David Scrofani Running For Trumbull Board Of Education

TRUMBULL, CT — Election Day is approaching fast, and a number of key positions in Trumbull will be on the ballot.

To help readers make an informed decision on Nov. 2, Patch has reached out to local candidates to share their views on various topics of importance in town.

Patch will post these candidate profiles over the next couple of weeks, so check back often to see the latest.

Democrat David Scrofani, 50, is running for Board of Education in Trumbull.

Occupation: Teacher

Family:
Sara Scrofani: 47
Noah Scrofani: 14
Ari Scrofani: 11

Family in government: No

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

I’m going to answer this from an educational point of view. Property values in Trumbull, which are intimately tied to the quality of our schools, are rising rapidly. Our demographic is shifting as more and more families from New York and lower Fairfield County move into town. Our public school system is good, but is it ready to meet the needs of this changing demographic that seeks top competitive academics and more STEM offerings, while still balancing emotional health and well-being?

Furthermore, we are coming off a pandemic which forced experiments in education. We now have to decide what to keep and what to leave behind. We have other big decisions to make about schedules and school start times. These are big decisions that have financial implications. This work must be done with the utmost care, attention to data, and involvement of community members, because the effectiveness of our childrens’ education, the stability of our school budget, and the value of our properties depend upon it.

As a Board member, and I will be transparent and will look for ways to develop strong partnerships between parents in the community and our schools so that we can involve everyone in these important decisions.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

My twenty-seven years of experience teaching computer programming, math, and physics in a high school that is frequently ranked number one in Connecticut separates me from other candidates. When you know firsthand how effective a top school system can be, you see where improvement is possible in your own system. When you haven’t experienced it, and you don’t know what is missing. I’ve seen DRG A education from the inside for a long time.
My ideas are relevant to today’s learners. I have already-established relationships with the current educational leaders in the community.

Accomplishments:

I’ve received a long list of awards for educational instruction at both the local and national level. I’m a lifelong educator, science and computer science curriculum developer, a former Teacher of the Year, Tristate Consortium evaluator, and NEASC evaluator. I’ve been a celebrated teacher. But I have also spent a good deal of time evaluating schools. I’ve served on and chaired multiple committees in my own school district including ones that focused on and developed: new daily schedules, changes to school start times, technology infrastructure, and and student advisor/advisee programs. This makes me uniquely positioned to handle such topics when they inevitably arise in our town in the near future. Additionally I hold a 6th year certificate of advanced study in school administration.

Other issues:

If I could summarize my agenda in three points they would be as follows:

I want to . . .

(1) Help to shape a long-term vision that provides students with the opportunities needed to thrive in a changing technological world

(2) Enhance the Board's ability to make data-informed decisions about the efficacy and efficiency of practices and programs in the school system

(3) Cultivate a student-centered culture of transparency, reflection, and and accountability at all levels in the Trumbull Public Schools

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I believe wholeheartedly that every educational practice and decision should be evaluated against these three key questions: Is what we are doing best for our kids? Is it best for them academically? Is it best for them emotionally?

I am as committed to the arts as I am to math, technology and science. I am a lifelong musician and still perform regularly as a jazz pianist around New England and the New York area. Exercise and fitness is another passion of mine. On any given day you are likely to find me trail running somewhere in the middle of the Pequonnock valley.

I have two children who attend Trumbull Public Schools. I grew up in town and attended Trumbull schools myself. My wife is the Director of Technology and Digital Learning in a neighboring school district, and after spending several years working in the Trumbull Public Schools. We are a family deeply invested in education and deeply connected to the town in which we live.