Wallingford Candidate Profile: Patty Pursell For Board Of Ed

WALLINGFORD, CT — The 2019 municipal election is heating up in Wallingford and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

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

Patty Pursell, 62, is running for re-election to the Board of Education as a Democrat.

Are you running for office in Wallingford? Contact Vinnie Salzo at vincent.salzo@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Wallingford Patch.

Family:

Husband: Bill Pursell, 65; Daughter: Kelly McGrath married to Pat McGrath with three children, Maggie, Tommy and Ellie; Daughter: Meghann Glick married to Eric Glick with two children, Jackson and Riley; Son: Bill Pursell

Education:

6th Year Educational Foundations; Masters School Health; Bachelor's Physical Education all at Southern Connecticut State University

Occupation:

Retired teacher (retired 4 years). Teacher for 31 years. 19 years in Wallingford Public Schools

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office:

Wallingford Board of Education for two years

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

I believe the single most pressing issue facing our town/district is that students need to be ready to meet the challenges of college and/or careers when they leave our district. I believe is it not enough to graduate from high school. Students need to obtain strong academic and social skills and feel independent enough to advocate for themselves in the bigger world.

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

I feel we (the BOE and the district) have started down the path of making our students ready to meet the challenges of college and/or careers by doing the following in the last two years. I also believe this is just the beginning, and we need to continue to do more.

1. We added a fourth year of math as a graduation requirement.

2. We have created career pathways for our students which identifies specific classes and/or internships that will better prepare students for the future.

3. We have added more internships and allowed graduation credits for students who work with our partners in the community.

4. We have added an extra semester of health to help our older students deal with social issues that may arise.

5. We have added a certification for foreign language competency (which includes reading, writing, speaking and listening)

I think we need to work further on building more opportunities for "real world" experience/internships especially in the area of STEM (Science, technology, engineering and math). We also are looking at changing the math requirement of one year of geometry to half year geometry with half year data analysis (which is more relevant in today's world).

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

Goals include:

1. Remain Vigilant in Restricting Class Size.

2. Support a Strong Science & Social Studies Curriculum at All Levels.

3. Pursue an Emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

4. Continue Initiatives for all College and Non-college Career Paths.

5. Develop Action Plans to Reduce Risky Behaviors Indicated in Health Survey and Communicate Results to the Community.

6. Maintain Current Health & Physical Education Levels.

7. Investigate Ways to Increase Special Needs PTAC Parent Involvement.

8. Maintain a Balance between Traditional and Current Teaching Strategies by Providing Appropriate Materials and Upgrades.

9. Inform the community about multiple measures of our students' success.

10. Remain vigilant overseeing the budget by searching for efficiencies in school system management, seeking grants and donations, researching possible energy conservation options, and maintaining budget transparency.

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

Some of my educational experiences include:

• Teacher of the Year - Wallingford District and State Finalist
• 31 Years Experience in Education
• Adjunct Professor at SCSU
• Connecticut State Department of Education Teacher-In-Residence
• National, State & Local Professional Development Presenter for Teachers
• National, State & Local Curriculum Project Leader
• Co-district facilitator for TEAM’s New Teacher Induction and Mentor Program.
• Member of the 1st Wallingford Innovation Team’s One Year Researching Best Educational Practices.

I have lived in Wallingford for 35 years, and my three children went through the Wallingford School District. I retired four years ago from the Wallingford School District so I have an insider's perspective.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Before making critical decisions as a member of the BOE, listen to people with different viewpoints, do research and finally, bring the data you have collected to the discussions about these issues.

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

I believe:

*Every student wants to succeed, but not all students learn the same way. We need to give students several ways to prove they understand the concept taught.

* Students need to develop emotionally, socially, and physically as well as academically to be successful for college and career.

*Unless students are motivated to learn, the pace at which they learn will be diminished. Motivation increases when students pursue personal interests and utilize strengths.

*Whenever possible make real world, career, or global connections. Give students the opportunity to interact with professionals outside the school community.

*There are many ways to help a student learn, and there is never one curriculum or strategy that works for all. There are successful strategies from times past, and there are new strategies that may work better for others.

*Teachers are very educated and spend hours working with the children they teach. We need to empower teachers by giving them the flexibility and resources to help students succeed.

Campaign website:

votepatty.org; and Facebook patty pursell