Greenwich Patch Candidate Profile: Stephanie D’Alton Barrett

GREENWICH, CT — Election day in Greenwich is getting closer and there are plenty of candidates running for various positions in town. To help residents make an informed decision on Nov. 5, Greenwich Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as the big day draws near.

Incumbent Stephanie D'Alton Barrett, 61, is running for a seat on the Representative Town Meeting (District 5). In addition to previously serving on the RTM, she has worked as a teacher in the Greenwich Public Schools system for six years.

The single most pressing issue facing our town/district is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Our schools. I worked in the New Lebanon school before reconstruction. I shared a very small room with five other teachers and various students. We didn't have enough classrooms to accommodate our teachers or our students. I had to bring my teaching material with me to each classroom; we all did.

Good teachers are important but giving them and their students a suitable environment in which to teach and learn is critical.

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

I have taught in the Greenwich public schools since 2012. I know what teachers and students experience within the schools. Many teachers cannot afford to live in Greenwich. They're commuting from towns 40-50 miles away in some instances. They arrive early and work a long day. They deserve a decent place to work.

The students deserve the same. By ignoring our infrastructure we are doing them , their families and our town a disservice. We can do better and I think my perspective as a teacher gives me an insight which is different from other RTM candidates

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

The environment. I think it should be everyone's number one priority. With the resources available to us in Greenwich, we should be leading the efforts for sustainability and regeneration. We are not.

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

As a teacher, collaboration is essential. Working with my colleagues, the students and their families is how we work together to accomplish our goals in the world of education. I think it works the same way on the RTM. That has been my experience in the two years that I served in the RTM.

The best advice ever shared with me was...

" Do your little bit of good where you are. It's those little bits of good that overwhelms the world."