Milford Election: Cindy Wolfe Boynton, School Board

MILFORD, CT — Democrat Cindy Wolfe Boynton, 54, is running for Milford Board of Education, 4th District in Milford.

Occupation: Writer And College Professor

Family: Son Teddy, 27, and Steven, 23

Experience: Steering Committee of the Governor’s Council on Women and Girls

Family in government: No

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

Ensuring the success of each and every student should always be our No. 1 priority. No matter what issues our District is facing at a particular time, we should always be focused on doing whatever is necessary to help each child discover his or her gifts and abilities and find their path, whether that path takes them on to college, to learn a trade, to enter the military, or to do something else altogether. There is no such thing as “one-size-fits-all” learning. Our curriculums, and programs and offerings should be as diverse as the children who attend our schools.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

A lifelong Milford resident, former reporter and editor for the Milford Citizen, and longtime community volunteer, I pride myself on my ability to not just listen, but to hear other people, and then to translate what I’ve learned into positive action. Building community through understanding and cooperation is something I always strive to do, and because I truly believe we are all stronger -- and more successful -- when we work together.

Accomplishments:

As a writer and college professor, I’ve dedicated my professional career to using language and learning to engage and empower others, as well as to effect positive change. As a current member of the Milford Board of Education, I am equally dedicated to continually finding new ways to engage and empower Milford students, as well as to help the Milford Public Schools System continue to move forward. From creating primary science labs, to passing an improvement-rich yet fiscally responsible budget, to working directly with students to ensure they have a voice in their educations, I am proud of all the work I’ve done the past two years on the Milford Board of Education, and I am excited for the prospect of serving two more.

Other issues:

Continuing to support high-quality education for both our students and staff, as well as the overall advancement of the Milford Public School District and its mission to be as forward-thinking as it is student-focused. It is a privilege to work with parents, students, and teachers and staff to help educate our next generation of leaders.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

Like my now-adult sons Teddy and Steven, I’m a graduate of Milford Public Schools and have always worked to make our schools places where our children not just need to be, but want to be. I’m a former president of the Orchard Hills PTA and, through work I’ve done as a consultant to UConn’s Neag School of Education, have learned how creative thinking combined with community partnerships can lead to innovative learning that’s as fun as it is instructive. In a world that moves and changes as fast as ours today, success in any field requires the ability to think critically, communicate effectively, adapt to the unexpected, collaborate with others, and be resilient in the face of adversity. These skills and traits are among those I work to instill in the college students I teach, as well as that I continually work to improve on within myself. They are also part of the Milford Board of Education Vision Statement that I have used to guide my Board work these past two years, and that I plan to continue to use to advance the learning of all our students in the future.