Avon's Russo Appointed To School Board

AVON, CT — Republican Lisa Seminara left the Avon Board of Education for a much larger government role, state senator for the 8th Senate District.

But her replacement on the local education board is already set: Nicole Russo, a Republican who was officially appointed earlier this month by the Avon Town Council with a 4-0 vote.

Seminara, who was elected state senator in November, had to resign her seat, paving the way for Russo's filling out the rest of her term, which ends in December of this year.

Russo was appointed Feb. 2 and officially sworn into office Feb. 3.

Upon her appointment before the Avon Town Council, Russo thanked council members "for this opportunity" and said she looks forward to working with fellow school board members.

According to the Avon Republican Town Committee, Russo has lived in Avon with her husband and three children for more than seven years.

The GOP said Russo's children are all pupils in Avon Public Schools and Russo has spent time as an active volunteer, room parent and PTO board member.

Education is also in Russo's background and she was an English teacher in the New York City public school system, at a charter school in Denver, Colo., and at a Connecticut Catholic school.

"She has experience in curriculum development and was a founding teacher and department chair at a charter school in Denver," wrote the Avon GOP. "Nicole has graduate degrees in school leadership and middle school education."

Seminara, who was elected to the Avon school board in 2019, started her first term in the Senate last month.

Her last meeting on the school board was in December, when colleagues on the board feted her for her service.

Seminara currently serves the towns of Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Simsbury and Torrington in the 8th Senate District.

For the minutes of the Feb. 2 Avon Town Council meeting, click on this link.

Avon Board of Education says "goodbye" to Seminara Dec. 20, 2022: