Enfield Candidate Profile: Joyce Hall, Board of Education

ENFIELD, CT — Enfield's election season is heating up, and there are plenty of contested races with candidates eager to represent their town in November's municipal election. Enfield Patch asked candidates in the town council and Board of Education races to answer questions about their campaigns, and has been publishing candidate profiles each weekday as election day draws near.

Joyce Hall is running for election to the Enfield Board of Education as a member of the Democratic party.

Age: 84

Occupation: Retired (Experience in Systems Analysis, Teaching)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Prior member of Enfield Board of Education for 10 years.

The single most pressing issue facing our town is: Maintaining and building on the school system we have, developing lifelong learners who learn in well-maintained buildings and who are taught by well-prepared teachers led by innovative administration. My intention is to work as a member of a unified board to facilitate this result while exercising appropriate direction and fiscal responsibility.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post: All of the candidates for the Enfield Board of Education are concerned that the Enfield School System be the very best it can be but I believe that my many levels of experience in education provide the basis for my candidacy - Teaching in middle and high school; Teaching adults in a work environment; BOE experience; Representing CREC and EPS at national conferences; Experience in systems development and budgeting.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

• Making education relevant.
• Willingness to consider innovation.
• That students be engaged in their own learning and develop creativity while also being able to think critically and analytically.
• The Climate Crisis is also an area of concern and with international youth focusing on it may make it a subject for the BOE.
• That bullying be dealt with as it arises and not allowed to escalate.
• That technology be both a study and a tool that is used effectively.
• While much work has been done to keep our students safe while using computer equipment we must also be sure that the entire system be protected from an attack from Ransomware.
• All students who have difficulty with reading should be carefully evaluated to provide what help they may require. Dyslexia is of concern.
• That students who may have experienced trauma be recognized and supported so that they may be comfortable in school.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job: Education is important to me and has been since I first helped my classmates with reading in second grade. Whatever I may have been involved with in my life, a job, a class, an officer in an organization, as a parent, a scout leader - willingness to consider new ideas has been at the forefront.

The best advice ever shared with me was: Appreciate Staff

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions: While I have been a leader in every organization I have been a member of including president of my statewide union and secretary or treasurer of other statewide groups, I acknowledge that being on the Board of Education is being only one of a group that operates as a unit.