Doucette Nominated To Fill Manchester School Board Vacancy

MANCHESTER, CT — Local Democrats announced Tuesday that Heather Doucette is poised to become the newest member of Manchester's Board of Education.

The Manchester Democratic Town Committee has unanimously endorsed Doucette to fill a seat on the Board of Education left vacant by the resignation of Dean Ott, also a Democrat.

The town committee acted to ratify Doucette after her name was forwarded from the party's Nominating Committee. Doucette's name now goes to the Board of Education, which will make the actual appointment and seat her.

When Doucette's selection is finalized, she will serve the balance of the term, which ends in November. Voters will then elect a candidate to fill the seat for a full term. Doucette will be
eligible to run for a full term in the November 2023 election.

Town committee officials said that Doucette is a long-time Manchester resident, with two children in the town's public school system. She has "dedicated her professional career to working on educational issues," party officials said.

Democratic Town Chairman Michael Pohl added, "In recommending Heather Doucette, we are offering a candidate who understands young people, who knows our town well, and who appreciates the challenges facing parents in our community. If ultimately selected for the vacant seat on the Board of Education, I am confident Heather will play a strong role in moving our schools forward."

Doucette said, "I thank Democratic Town Committee members for their support,
and I am honored to have been recommended for the open Board of Education
seat. Manchester Public Schools are our community's greatest asset.

"My own children have thrived in our schools, and I want the same for all Manchester students. I want to serve on the Board to ensure that every child in Manchester is afforded access to the excellent educational opportunities that I know our school system can provide.”

Doucette has been a resident of Manchester for more than 20 years. She holds bachelor's degrees in English and psychology from Barnard College and a master's degree in early childhood education from Central Connecticut State University.

She has worked in education for 25 years, having started her career as a preschool teacher and early interventionist. She then worked at the Connecticut State Department of Education for eight years in the areas of special education compliance, as well as school accountability and improvement. She went on to work 10 years with the Capitol Region Education Council, overseeing the provision of professional learning for educators throughout the state. She most recently accepted a position with the College Board.

Doucette has served on the PTA at Highland Park School and Bennet Academy, and the parent advisory group at Illing Middle School. She also served on the board of the Lutz Children’s Museum, the Manchester Public Library Board of Trustees, and founded the Manchester High School Marching Band Boosters organization this year.

She lives with her husband, Jason, and their two teenage sons, Teddy and Charlie, both students at Manchester High School.