Middletown Candidate Profile: Rose-Daniels For Board Of Education

MIDDLETOWN, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in Middletown and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Middletown Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

DeLita Rose-Daniels, 43, is running for a seat on the Board of Education as a Democrat.

Are you running for office in Middletown? Contact Vinnie Salzo at vincent.salzo@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Middletown Patch.

Family:

Ahmad Daniels- husband of 17 yrs, son DeVarius 24, Diamond 20, DeZiar 17, De,Mia 13

Education:

University of Phoenix graduate, Human Service Management

Occupation:

HIV/Hepatitis C Project Coordinator for the City of Hartford Health and Human Service Department

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

n/a

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

The most pressing issue facing our district is the evident educational performance disparity among students of color within our schools.

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

I am in real time navigating the schools systems, advocating for my children 1 who graduated 2018, will graduate 2020 and working to graduate 2025. I have come face to face with systemic challenges forcing me to advocate tirelessly for my children. I have experience navigating a child through special education services and know first-hand my experiential challenges and barriers that my child and I have endured. My children have lived and pushed through achievement gaps, inequities and I want to give a voice to these issues. I want to bring that voice to the decision-making table and keep it at the front not just for my family but so many other families that get overlooked, marginalized or don't quite understand the value of their voice.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

I am an advocate for educational equity, special education, closing the achievement gap and increasing community and parental/guardian connection. Although this work is tied to the political arena, I am a servant, not a politician.

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

I have children navigating our schools system, I have had children who have been bused outside of the district in search of quality educational opportunities, I have advocated for my own child's educational needs. I served on the Nellie Mae Foundation committee, the DELT-A, NAACP and connect to the youth.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

I receive so many nuggets along my way, I seek the opportunity for wisdom daily but as it relates to my journey to serve my community in this capacity I'd say the best advice shared with me is life's about choices- you can choose to sit back and hope and wish for a change, you can do nothing and settle without a change or you can bring your own seat and creativity and confidence to initiate change. Risks are required!

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

You want to build a strong community you first have to build, support and stand behind a strong and equitable education system where outcomes will not be predestined by where you live, with whom or whether your lunch is free or reduced.

Campaign website:

Facebook: DeLita Rose-Daniels for Board of Education