Election 2021: Wilfred Duchesneau, Ellington Board Of Education

ELLINGTON, CT — Democrat Wilfred "Wil" Duchesneau, 77, is running for the Board of Education in Ellington.

Occupation: Retired Educator & Administrator

Family: I have a son and daughter and a granddaughter all of whom live out of state.

Experience: Ellington Ethics Commission- Chair

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

I am concerned about the number of educators of long standing and quality that have left the district in recent years. We need to identify what the reasons are for this and create new conditions that will retain good personnel and attract the best available educators. Residents have indicated to me they have come expect an excellent educational system in Ellington

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I sense a concern about transparency in government in general. Citizens desire detailed and timely answers to questions about issues in our educational system. I would seek to articulate the concerns of our constituency and obtain for them the clear responses in a reasonable time-frame that they feel is appropriate.

Accomplishments:

I was a lifelong educator. A classroom teacher of history and social studies for 37 years and an school administrator for five years. I served as a high school athletic director. on a part-time basis for a decade. As a teacher building representative and later assistant principal I have experienced education issues both from the classroom and leadership perspective. I have served as president or chair of local and statewide organizations the athletic realm of coaches and officials. As an educator of history and political science I have a long developed appreciation that government representatives must discern what the citizens desire and determine whether such are objectives are obtainable.

Other issues:

I view public education as doing what is in the best interests of all children. Providing a safe and productive environment where all students and parents learn and experience the importance of a positive school culture.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I have lived in Ellington for 20 years and for the last seven served on the Ellington Ethics commission. I worked my entire career in a community very similar to Ellington in Coventry and CT. I have travelled widely in both the U.S. and abroad with a focus on travel in Europe. My travels have been most educational because I chose to meet people in their daily lives as well as seeing the things in their community.

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