Stratford Election 2023: Jill D'Angelo-Powers Running For Board Of Ed

STRATFORD, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Stratford with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 7 and cast their ballots for seats on the Town Council, Board of Education, Planning and Zoning and more.

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

Jill D'Angelo-Powers, 38, is running for election to the Stratford Board of Education as a Democrat.

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://www.facebook.com/peopl...

Education.

Gateway Community College: Associate Degree in Restaurant Management Gateway Community College: Associate Degree in Hotel Management Central Connecticut State University: Bachelor of Science Degree in Hospitality & Tourism

What is your occupation?

Since 2015, I’ve been a local real estate agent. In this role, I have learned that a strong educational system is often a top priority when prospective buyers decide to buy or rent real estate.

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

I have been married for 10 years to a 3rd generation Stratford native, Blake Powers. We have two amazing children, Lauren, 7, and Logan, 5.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

No

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

As a parent of children beginning their educational journey, I am alarmed at the lack of support the educational system here in Stratford gets. When the Board of Education receives less money than is required to maintain the status quo, that leads to cuts to programs, downsizing of the workforce, larger class sizes, an overall lack of resources, and even school closings. My first experience as a parent with these cuts was in 2021 when the Board of Education moved the students out of Victoria Soto School and into Stratford Academy Johnson House to adjust for the lower-than-requested budget. (My daughter had just completed kindergarten at the beautiful Victoria Soto School, built just seven years ago to replace Honeyspot School.) These young Kindergarteners and First Graders were moved into an inadequate space originally designed for middle schoolers. At this point, I started to get involved.

I have since spoken up at the Town Council meetings several times when most of the members whom we, as residents, have elected, do not even look up at us as we voice our concerns. One counselor who is now running as my opponent for the BOE continually touts fully funding the Board of Education during his time on the Town Council. As someone whose children have been personally affected by inadequate funding, I can attest that this is untrue. It is time to amplify the voices of families so that our teachers and students receive the support they deserve.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most pressing issue facing our constituents besides funding is school performance. In 2022, Stratford was added to the list of Connecticut’s designated Alliance Districts, indicating Stratford as a bottom-performing school district based on Stratford’s pre-pandemic accountability index scores. Since the Alliance designation, Stratford has received alliance grant money to help create new programs and resources that are not to cover any already budgeted positions. During the last Board of Education meeting on September 26, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Daniels reported that these programs are already improving student performance results to an extent. If elected, I will continue to support the strategic use of the Alliance grant funding to continue the progress our students, teachers, administration, and board have made.

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

I’m running for a seat on the Board of Education, where I hope to be a strong voice for our students. Political divisiveness is affecting us locally and nationally. We should put people before party affiliation and ideology. As someone raising the next generation, teaching children to respect one another is essential. As someone who struggled with disabilities as a child, I was hurt many times by bullying behavior. The adversity I experienced has helped me become a strong advocate for all. When we embrace each other’s differences, we can develop creative ideas we may have never thought of before. We build walls when we are stuck in our beliefs that prevent us from moving forward.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way do you believe the current officeholder has failed the community?

I am not challenging an incumbent of this current position. However, some of my opponents have held other political offices in town. I am a mother, passionate about helping our students succeed. I’m not running for political clout.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Stratford has hired an outside company to conduct a comprehensive districting study on our schools. Once the survey is complete, I hope to work with other Board of Education members to apply these findings to support a data-driven approach to making equitable decisions for our district’s short-term and long-term future so that all of Stratford’s children receive a quality education.

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

As the parent of two Stratford students, I volunteer as a board member on the Stratford Academy Johnson House PTSA, where I’m involved in planning and executing many activities. I participated in the Board of Education’s parent panel on the new 2023 Code of Conduct that went into effect at the start of this school year. I have also attended and spoken at Town Council and Board of Education meetings for the past two years. This has allowed me to get to know and understand the challenges of local government and the value of working together with current board members across the aisle.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

“Through adversity, we grow.” It is hard to see positivity during difficult times, but those difficult times often will make you stronger in the long run. I believe this can be true for Stratford Schools. Right now, we are an Alliance district, but with commitment and consistency, Stratford can again be a top school district in the state.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Once I realized the issues around our school funding and performance, I have continued to attend Town Council meetings, Board of Education meetings, and tried to immerse myself with information to help improve our schools. If elected, I want to work with the Town Council, promote a collaborative relationship within the Board of Education, and have an open, transparent dialogue. I also hope to create more space for parent and student input. The more our community is engaged, the faster we will continue to improve. Many hands together can do great work.

Are you running for office in Stratford? Email vincent.salzo@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile on Stratford Patch.