CONNECTICUTASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION
“Out of the public schools grows the greatness of a nation.”
- Mark Twain
So You Want To Be A Board Member?
A briefing on preparing for public office
September 19, 2023
5:00 - 6:15pm
AGENDA
5:00 – 5:20 pm
Time and Personal Commitment of Being a Board Member
Presenter:
Liz Brown, Board Member, Waterbury; President, CABE
5:20 – 5:40 pm
Board Member Roles and Responsibilities
Leadership Opportunities for Board Members
Working with Other Board Members and Maximizing Your Effectiveness as a Board Member
Presenter:
Patrice McCarthy, Executive Director and General Counsel, CABE
5:40 – 6:00 pm
Issues Facing Public Education Today
Presenter:
Sheila McKay, Sr. Staff Associate for Government Relations, CABE
6:00 – 6:15 pm
Q&A Session
CABE’s Mission Statement:
To assist local and regional boards of education in providing high quality education for all Connecticut children through effective leadership.
CABE Vision Statement:
CABE is passionate about strengthening public education through high-performing, transformative local school board/superintendent leadership teams that inspire success for each child.
Connecticut
81 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109-1242 - (860) 571-7446 - Fax (860) 571-7452 – www.cabe.org
Association of Boards of Education, Inc.
Executive Committee
President: Elizabeth Brown (Waterbury) 225 Alexander Avenue, Waterbury, CT 06705 (h) 203-754-7136 (c) 203-560-7028 (email) lynnrb1935@gmail.com
First Vice President: Leonard Lockhart (Windsor) 57 Columbia Road, Windsor, CT 06095 (h) 860-243-2155 (c) 860-883-3344 (email) llockhart@windsorct.org
VP for Government Relations: Meg Scata (Portland) 5 Freedom Way, Portland, CT 06480 (c) 860-834-6063 (email) megscata@gmail.com
VP for Professional Development: John Prins (Branford) 63 Parish Farm Road, Branford, CT 06405 (c) 203-623-6191 (email) jprins@branfordschools.org
Secretary/Treasurer: Lon Seidman (Essex) 76 Bushy Hill Road, Ivoryton, CT 06442 (h) 860-577-0566 (email) lseidman@reg4.k12.ct.us
Immediate Past President: Donald Harris (Bloomfield) 6 Bear Ridge Drive, Bloomfield, CT 06002 (c) 860-878-1403 (email) dharris@blmfld.org
Member at Large: Tony Perugini (Cheshire) 656 Ashley Court, Cheshire, CT 06410 (c) 203-229-7792 (email) aperugini@cheshire.k12.ct.us
Committee Chairs
Resolutions Chair: Laurel Steinhauser (Portland) 56 Prospect Street, Portland CT 06480 (h) 413-531-3908 (email) lsteinhauser@portlandct.us
Federal Relations Chair: Becky Tyrrell (Plainville) 174 West Main Street, #1, Plainville, CT 06062 (h) 860-793-0615 (c) 860-978-2477 (email) Tyrrell@EdAdvance.org
State Relations Chair: Jaime Barr Shelburn (East Lyme) 31 McElaney Drive, Niantic, CT 06357 (c) 860-501-2511 (email) jaime.shelburn@elpsk12.org
Associate Directors
Associate: Eileen Baker (Old Saybrook) 4 West View Circle, Old Saybrook, CT 06475 (c) 860-304-4635 (b) 860-388-2761 (email) ebaker@snet.net
Associate: Robert R. Mitchell (Montville)
262 Moxley Road, Uncasville, CT 06382 (h) 860-447-8882 (c) 860-639-3709 (email) rrmitch01@gmail.com
Associate: Tony Perugini, (Cheshire)
656 Ashley Court, Cheshire, CT 06410
(c) 203-229-7792
(email) aperugini@cheshire.k12.ct.us
NSBA Director
Lydia Tedone (Simsbury) 32 Lincoln Lane, Simsbury, CT 06089 (c) 860-543-1523 (email) lydiatedone@yahoo.com
CABE Staff Members
Patrice A. McCarthy (ext. 113)
Executive Director and General Counsel
Nicholas D. Caruso (ext. 103)
Sr. Staff Associate for Field Services
Jody Goeler (ext. 109)
Sr. Staff Associate for Policy Services
Sheila McKay (ext 114)
Sr. Staff Associate for Government Relations
Lisa Steimer (ext 105)
Sr. Staff Associate for Professional Development and Communications
Conrad Vahlsing (ext. 104)
Sr. Staff Attorney
CABE Area Directors
Area 1: Marion Manzo (Region 15)
286 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, CT 06762
(h) 203-405-1528 (c) 203-437-2861
(email) mmanzo@region15.org
Area 2: Doug Foyle (Glastonbury)
534 Addison Road, Glastonbury, CT 06033
(c) 860-306-0602
(email) Foyled@glastonburyus.org
Area 2: Tyron Harris (East Hartford)
1110 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108
(c) 860-833-8130
(email) harris.tv@easthartford.org
Area 3: Vacant
Area 4: Jay Livernois (Woodstock Academy)
231 Fox Hill Road, Pomfret Center, CT 06259
