LeBlanc, Ryder Selected Leaders Of Enfield Board Of Education

ENFIELD, CT — The nine newly-elected members of the Enfield Board of Education were sworn into office during a brief ceremony and organizational meeting Tuesday in the council chambers at town hall.

Tine LeBlanc, the most tenured member of the board beginning her sixth term, was unanimously elected chair by her peers, while Scott Ryder was selected as vice chair. Jonathan LeBlanc, nephew of the new chair, was elected board secretary.

Tina LeBlanc is just the fifth female chair in town school board history, following in the footsteps of Claire Hunt, Karen Owens, Ann Maloney and Sharon Racine.

"Tonight I am both humbled and honored to have been chosen as the board chair," she said. "What I hope to see this term from this board is the start of unity, where every board member understands their role, and where each of you feel valued and heard. Although there will be disagreements and tough conversations, we will keep reminding ourselves that we are here for the students of Enfield."

She ended her brief remarks with a quote from Angela Schwindt: "While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about."

Ryder said, "I just wanted to thank specifically our Enfield teachers and staff and administrators, everyone who has a hand in Enfield Public Schools, including our bus drivers, our paras, our lunch aides, our tutors. Everybody has a hand in how my kids and your kids experience their day. Every adult in that building helps shape each day that our kids are there."

In addition to the three officers, board members for the 2021-23 term are Jean Acree, Janet Cushman, John Unghire, Amanda Pickett, Dr. Gerald Calnen and Joshua Hamre.

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