Milford Candidate Profile: Cynthia Twiss For School Board

MILFORD, CT — Milford's election season is heating up and there are plenty of contested races with candidates eager to get their name on the ballot for the city's municipal election. One of those contested races is the race for the Board of Education.

Milford Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Cynthia Twiss is running for election to the Board of Education and is running as a Democrat in the fifth-district.

Are you running for office in Milford? Contact Brian McCready at brian.mccready@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Milford Patch.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? *

N/A

Education: *

BS, MS, 6th Year and Advanced Coursework all in Education and Administration

Occupation: *

Currently I am an Educational Consultant contracting with area school systems to provide educational services. Previously, I was a Special Education Teacher and Administrator, a Preschool Principal and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Bridgeport.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: *

N/A

Campaign Website: *

www.teammilford.com

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

Milford Public Schools has begun the hard work of improving and enhancing the curriculum to meet the changing needs of our students; to prepare them for life after graduation and to give all of our students the ability to be successful. Given the day to day stressors our children face, the increasing demands of academic rigor from the state, and taking into account what life will be like for our children when they graduate, our school system is faced with the task of providing a free, appropriate education that meets student needs. At the same time, they are tasked with nurturing the social/emotional development of our students. If elected to the Board, I will support the efforts of administrators and teachers who work to help our students succeed and who, on a day to day basis, care for our students. I will listen carefully, I will look for data to support student gains, I will ask questions about student needs and I will support budgets that allow our students to grow and succeed while ensuring that all budgetary requests are tied to student need.

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

I have a wealth of experience in the field of education. My life has been defined by my love of teaching and by my absolute belief that all students can learn. I believe wholeheartedly that public education is the best education a student can receive and I laud communities that constantly strive to improve the quality of education for all of its learners. Milford is that community that constantly seeks to improve its instruction for its students and I believe that my skills would allow me to support this improvement.

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

My significant experience as an educator at multiple levels, from preschool to college, and my continuing efforts to support public education would allow me to be a support to the school system. I have presented workshops on a variety of educational topics and developed programs designed to meet the needs of students.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

When you start a new job or task, take the time to sit and watch and listen and be sure to acknowledge and celebrate the work that went on before you. Only then can you step in and start to make a difference.

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

I care about student learning and achievement and the joy teachers and administrators can impart on a daily basis to the students they come in contact with in their classrooms and in their schools. I will always be in awe of the difference educators can make in a student's life and believe that I have the skills to help support educators and the school system as a whole.