(b) 860-928-6959 (c) 860-207-7135
(email) jaylivernois@hotmail.com
Area 5: Dan Cruson (Newtown)
3 Primrose Street, Newtown, CT 06470
(c) 203-240-4904
(email) crusond_boe@newtown.k12.ct.us
Area 6: Janice Cupee (Stratford)
1000 East Broadway, Stratford, CT 06615
(c) 203-212-8374
(email) cupeej.boe@stratk12.org
Area 6: Lee Goldstein (Westport)
3 Greenlea Lane, Westport, CT 06883
(h) 203-557-4464 (c) 203-561-6759
(email) lgoldstein@westportps.org
Area 7: George Kurtyka (Derby) 46 Mohawk Avenue, Derby, CT 06418 (h) 203-732-4673
(email) kurtyka@sbcglobal.net
Area 7: Robert Guthrie (West Haven)
11 Spruce Peak Lane, West Haven, CT 06516
(h) 203-934-7565 (c) 203-996-2382
(email) rjgwh911@yahoo.com
Area 8: Lon Seidman (Essex) 76 Bushy Hill Road, Ivoryton, CT 06442 (h) 860-577-0566
(email) lseidman@reg4.k12.ct.us
Area 9: Carol Burgess (Montville)
28 New Hampshire Lane, Oakdale, CT 06370
(h) 860-303-7267
(email) cburgess@montvilleschools.org
Area 9: Bryan Doughty (New London)
975 Ocean Avenue, New London, CT 06328
(c) 860-287-0909
(email) doughtyb@newlondon.org
City Representatives
Bridgeport: Joseph Sokolovic (Bridgeport)
45 Lyon Terrace, Bridgeport, CT 06604
(b) 718-650-0718
(email) jsokolovic@bridgeportedu.net
Hartford: Pastor AJ Johnson (Hartford)
330 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford CT 06114
(b) 860-695-8000
(email) aj.johnson@hartfordschools.org
New Haven: Yesenia Rivera (New Haven)
54 Meadow Street, New Haven CT 06519
(c) 203-988-0774
(email) yesenia.rivera@new-haven.k12.ct.us
Stamford: Versha Munshi-South (Stamford)
888 Washington Boulevard, 5th Floor, Stamford, CT 06901 (h) 203-977-5318
(email) VMunshiSouth@stamfordct.gov
Wendy DeBarge (ext. 102)
Coordinator of Finance and Administration
Pamela Brooks (ext. 110)
Sr. Administrative Associate for Policy Services/Search Serv.
Terry DeMars (ext 108)
Administrative Associate for Policy Services
Gail Heath (ext. 111)
Administrative Associate for Government Relations
Wilmarie Newton (ext. 106)
Administrative Associate for Labor Relations
Nancy Propfe (ext. 115)
Administrative Assistant for Membership Services
Corliss Ucci (ext.100)
Receptionist/Assistant to the Executive Director
CABE Areas
you from all corners of the state
2022-2023 CABE Board of Directors Representing
06109
81 Wolcott Hill Rd, Wethersfield CT
To email CABE staff follow this format: firstinitial lastname@cabe.org example: pmccarthy@cabe.org. or call us at 860-571-7446
Barkhamsted Canaan Colebrook Cornwall Hartland Kent Litchfield Naugatuck New Hartford Norfolk North Canaan Oxford Plymouth Region 1 Region 6 Region 7 Region 10 Region 14 Region 15 Region 16 Salisbury Sharon Thomaston Torrington Waterbury Watertown Winchester Wolcott AREA 1 AREA 2 Avon Berlin Bloomfield Bristol Canton East Granby East Hartford East Windsor Enfield Farmington Glastonbury Granby Hartford Manchester Meriden New Britain Newington Plainville Rocky Hill Simsbury Southington South Windsor Suffield West Hartford Wethersfield Windsor Windsor Locks AREA 3 Ashford Andover Bolton Chaplin Colchester Columbia Coventry Ellington Hampton Hebron Lebanon Mansfield Marlborough Region 8 Region 11 Region 19 Scotland Somers Stafford Tolland Vernon Willington Windham Brooklyn Canterbury Eastford Griswold Killingly Plainfield Pomfret Putnam Sprague Sterling Thompson Union Woodstock AREA 4 AREA 5 Bethel Brookfield Danbury Easton New Fairfield New Milford Newtown Redding Region 9 Region 12 Ridgefield Sherman Bridgeport Darien Fairfield Greenwich Monroe New Canaan Norwalk Shelton Stamford Stratford Trumbull Weston Westport Wilton AREA 6 AREA 7 Ansonia Bethany Branford Cheshire Derby East Haven Hamden Milford New Haven North Branford North Haven Orange Region 5 Seymour Wallingford West Haven Woodbridge AREA 8 Chester Clinton Cromwell Deep River East Haddam East Hampton Essex Guilford Madison Middletown Old Saybrook Portland Region 4 Region 13 Region 17 Region 18 Westbrook AREA 9 Bozrah East Lyme Franklin Groton Ledyard Lisbon Montville New London North Stonington Norwich Preston Salem Stonington Voluntown Waterford
Connecticut Code of Ethics for Boards of Education
The Code of Ethics is based upon “Standards of Leadership for Members of Boards of Education” recommended by the CABE Board of Directors in 1974, and on the preliminary “Code of Ethics” recommended in 1977. The Code was readopted in 2023.
