Patch Candidate Profile: Joseph Scheideler, Canton Board of Education

CANTON, CT — Canton Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Joseph Scheideler, 73, is running for Canton Board of Education as a Democrat.

The following is Scheideler's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Name

Joseph Scheideler

How old will you be as of Election Day?

73

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

What city or town do you live in?

Canton

What office are you seeking?

Canton Board of Education

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

B.A. History-Fordham University; M.S. Social Studies Education-Iona College; M.S. Curriculum and Administration-Central Connecticut State University

What is your occupation?

Currently retired; 43 years as a teacher and administrator

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

Married to my wife Barbara for 51 years; 3 adult children, all graduates of the Canton schools; 2 grandsons, currently attending Canton schools.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Canton Board of Education; elected 2 terms

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I have had an over 40-year commitment to the Canton Public Schools as a teacher, coach, administrator and board of education member. Success for every child in the Canton Schools is my priority and the number one reason I am running for re-election. Canton's "Vision of a Graduate" embodies the qualities that help students become successful and contributing citizens. There is always more work to be done when it comes to maintaining and excellent school system and I would like the opportunity to be involved in this important endeavor.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most important issue facing Canton is its ability to provide a high-quality, challenging education for every child and to do this within the financial means of the town's ability to pay.

Supporting a comprehensive program, maintaining a reasonable student-teacher ratio, especially at the elementary level, are a few of the components of this challenge. This is certainly the challenge that has been given to our new superintendent and it is necessary that the board support him and his staff.

The board must look for opportunities to share services with the town and with neighboring districts, to support opportunities for creative solutions to difficult and expensive problems, and to lobby state legislators to fully fund mandated services, especially in the area of special education.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

In the eight years of service on the board of education, I have been amazed at the high quality and commitment of my fellow community members with whom I have had the pleasure to serve. The goal has overwhelmingly always been to work together to look to do what is best for our students and to come to an agreement as a board on how to accomplish this.

I bring almost 50 years of experience in education with over 40 of them in service to the Canton schools. I have served on the board as chair of the policy committee, co-chair of the finance committee and canton's representative to the areawide CREC Council.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

N/A

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

The board of education has adopted six priority goals. These include student growth and achievement, maximizing financial resources, fostering a safe and positive learning environment, celebrating diversity and fostering a sense of belonging for all students and promoting continuous growth in our teachers and staff.

Making sure that the public is informed about these goals and seeking input from the community is vital to the success of the schools. In addition, there is a space issue at the elementary level that needs to be addressed.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have served on the board of education for eight years, chairing various committees and I am currently the board's vice chair. I was selected as Canton Middle School's first principal in 2004 and served in that position for a decade before retiring. Canton Middle School was selected as the Connecticut Middle School of the Year in 2008 and I was chosen as Connecticut's Middle School Principal of the Year in 2013. My commitment to the Canton schools is well-established and I would be honored to continue to serve the Canton community on the board of education.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Three things are important in life: The first is to be kind: the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind. (Courtesy of Henry James)