Joel D’Angelo for RSD 17 Board of Education: A Strong Educational Leader for Killingworth

I grew up in Southington CT in a family immersed in public education, all members of my immediate family and many of my extended family are/were teachers and administrators in the Southington School System. I attended the University of Maine and earned a B.S. in Biology after which I earned a Ph. D. in Biology from Wesleyan University. Currently I am an administrator and teacher at Hopkins School in New Haven, where I am a Head Adviser and an AP Biology teacher. I was formerly chair of the Hopkins Science Department for five years.  I have lived in Killingworth with my wife and daughter since 2008 and I am an active member of the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee and Killingworth's Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Commission.

My education and chosen career in education give me a clear understanding of the educational needs of a school system and will make me a valuable member of the Board of Education. I will work to make sure that we are giving our students the tools they need to succeed in the job market, in a democratic society, and in a world that faces unprecedented challenges.

I had the pleasure of acting as a moderator for the Community Conversations in Education program last spring. I was delighted to see so many people from a cross section of our communities participate in this program. During that morning many ideas and philosophies regarding the purpose of a public education were exchanged. While differences were of course raised, it was extremely rewarding to observe the general agreement that public education and a love of learning is one of the most valuable things we as a community could instill in children. I am pleased that this same sentiment is reinforced to me on a daily basis as I talk with people in our community. In short, strong communities = strong education = strong future!

A challenge this Board will face is to seek excellence in education by raising standards while also checking the growth of our school budget to operate efficiently and economically. Haddam-Killingworth deserves a school system that not only promotes, but expects to produce life-long lovers of learning.  By working together as a community and with local and state congressional offices I believe we can achieve these goals.

With your support on November 8 I look forward to the opportunity to build a strong educational community that Killingworth deserves.