Orange Candidate Profile: George Howard For Amity Board of Ed

ORANGE, CT — Election day in Orange is drawing closer, and to help residents make an informed decision on Nov. 5, Orange Patch asked candidates for various elected offices to answer questions about their campaigns and the issues in town.

George Howard, 51, is a Republican who is seeking re-election to the Amity Board of Education. On the board, Howard is Chairman of the Policy Committee and Deputy Treasurer.

He is married to Kathrin Howard, and they have three children Katia, 20, a junior at UCONN, Storrs; Lena, 19, a sophomore at UCONN, Storrs; and Rika, 17, a senior at Amity High School.

Howard holds a B.A. from Yale University, and an M.B.A from Purdue University. He is also a former fundraiser at Yale University; and a religious education teacher at Holy Infant Church.

The single most pressing issue facing Orange is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Both the Orange elementary and secondary Amity school districts share challenges for our students and families in the post-secondary realm. Having policies that prepare our students for an increasingly competitive college and career marketplace is paramount.

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

Through my two older children I am in tune with the rigors of our flagship state university UCONN, Storrs, and with my youngest currently applying to college I am aware of the challenges that our current students face. Families deserve transparency, consistency and communication cemented in policy for the benefit of all our students.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

I am a member of the Curriculum Committee for the Amity Board of Education which helps monitor that the Amity schools remain competitive in our District Reference Group.

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

Since joining the Amity Board of Education I have been a member of the Policy Committee and am now its Chair. I understand the process of updating and creating new policies and the challenges of organizing the policies for the Amity Regional School District to implement.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Three quarters of a loaf of bread is better than none.

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

My wife is an immigrant, she and I both speak multiple foreign languages and our children are dual nationals. My mother was a teacher at Mary L. Tracy School and my father was a professor at Trinity College who put 4 children though college. My family has always prioritized education and I wholly support the mission of the Amity Regional School District. Thinking globally and acting locally, I want to ensure that Amity remains competitive with others districts in the state of Connecticut, the nation and the world.