Gennifer Dorgan, Woodbury
Dorgan graduated from Nonnewaug High School in 2009 and received her Bachelor's Degree in German from Kenyon College in Ohio.
"I see it as an asset that I was at Nonnewaug so recently," she said.
Like many post-high school residents, she said she wanted to get as far away from her hometown as possible but quickly learned that she missed Woodbury.
"Because I went so far away, I realized that sooner than a lot of people my age," she said. "I'm glad for that."
Top Priorities
Renovating the schools is a top issue in Region 14, Dorgan said.
"I hope that the referendum on the 18th will pass because there's been a dire need for that for a long time," she said.
The renovations are necessary for safety reasons too, Dorgan said, citing stairs in need of repair and windows that have fallen out.
"The auditorium has needed to be renovated for a long time and the athletic fields are in such terrible shape," she said. "The girls' field hockey team couldn't play at home for the championships. That's unacceptable."
It's more than just the buildings that are in need of an overhaul, Dorgan said.
"Beyond just the quality of the buildings, we need to make sure the teachers have the resources they need to do their jobs," she said. "I took a class at Nonnewaug where we couldn't afford textbooks so the teacher was making up her own textbook as we went along."
Cultivating the Arts
"Arts education is very important to me," said Dorgan. "Some people see funding arts programs in schools as an accessory and see it as dispensable in hard times and I absolutely disagree. I think it's integral. It was integral to my education."
During high school's difficult times, music and visual arts kept her and her friends motivated, she said.
Dorgan said she is looking forward to bringing something new to the board, if elected.
"I think the board needs fresh eyes and a fresh attitude and needs the perspective of the students, which is what the schools are there for," she said.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