1. I will be a staunch advocate of high quality free public education for all Connecticut children. In fulfilling my responsibilities, I will think of “children first.”
2. I will, as an agent of the state, uphold and enforce all laws, rules, regulations and court orders pertaining to public schools. I will strive to bring any needed change only through legal and ethical procedures.
3. I will strive to help create public schools which meet the individual educational needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex or social standing.
4. I will work unremittingly to help my community understand the importance of proper support for public education, whether it be in providing adequate finance, optimum facilities, staffing and resources, or better educational programs for children.
5. I will join with my board, staff, community and students in becoming fully informed about the nature, value and direction of contemporary education in our society. I will support needed change in our schools.
6. I will strive to ensure that the community is fully and accurately informed about our schools, and will try to interpret community aspirations to the school staff.
7. I will recognize that my responsibility is not to “run the schools” through administration, but together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well-run through effective policies.
8. I will attempt to confine my board action to policy-making, planning and appraisal, and will help to frame policies and plans only after my board has consulted those who will be affected by its actions.
9. I will arrive at conclusions only after discussing all aspects of the issue at hand with my fellow board members in meeting. I will respect the opinions of others, and abide by the principal of majority-rule.
10. I will recognize that authority rests only with the whole board assembled in meeting, and will make no personal promises nor take any private action which may compromise the board.
11. I will acknowledge that the board represents the entire school community, and will refuse to surrender myindependent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups. I will never use my position on the board for the gain of myself or my friends.
12. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to schools which, if disclosed, might needlessly injure individuals or the schools.
13. I will insist that all school business transactions be open and ethical.
14. I will strive to appoint the best professional leader available when a vacancy exists in the chief administrative position.
15. I will strive to appoint the best trained technical and professional personnel available, upon recommendation by the appropriate administrative officer.
16. I will support and protect school personnel in the proper performance of their duties. I will strive to ensure that all personnel have not only the requisite responsibilities, but the necessary authority to perform effectively.
17. I will refer all complaints through the proper “chain of command” within the system, and will act on such complaints at public meetings only when administrative solutions fail.
Messaging Platform
The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) is the foremost statewide organization focused on school district governance and the only organization in the state devoted exclusively to promoting effective leadership among boards of education.
CABE has been serving boards of education since 1906. Today, the organization partners with about 90 percent of the Connecticut PreK-12 boards of education. Our nearly 1,200 members, representing more than half of all elected officials in the state, collectively serve as a powerful voice for the advancement of public education
Mission
To assist local and regional boards of education in providing high-quality public education for all Connecticut children through effective leadership.
Services
Vision
CABE is passionate about strengthening public education through high-performing, transformative local school board / superintendent leadership teams that inspire success for each child.
CABE provides services to its members in three main areas: education, advocacy, and support.
EDUCATION
CABE is the premier provider of professional development for Connecticut’s boards of education, from orientation programs for new members to customized workshops for individual school districts.
CABE has unparalleled experience in promoting effective governance through leading-edge training programs that our members hail as second to none.
ADVOCACY
CABE is the leading advocate for Connecticut’s school boards on education policy and funding issues at the state and federal levels, amplifying the needs and concerns of school districts across the state
CABE is also the preeminent provider of legal information and assistance to boards of education and superintendents and has successfully participated as amicus curiae in landmark cases affecting PreK12 education statewide.
SUPPORT
CABE is uniquely qualified to provide timely, informative supports and resources to help its member districts navigate emerging issues in the public education landscape, including the latest trends and developments in policy and labor relations.
CABE also has several decades of experience conducting executive searches to assist districts in the recruitment and selection of top-notch candidates for superintendent and other leadership positions
STRENGTHENING PUBLIC EDUCATION ConnecticutAssociation of Boards of Education 81 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109 860-571-7446 | 860-571-7452 (fax) | www.cabe.org