Farmington Election 2021 Profile: Andrea Sobinski

FARMINGTON, CT — Democrat Andrea Sobinski, 54, is running for Farmington Board of Education in Farmington.

Occupation: Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I Currently Work As A Crisis Clinician In The Emergency Department At Hartford Hospital And Uconn Health Center.

Family: Married to Sohrab with two children, Cole and Caitlin, who attend Farmington High School and Irving Robbins Middle School

Experience: Current member of the Farmington Board of Education

Family in government: No

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

The biggest issue facing the school district is ensuring that the Farmington High School building project is completed on time and on budget and planning for the continued infrastructure needs of the K-8 facilities. Each year the BOE’s operating and capital budgets include items for repairs and maintenance, as well as larger projects. Given the size and scope of this work, the BOE will need to work with the Town Council, along with State and Federal Partners to ensure necessary facility upgrades across the district continue to occur and explore creative ways to fund these upgrades in order to minimize impacts to taxpayers.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected three consecutive school years. With the continued uncertainty of its long-term impact on education, and it will be important for the BOE to commit to staffing and programming that support the changing academic and emotional needs of our students.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

I see and hear Farmington from a variety of perspectives. And, I believe that the path to progress is led not by those who talk the most or the loudest but instead by those who

listen and seek to find common ground. I recognize and respect differences of opinion and style among members of the Board and welcome collaboration with my colleagues.

I believe that Farmington needs leaders who will listen to its residents and ensure that all voices are heard and are equally represented. My personal and professional experiences have taught me the importance of fostering positive relationships and offering open, accessible, and transparent communication with all interested parties. Identifying what is important to you, and proposing solutions and effecting positive change are among the valuable skills I have honed over years of engagement in the schools and community.

Accomplishments:

Elected to the Board of Education in 2017, I currently serve as Chair of the Personnel and Negotiations Committee, member of the Curriculum Committee, liaison to Health and Wellness, Noah Wallace Fund, and former liaison to the Green Efforts Committee. In addition, I served on the principal search committees for Irving Robbins, West Woods, and West District Schools.

For more than 10 years, I have been an active volunteer in the schools and community serving in various parent leadership roles, including Noah Wallace PTO Co-President, Secretary, member of the Superintendent's Parent Leadership Forum, NWS Student Development Council, FHS Class of 2022 parent representative and Farmington Soccer Club team manager.

Professionally, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience in the private and public sectors, and including the public schools.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

Guided by Farmington’s Mission and Vision of the Global Citizen, I believe, unequivocally, that all students can acquire knowledge and skills that are necessary to become productive, ethical, responsible, and contributing members of their community.

I value and support public education. I am an advocate for innovative programming and I am committed to continuous learning and improvement. I will work collaboratively with fellow members of the BOE, community members and local officials, and to advance educational opportunities for all students in our district and to maintain Farmington’s high quality of education.