employment: International Flight RN, Rescue Nurse International, LLC

Education: University of Connecticut, 1996, BSN with Honors

Incombent: No

Previous elected experience: None

New London Representative Ledge Light Health District Board of Directors, 2008-present

Civic experience: Founding executive director of Proyecto El Parto, Inc., 2006-09;

Latin stage coordinator, SailFest, 2007-09

Top issue: Our school system.  New London Public Schools need an overhaul!  NOT because our kids are less-than and NOT because our teachers are less-than.  I see the problem being that the system is so overwhelmingly top-heavy that our students, parents, and teachers are lost in the fray.  As a Board of Education member I would work diligently with other members to put our kids and their families first by flipping the pyramid.  We need to take a harsh look at the Board of Education policies and clearly distinguish between state mandates and state recommendations in order to direct the district administration, and hold them accountable.  We, as a board, need to demand fiscal responsibility as well.  Transparency in accounting could best be achieved by eliminating duplication of services and consolidating finances with the city, when appropriate.  Additionally, promotion and retention practices need addressing, both for students as well as teachers.  If our students are not meeting goals and our teacher morale is low, nobody wins.  A cohesive Board of Education should address these three goals and put New London on the map as a place parents want their children educated. A school is a child's home for approximately 7 hours per day.  As such, the Board of Education is responsible for establishing house rules, balancing the checkbook, and setting goals.   As a New London Board of Education member, I will relentlessly advocate to re-prioritize our systems, effect change, and put the house back in order.

 

 

Carlos Wimberly

Age: 53

Address: 71 Raymond Street

Hometown: New London (Although born in Arkansas, lived in New London since I was 3)

Employment: Connecticut Department of Transportation

Education: High school (some college)

Incumbent: No

Previous elected experience: None

Civic experience: None

Top issue: My thought is that nobody has a problem paying for the education of their children, and with times the way they are, all anyone wants is to  get their money's worth. I don't think we have a problem with teachers’ salaries, but we want to make sure that they are giving it their best effort, each and every day; their effort can be the difference between a child that wants to learn and one who is just there because they have to be. We all should want that when our children finish public school, that they are on their way with every advantage possible to becoming productive members of society. I understand that it is not all on the teachers. It must be three-pronged effort: the teachers, the parents and the students. One thing I will say is that, a teacher cannot teach a student that isn't present; this is where the parents come in to play. I understand it is difficult with some of the hours that we have to work to support our children, but if their education is important to us, then we must make every effort to make sure that they get there.  That they do their homework. I don't have all the answers, but I am willing to work with others to try and find a solution.


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